Responsible Giving part 3

Remember when it hit you?  You know, when it clicked in your understanding that the need was too great for a few to shoulder and that you had a responsibility to do your part?  Like an epiphany you raised your head off the pillow saying “How did I not get this a long time ago?”

Here’s a little snack: Galatians 6:7 says, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”  What we see here is the promise of God’s response in accordance to the forthright effort of His people.  When we sow little, we will in turn reap little.  On the other hand, when we sow bountifully, we will reap bountifully.  I want us to see the need today sow bountifully based on our understanding of our responsibility.

Few know and understand the needs of support until they find themselves in a foxhole, wondering where their fellow soldiers are.  The same can be said for ministry.  Most, understandably, will never see the need to support the cause until they are knee deep in the thick of ministry.

This is how it usually happens: You finally say “yes” to the church’s plea for a much needed nursery worker.  Although the Pastor had made numerous requests and the Sunday bulletin was highlighted with a cartoon drawing of crying babies, you simply never noticed… you assumed that someone was going to take care of it.  Sitting in that tiny, baby filled room, it dawns on you; “My Sunday worship wouldn’t be the same if someone didn’t choose to respond to the need.”

What about the utilities, the church mortgage, missionary support, outreach ministries and Pastor’s salaries?  All these things require your response.  We get the word “response” from the word “responsibility.”  Before we can see the need to respond we must see our responsibility.  This is where our text comes into play.

God always responds. He meets our efforts with an equal or greater response.  “…whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Notice God’s response to our effort?  Also, notice that the only contingency is our effort to be responsible.  In other words, when we are responsible to do our part, God responds likewise.

I want to encourage someone today to open the eyes of your heart to see the need.  As disciples of Christ in our respective local churches, we must be responsible.  In fact, we are responsible… so may we now respond!