It’s the last day of summer 2010. Autumn is knocking at the door. The hummingbirds have gone south. The males left about two weeks ago and the females just two days ago. It’s time for me to get the firewood in the garage. It’s also time to set mouse traps. They sense the coming of winter and are looking for warm accommodations. We were surprised this year to find a couple decided to live in my sister’s car. We keep it parked by the woodpile so we shouldn’t be surprised they decided to move in. I wonder what they think when they look out into the K-mart parking lot. Apparently they are smart enough not to get out because they keep coming home.
Getting ready for winter can be challenging. When I sit in church and listen to some very important offering appeal I am often tempted to empty out our savings. But if we all did that retirement might be pretty harsh. One needs to be judicious. Jesus’ direction to the rich young ruler to sell all and give it all away wasn’t a universal command but a very specific remedy for a very specific problem. Our problem is deciding whether or not that’s an excuse for our not giving more.
Balance is a very important word. It’s not so easy. One needs to sleep but not too much. We need to eat but not too much. And so it is with giving. We need to give but not too much. I once heard a preacher tell his congregation they needed to give twenty percent because that’s what the children of Israel did. He failed to mention they had no other taxes.
Written by Roger Bothwell on September 21, 2010
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org