Jim Elliot was a missionary who was murdered by the people he was ministering too. He made a quote that I believe is so important for us today. "HE IS NO FOOL WHO GIVES WHAT HE CANNOT KEEP TO GAIN WHAT HE CANNOT LOSE." Recently I was in a store going through the checkout visiting with the family ahead of me. They had three little children and they bought the youngest boy a hamster. I immediately started up a conversation with the dad about how I raised hamsters when I was a kid. He then ask me questions about caring for these little critters. I was next in line and paid for my item. Received my change and walked out. While sitting in my car I looked at the change I received. It was $20 more then I should have gotten back. WOW! I thought look how God blessed me with $20 extra dollars. No, that's not true. I immediately went back in the store and had to wait in line again and when I got to the cashier I gave her the $20 and said that she gave me back too much change. She looked at me and sheepishly said thank you and I walked out.
As I was walking out the manager waved to me and said thanks a lot. I got back in my car and started to think how many people would of gone back in to return the money. Well, they made the mistake. That $20 was not mine. It belonged to that store.
As I read the Word of God I see a high emphasis on money and possessions. WHY? I believe there is strong connection between our spiritual lives and how we think about and handle money. We may try to separate our faith and finances, but God sees them as inseparable.
Look with me at a passage of Scripture that I believe is a very neglected teaching.
Matthew 6:19-21.
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
God gives us here the best investment advice. "STORE UP TREASURES IN HEAVEN" Everything I have belongs to Him not me and he wants me to be a good manager. Did that $20 belong to me. NO! Does the money I receive at work or investments belong to me. NO! It all belongs to God, yet what we say we believe and our actual practice too often is not the same.
Our UPS man here in Sunfield is a wonderful Christian brother and I just love talking to him. He said to me church finances are way low at his church and he doesn't understand why. I said well it is probably the economy people are holding back their money . He looked at me and said did not God say give and He would give back to us so much we would not be able to handle it. I told him yes. With a smile he said then I'm going to keep on giving and giving and giving because that's what God wants me to do. He then handed me $25 and he said Reverend this is my lunch money I have for the week, find a good place to give it to the Lord. He walked out. I want to be that kind of Christian that gives and gives and knows God will take care of him. Be a good manager. Be a good giver
Pastor Mark

What Scares You?

What scares you? We see a lot of movies and tv shows that try to scare us, but really, what scares you? Can I share what scares me? It is really; really scary to see that it is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish between people that are believers and people that are not believers just from the outside. You look at the actions and the lifestyles. Is there a difference?

What is the problem? I believe that part of the problem is that so many people today want to add Christ to their lives. “Yeah, I’m cool. I’m still doing everything I want to do, and yeah, Jesus is my ol’ buddy. We want to add Christ without subtracting sin. We want all the benefits of calling ourselves a believer, but we don’t want anything that Jesus teaches us to really affect the way that we do everyday life. We want a revival in our hearts without repentance in our lives.
Spiritual Maturity. What is that?

Spiritual maturity is not how much we know, but how much we obey. God is really hammering this home to me. Would you agree with me that most people who call themselves Christians have been educated way beyond their level of obedience? We know this stuff, but we don’t live it!

If I do not feel the need to wear a tie on Sunday morning, I will not wear one. Unless each of us sees ourselves as sinners, we will not see our need of a Savior. If I do not see that my sin separates me from God, then I will not see my need to have a relationship with God. I’m just as good as whatshisname. Guess what? When I compare myself to other people I do not feel so bad, but when I compare myself to a holy God all of the sudden I see myself as I really am.

“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.” Isaiah 64:6

Your best attempt at righteousness in the eyes of God falls incredibly short. We are very sinful in the eyes of God and unless we recognize that, we are not going to see our need for Jesus. What scares me is that people who are talented hard workers have been tricked by the enemy into thinking it’s their righteousness and not Christ’s.

Kids will be coming to your door and be saying, “TRICK OR TREAT.”

Satan’s plan is to trick you into thinking your sin does not separate you from God.

Christ’s plan is to treat you as His child who understands that it’s not about their goodness. It is all about putting on a cloak of righteousness that only comes from Jesus Christ!