PASTOR DAVE’S MUSINGS FROM THE HEARTLAND

July 10, 2022

THE JOY OF GIVING

On June 18 the mission committee for the Plymouth First United Methodist Church had a bake sale at the local farmer’s market.  The committee was raising money for various mission projects.  There was much from which to choose and more than $900 was raised

During a lull one of the workers, Donna, pointed to a young boy who was happily running and skipping near- by.  Donna said that he had come by the booth earlier with five one dollar bills.  After carefully examining each item, he placed one of his dollars in a donation jar.

The boy then continued his search.  Finally, he concentrated on some cookies that were $5.00.  When Donna saw his dilemma, she suggested he could take the dollar he had put in the donation jar, and then he would have the $5.00 he needed.  The boy told her no, that was a donation.

After some more inspection, the boy finally settled on a treat for $3.00.  He left, having made a $1.00 donation to the mission, spent $3.00 for a treat, and still had $1.00.  All was right with his world and he was a contented and happy boy.

Several months after my appointment to Westville United Methodist Church, one of the members, Irene Rheam, asked if I would stop by her house.  At the end of the year, she received a small amount of money.  If I would have received such a sum, I would have spent the year deciding what debt to pay or what I might buy.  Irene wanted me to make suggestions as to how she might give the money away.  She would spend the whole year deciding where she might give her windfall.  Irene was one of the happiest and contented persons I have ever known.

Irene Rheam and the boy with the five $1.00 bills are marvelous examples of the truth of the words attributed to Jesus in the Book Acts.  “In all this I (Paul) have given you an example that by such work we might support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, for He Himself said, ’It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (Acts 20:35).

Not only did the boy at the farmer’s market experience the joy of giving, he was learning, at an early age, the importance of money management.  Even though it was only $5.00, how he chose to spend it exemplified “good practices.”  He had given some, had saved some, and had carefully chosen how he spent the rest.

When I was a pastor, one of the questions I raised when talking about stewardship, was the priority given to writing checks for the church and other causes.  Was it the first check written, or was it the last check written?  The boy at the farmer’s market gave his first dollar as a donation and then he made his selection of what to purchase.  He did not first purchase something, and then see if he had anything left to make a donation.  Even at a young age, he had learned that it is more blessed to give than receive.

There are lots of ways we can give.  When a person joins a United Methodist Church, they are asked to support the church with their time, talents, gifts, service, and witness.   Here are at least five ways where we might give.  People who volunteer on a regular basis very often testify that they receive much more than they give (Seek Luke 6:38).  For it is in giving God is able to bless them abundantly.

Have you learned the joy of giving in your life?