Given Back to God

      Just a few days before Christmas, our church staff was given an unusual, as well as, challenging gift. An anonymous donor from our church family had made a gift of several hundred dollars which was separated into smaller gifts of $10, $20, and even $50 dollar bills. These bills were placed in envelopes and handed out at our staff Christmas gathering. Some receive $10, some $20, and some $50. The instructions were that these gifts could be kept if the person needed the money, given to someone in need, or multiplied in some way for even larger projects.

      After Christmas, we gathered to share the stories that flowed from this unique idea. One staff person heard of a little boy with a brain tumor who needed surgery at Duke Medical Center. She took her $10 and challenged others in the church and community to match, or multiply the gift. A day later, over $2,000 had come into her hands enabling the family to get the car fixed, make the trip, and take care of other expenses.

      Another person took his $10 and gave it to a church member who found a family whose mother was sick and unable to work, the father was laid-off, and the power to their house had been turned off. This church member collected over $600 so that the family would have electricity, presents for Christmas, and extra money until the parents returned to work.

      Then, there is another story of the $50 gift that found its way into a community benefit to help with funeral expenses. Another staff person gave her gift to put gas into the truck of the family who came to the church office asking for wood to stay warm. The gas took the family to the staff person’s house where the truck was filled with wood.

      Story, after story, was told of how the initial gift was given away and/or multiplied. This incredible event is a testimony of what great works God can do if we are willing to give what he has given us, back to him. One staff person said, “What a mighty God we serve! Just look at what his people can do when they are open to his whisperings...”

      Not only does this remind me of the parable Jesus told in Matthew 25 of the talents given to the three servants, but it also brings to my mind another story; the wonderful miracle of Jesus feeding all those people. We remember those hungry, tired, needy people, the little boy and his lunch, and the miraculous hands of Jesus. The multiplied blessing of food that day came from the willingness of the boy to give all of what he had for a seemingly impossible cause, but with faith that something would happen if he did.

      The gifts God gives us, financial or otherwise, placed back in his hands, have the potential to overflow into the needy lives of so many people. Not only is the giver blessed, but we also find that Christ’s kingdom is enlarged and enriched.

The challenge for all of us is to be more generous givers; giving to others as God has so graciously given to us.    

      Let’s give it back to God, and then forward to others.

Rev. Tim McConnell Long’s Chapel UMC January 20, 2013