Pastor's Weekly Word

Reflections on Faith and Community

Dear friends,

On this page, you will find weekly reflections on life and faith. My hope is that, in some way, they will prove helpful to you in your daily living. You can also find them on the church's YouTube Channel in the "Weekly Word" playlist. May God bless you on the spiritual journey.

Andrew S. Odom
Pastor

10/31/2017 3:49 PM

Giving Like God

10/31/2017 3:49 PM
10/31/2017 3:49 PM
Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 2:4-5)
 
There is no way any of us will ever be able to give like God gives. Not possible. No way. And yet, Paul seems to think that it is still worth a shot. “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,” he says. He then goes on to talk about how Christ humbled himself to the point of death, giving to the point where he could give no more. He “emptied” himself, Paul tells us. How in the world could we even begin to give like that? How?
 
My answer? I don’t know. I don’t have the foggiest clue. I wish I did know. If I knew how to do that I would bottle it up and sell it in a one-time buy one get one free super special rate. There are televangelists out there who do it. They sell salvation over the airways and call it “sowing a seed,” assuring us that when we do, God will richly bless us in a manner similar to the way Paul describes God exalting Christ in Philippians chapter 2.
 

Here’s this problem, though. Paul would be the first one to tell you that you cannot earn God’s blessing. That is not how God gives, and it is, therefore, not how we should give. God does not give so that we might have faith. God gives because that is who God is. God gives because God is about the business of blessing others. God gives fully and completely because it is simply part of God’s DNA. Even though I cannot give you a “take these three steps” manual for giving like God, what I can say is that if you’re trying to force it, you’re probably not doing it right. Don’t be a “so that” giver. Give because, more and more, it is simply who you are. When you do, Paul would surely say that "it is God who is at work in you."

By Andy Odom - Pastor

Published on 10/31/2017 @ 3:49 PM CDT

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