Musick-al Note # 216
Our lives are governed to a degree upon the amount of income that we enjoy but perhaps more upon the expenses that we incur. With more income we begin to live more freely and obtain more of the luxuries and pleasurable things of life. This brings on more expense in payments which demands more income which causes us to again buy more, and the cycle continues.
Often completely left out and in many instances minimized is the responsibility and privilege of contributing to the Lord’s work. Few indeed are they who will increase their contributions when their income increases and few still who visualize their increased income as opportunity for more service to the Lord Jesus. Many readily spend more for pleasures but few give more to enlarge the effectiveness of the local congregation through enlarged contributions.
When we are able, we take long vacations and week-end trips for our satisfaction, but hardly ever do we plan any spending of the time or the money for increased service to Christ. Hunting, fishing, golfing or other sports are well and good if rightfully used. That is — for recreation, the rebuilding ones vitality, but to pervert it to the expending of one’s money, energy and time to the exclusion of God from our lives is sin. Sometimes we get so involved that we even use the money we purposed to give to the Lord’s work to pay for these “recreational” activities. Such embezzlement will not go unnoticed by the Lord and we will still give an account in the Day of Judgment. We need to remember that Jesus took note of the contributions (Luke 21:1-3).
Sometimes we forget that the obligations begun at home continue even when we are away. The work and expenses continue whether or not we are there to receive benefit from the. It is true of the home, of the business and also the church. Do you neglect paying the bills on your home when you are out of town? No, of course not. Then why neglect the church when you leave for the week-end? Let your stewardship be true.
Gordon Musick
Musick-al Notes 