Pastor's Weekly Word

See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. (1 John 3:1)

Giving does not come naturally. We are born with the instinct to watch out for ourselves first, to make certain of our own situation first, and to keep our eyes on ourselves first. We are built to survive. Giving goes against the grain of this most basic of instincts, so it does not come naturally. Giving is a learned trait. We learn it when we are children by watching others give, like parents and mentors. We read stories about giving in scripture or in children’s books, and it starts to stick. As we grow older, we practice the art of giving as we slowly but surely become more generous. We find that the more we give, the more we are able to give. With practice, generosity becomes more than just an ethic; it becomes a way of life. But it takes practice.

In the church, giving is visible in all kinds of ways, from the offering plate passed in worship, to the food collected for the hungry, or the prayers of comfort offered to someone who is feeling distant from God. The church is an endless ocean of examples in giving and generosity. It is, perhaps, where we show Christ in the world most fully.

On Sunday Canyon Creek did what we do each year at this time. We all came to the front to make a commitment for next year. Almost every time we do that I watch the people coming forward. I look at your faces, your expressions, and your posture, and I say to myself, “See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God.” In those moments, I see God’s children growing in their faith and in their practice of being generous.

If you were not able to be with us, you can still be part of it by making your commitment online. May God bless you with life and life abundant.