“God so loved the world that God gave … “ – John 3:16
Friends,
Have you thought much lately about the connection of love and giving? When we love someone – really love them – we are able to dig down deep and give time and resources for them in ways we might not have thought possible. I’ve been moved and honored in the past weeks to watch Don Olson and his three girls give so generously of their time and focus and resources to care for Marie as she sought to recover from a number of strokes. Because they loved, they gave.
And that is what our God does for us. Because God loves us, God gave us not just any gift, but the gift of God’s very own Son to come live among us in our joys and our messes. God gave us God’s Son so that we may know what love looks like and be saved in Christ. God so loved us that God gave.
As you know, we are in stewardship season here at First Presbyterian Church in Muskegon. This is a season when we talk a lot about giving and we make decisions about the financial and time resources we will give to this church during the following year. Many of us crunch the numbers of our family finances and say, “OK, how much can I afford to give to the church in 2023?”
Being wise with our resources is important, of course. But, as followers of Christ, we are invited to consider our pledges and resources from a stance of love. The question we may wish to pray about is, “What is God inviting me to give this year?” Our giving is to grow from God’s love within us and from our love for God, Christ’s church and our community. We give because we have been loved and are invited to give back in love in return. We may arrive at the same amount of money and time if we ask, “What can I afford?” but it comes from a different place.
My prayer for each of us is that we will know how deeply we are loved and that we will give to the church and to other organizations doing the work of Christ from a place of generosity – longing to return the love that we have been given so generously.
I’m so honored to be walking with you during these days. As we live into 2023 and get ready to welcome a new pastor – whoever he or she may be – may we continue to be “A Place to Worship. A Place to Belong. A Place to Serve.”
Grace and peace,
Laurie
