For those not familiar with and Anglican Service there are four Scripture readings prior to the Message. Scripture Today's assigned readings are: (Mathew 6:24-34; Malachi 3:6-12; 2 Corinthians 9: 6-15; Psalm 24)
Jesus shares an important truth with us ... in the Gospel of Matthew, ... Who of you ... by being worried ... can add a single hour ... to their life?" (Pause)
Aren't most of the struggles of this life, ... especially when viewed in hindsight, ... nothing more ... than an inconvenience?
We live through the struggles of life, ... we grow through the struggles of life ... and hopefully we learn from those struggles ... that they are no more than........ an inconvenience.
Once we go through them ... we become empowered.
We realize ... that we will live trough that situation ... if we are called to face it again. (Long Pause)
A student squeezes in line, in front of you, at a high school football game, ... that is not a problem ... it's only ... an inconvenience.
When someone takes a parking space that you are about to pull into, ... that is not a problem ... that's only ... an inconvenience?
Help me here!
You have a flat tire while driving to the airport and you might miss your flight; that is only ... an inconvenience.
It takes seven and a half years for your child to graduate from college, ... that's only an........ inconvenience.
The Dow falls below 10,000, you lose 65% of the value of your 401(k), you are company is being acquired and you're probably going to lose your job, that's only an ......... Yes, that too is only ... an inconvenience (Pause).
I remember very clearly ... a conversation with my grandfather when he was in the hospital dying ...of cancer.
He said .....Jeffy, all the other problems I faced in life were nothing ... compared to this; I would give up all my money ... and all the things that I own... to only have my health back.
I had the opportunity to pray with my grandfather in the hospital... a few days before he died. (Pause)
Yes, even death itself ... is only an inconvenience to those who know Christ as their Savior.
If we are honest, ... most of the situations that we become most anxious about, ... are also the ones ... that we have little or no control over;........ much like these very difficult times that we are all facing individually, ... as families, ...... as a nation ... and as a Church.
Yet they too are only an inconvenience.
We are called to be good stewards of all that God gives us ... and to bring to Him our lives,..... our tithes and our offerings.
In fact in Malachi God says: .....Test me now on this ... bring me your titles and offerings ... and see if I will not open the windows of heaven ... and pour out for you a blessing ...until it overflows. (Malachi 3:10)
Being a good steward ... reminds me of the campaigns that our church in Ohio would have back in the 70's; .....Yes, ......Once a year ... we would discuss finances and tithing.
Is tithing an important part of the Christian walk?
Of course it is.
But what leads us to move in Faith ... to be willing to tithe?
Is it a once a year Stewardship campaign?
Maybe that engages some ... but I do not believe ... that would work for me.
Stewardship ... obviously includes financial support ... but it also encompasses sharing your time and your talents ... in support of the Church ... and in bringing others into a deeper relationship ... with our Lord and Savior (Pause).
It was the Stewardship of two friends from my youth ... that brought me into a deeper relationship ... with Christ.
Approximately 1 ½ years after I graduated from Ohio University; ... I stopped to see two old high school friends, ... friends I had not seen in years.
For some reason ... when you leave high school, ... life takes you from people ... that you thought you would always stay close to.
They asked me if I would sing with them at a Church next Sunday ... and I agreed to go along.
After the Service we were sitting around and talking about things we would like to do with our life.
I mentioned ... that I would like to be re-baptized in the Jordan River someday.
I guess that was the opening they were waiting for ... because they turned to me ... and almost in harmony said Jeff,...... We have been meaning to talk to you.
They each shared with me what it meant to them ... to give their life to Christ.
Sadly, my question was ... where are all these Christians hiding?
Where were all these dedicated Christians ... that held the belief ... they were talking about?
I wanted to see them!
I wanted to meet them!
So the next week they took me to a Christian fellowship in Chardon Ohio.
That night ... there was scripture reading, ... prayers and singing, ... Prayers that were lifted to God ... and singing that was simple ... yet full of praise.
The presence of the Lord was in that room ... along with Christians living their faith.
At the end of the evening ... everyone lifted friends and family up in prayer.
The person next to me, ... whom I had never met, ... asked me when I had been saved (Pause).
When had I been saved?
A question that a few weeks before, ... I would have dismissed, ... been angry about or ignored ... but that night I knew the answer; .....I was not.
I told him that I had never given my life to Christ.
He asked me if I wanted to do it tonight, ... God Bless him for having the courage to ask me, ... for that night I turned over my life to Christ; ... all because men and women walking a Life of Christian Stewardship had the inner-strength to lead this sinner, to Christ.
I had no great feeling that night ... though I was expecting one.
I was given a tract that had a train on it ... Fact on the Engine-Faith on the Coal car and Feeling on the Caboose.
Our acceptance of Christ is a Fact that we do by Faith.
The promise of Gods word, ... not our feelings is our eternal authority.
As Christians ... we live by faith ... that is in the trustworthiness of God himself and the Scriptures, ....... And We act on the trustworthiness of Gods word.
A few nights later, ... I felt a peace, a peace that truly passes all understanding; ......I felt like Jesus was holding me in His arms that night.
Shortly thereafter,..... I began to attend an Episcopal Church in Mentor, Ohio and I grew much under the leadership of Father Bill Worman.
I became very involved at Church ... and would put a few dollars in the offering plate each Sunday.
Father Worman gave a Sermon concerning stewardship ...... tithing and trusting Gods word ... and I immediately started to give 10% of my net pay to the Church.
A few years later I was encouraged to move toward a 10% tithe of my Gross Salary.
I felt I could not move to a full tithe immediately ... but within two years I was fully tithing.
I honestly do not believe that I would have moved to a tithe ... if I had not first known Jesus Christ as both my Savior and my Lord.
When I think of stewardship ... it brings to mind a story about a small Church ... located in a farming community.
The pastor of the church ... would call on every member of the congregation ... as part of the annual pledge campaign.
The next home he was going to visit was Farmer Brown's.
Now Mr. Brown was known in the community ... to be very, very, very frugal with his finances.
So the pastor asked Farmer Brown "if you had two brand-new tractors ... would you be willing to give one of them to the church?"
"O Surely pastor ... if I had two brand-new tractors... I would gladly sell one and give the money to the church."
"Farmer Brown if you inherited $2 million would you give 1/10 to the church?"
"O Pastor... I would surely give at least 1/10 church."
The pastor went on ... now Farmer Brown if you had two pigs. ... you just wait a minute there pastor,... you know darn well I've got two pigs. (Pause)
I believe most people ... even non-followers of the Christ ... will give out of their excess or abundance.
We say we are followers of Christ ... yet do we really trust him?
Have we turned over our whole life to him ... or are we holding back?
He loves us so very much ... and is constantly calling us to his love.
We should hold on to the truth of his love in these words we learned in our youth and which hold all truth:
Jesus loves me this I know / for the Bible tells me so / Little ones to him belong / they are weak but he is strong ..... Yes, Jesus loves me / Yes, Jesus loves me / Yes, Jesus loves me / The Bible tells me so.
Yes, even in these turbulent times, ... it may seem difficult,... but the Lord says he loves me, ... to test Him ... to trust Him ... and to have faith in his provision..
As a good steward how much should we give to Gods kingdom?
St. Paul gives us the answer in his second letter to the believers gathered in Corinth.
Hear God's Word BIBLE "He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully." "Each one must do just as he has proposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion for God loves a cheerful giver." END (2 Corinthians 9:6)
These are turbulent times but in the light of eternity they are only an inconvenience.
Give, not reluctantly, not under compulsion not under pressure.
My wife Lee and I give ... and I pray most Christians ... because our Father in Heaven is forever giving ... and he gave that all might be saved.
Our faith must rely on Him to provide as he promises in the Scriptures.
To rely on him totally, to trust in his provision totally, to me, that is the heart of Christian Stewardship.
Let us pray
O merciful Creator, your hand is open wide to satisfy the needs of every living creature: Make us always thankful for your loving providence; and grant that we, remembering the account that we must one day give, may be faithful stewards of your good gifts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, forever and ever.
Amen and Amen.
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