Scripture

 Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back.

Luke 6:30, NLT

Quote

The world says, “The more you take the more you have.” Christ says, “The more you give, the more you are.”

~Frederick Buechner

When I first began preaching the principles of biblical stewardship, I did so because they are taught in the Bible. I believed them but I did not understand them. One of the seven basic biblical stewardship principles is GIVE AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN UNTO YOU. Bill Stafford use to say, “If you have a financial problem, you need to give more.” It doesn’t make sense does it? The principle works but only if you have the right motive. If you have a greedy hand, it will not work. We do not give to get: we give to get to give again. It is simply the law of the harvest. The farmer who does not replant his seed, does not reap a harvest. The more seed he plants, the greater his harvest.

With this principle in mind, THE BLENDED VERSION {The life of Christ is Stereo} by Standley Ellison reads {Luke 6:29-30} “Give to everyone who asks you for something, and don’t refuse the person who wants to borrow from you. If anyone takes something that is yours, don’t demand that he return it.” I have to be honest folks, this is a hard saying. I know some bums who will take everything you have and keep it. You can call them freeloaders, moochers, parasites, spongers or deadbeats but the bottom line is–they will take all you have and will not look back. So how do we interpret this difficult passage? We all know there is no Christ-likeness in being selfish and stingy. The question is: do we give indiscriminately to anyone for any reason? I think the answer is no. We have to be careful about who we support financially. I remind you that the church at Thessalonica had some freeloaders and Paul instructed the other members to stop feeding them.

I don’t mind giving: matter of fact, I love to give but it troubles me to see these road blocks with people wanting money or these businesses that want you to donate to some cause. What cause? I am not going to support the United Way or the Red Cross. I will be glad to give to St. Jude’s or the Children’s Hospital but I am not supporting a left-wing organization that is working to destroy everything that is biblical. Perhaps wisdom should be applied to our giving. So let us draw a conclusion: we want to resist every form of greed but at the same time, we want to give wisely. So although I do not understand completely what Jesus is saying; I don’t believe He is instructing us to give indiscriminately.

Extra

Great weekend PTL. I was privileged to preach twice yesterday. One old sermon that I have not preached in years. June told me on the way home that the John 3:16 was her favorite all time sermon. That is a compliment. We shared a new one at DBC last night. They had another fantastic crowd. We had a music artist in the building but he was too tired to sing. He better bring a soundtrack the next time he comes.

Carrying my son-in-law to the airport at 8:00 and then off to the counter top discount store on Jordan Lane. Then we will be working at the new location. Weather is supposed to improve later in the week. God bless you for reading the blog; I hope you have a great week.

Extra/Extra

I attended the COLS of Roy Dean Woodard last Friday. He was born in 1936, the birth year of may oldest sister who was killed in a tradgic automobile accident three years ago. I was late getting to the service but had time to visit with the family afterwards and what a joy to see the Woodards and their kin, Randy and Kelly Jo Thompson and Jeff and Janet McCullom. I also saw my good friend Kenneth Thomison. Jeff told me that he tells Bro. Jack stories all the time. What was amazing news to me, I was his pastor 50 years ago. He was just a kid. He said I carried him to his first Alabama football game. I don’t remember, but I trust his word. Janet said I performed her marriage and I don’t remember that either. I do remember Vickie and Randy, a Saturday evening, unrehearsed, family only, small church wedding that went without a hitch. Maybe the only wedding I have ever conducted where everyone was happy.

Jeff and Janet McCullum

Meet The Woodards

Jane {Roy Deans wife of 68 years}, Vickie by me and then sons, Gregg and Al.

Gregg is the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Green Hill, Alabama. I loved my brief visit with this these old and dear friends. It was a wonderful time of fellowship. Jane makes the best chicken and dressing in the world, it is like soup and I love it. Her mama made delicious dumplings. Vickie and Randy have been married for 49 years. Most of you have heard me talk about Roy Dean. He was a man of few words. A soft spoken gentle man, just the opposite of me and I admired him. Before leaving Cherokee I went to see Roy and we had a driveway conversation. I told him I admired him and wanted to be like him, because I talk too much. He said he admired me for speaking up and taking a stand on issues. He said, “I want to do that but it is just not in me.” As the pastor said at the COLS, “Roy Deans words were few and not loud but his life spoke volumes and he was admired by many as an humble servant of Christ.” What a joy to know Roy and to get to see his family one more time. I also saw Randy and Kelly Jo but I forgot to get a picture. One of my first jobs as an electrician was at Randy’s house, I wired in some outside flood lights so we could have a youth event there. They were the brightest lights in Cherokee for about a minute. Unfortunately, I have not forgot that story and neither has Randy. He told Jeff, “If you need an electrician, call Bro. Jack, he will fix you up.”