"More Than Enough!"

A national troupe of award-winning actors is visiting our local university this month with a wildly popular musical, Pretty Woman! While some macho-types might deny having ever seen the movie, in truth, many have seen it several times since its debut in 1990! It’s a date-night standard with its Cinderella-themed plot about the unlikely romance between a wealthy businessman and a woman of lesser means.

Springfield First is Debt-Free!

One of the unforgettably funny moments of the movie is when Richard Gere presents Julia Roberts with a diamond broach securely incased in the presentation box. The moment she reaches into the box, Gere snaps it shut. She immediately draws her hand back as if bitten by a mini monster. We, viewers, laugh aloud every time we see this clip, but our laughter is drowned out by Robert’s uproarious laughing response!

Thanks to Monique, we have had similar occasions of playful shenanigans from time to time. You’d think I would learn to anticipate these, but I am a “sucker for her pranks” every time! Recently, I said at church no less, "Do you have a ten-dollar bill? I want to buy some fudge at the Boy Scouts fundraiser." She reached into her wallet, pulled out the bill, and handed it to me. When I tried to retrieve it, she held it so tightly that my fingers drew back nothing but air! I replied, “Are we going to play this game again?!”

Monique is one of the most generous people I know! Her “compassion antenna” is always up to detect a need. She’s always ready to give a homeless person some cash, to pay for a special sweet treat for some children of a young family, or to give an extra tip to encourage a restaurant server or table busser. Like Jesus instructs in Matthew 6, she holds the things of this world in a loose hand while “storing up lasting treasures in heaven.”

How many of us have too great a grip on the things of this world? We may not admit to foolishly hoarding things or to being crassly consumed by materialism, but in our own nuanced way, we do make excuses. Jim Elliot, an American missionary was martyred for his faith on January 6, 1956, by an Ecuadorian tribe of unbelievers. Elliot is remembered for this perspective on life, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

The title to these thoughts today “No more offerings… Enough and more than enough!” references the generosity of God’s people during the time of their early wilderness wanderings and specifically, the construction of the Tabernacle. (Exodus 36: 6-7, The Message). I hope I have your attention now with that quote! Allow me to explain. Since generosity is such an important theme in the Scriptures, what church leader would ever exclaim, “No more offerings?” The answer, Moses! And he is speaking on behalf of God Himself! But don’t miss the point! God commanded generosity and God’s people answered by giving more than enough to the Tabernacle’s construction!

We had a special moment at the conclusion of this week’s services. For about a year now, we have been counting down the Sundays and looking forward to a March 30, 2025 Debt-Free Celebration. But we got an early and surprising announcement last Sunday that the debt had already been paid down! With canisters of exploding confetti, church leaders declared that we were officially “debt-free!” at Springfield First United Methodist Church! As expected, spontaneous applause and shouts of joy erupted throughout the worship center!

Bob Dodd, our Executive Director, stepped forward to add this announcement, “We now have a balanced budget!” Bob said this blessing of generosity was the result of an appeal back in the fall to “give a little extra” (even $25!). He encouraged those who didn’t participate in the extra expressions of generosity to consider joining in this opportunity now. Bob reasoned that our additional giving will continue to “grow our church ministries,” and provide funds to “take care of our building needs” going forward!

As a seasoned churchman, I can say, “Don’t expect your church leaders to ask you to take your foot off the “generosity peddle!” The Scriptures declare that this value statement should characterize all kingdom-minded people! Until Jesus comes again, we have work to do and offerings to give to get the job done! And here’s a hopeful promise, God will provide so that there will be “more than enough!”

Mike Keppler, retired pastor,
active churchman and
doting grandparent.
Contact: drmjkeppler@gmail.com
©2018-2025 All rights reserved.
Serve by Design. mjkministries.com

 

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Pray and Move Your Feet!"

Image
There is an old West African proverb: “When you pray, move your feet.” I have said something similar in a little different way: “Be careful in your praying. You may be (and often are!) the answer to your own prayer.” Others see this almost as a command to “Put feet to your prayers!” What do we mean by these various sayings? Prayer is not just an important spiritual discipline for the Christian, it often leads to an “in the flesh” response and connection between the pray-er and the prayer request. Prayer and Action! pngimg.com While prayer is one of the spiritual disciplines, this doesn't mean it is just an academic, theoretical or forensic exercise! I have heard it said, "God inhabits the praises of His people." This suggests that it blesses God to hear the praise of His people in prayer. I believe that the Lord gets an even greater blessing when our praying is “incarnated” in devotion, commitment and service for Him. Our best efforts at praying involve action plans to ...
Read more

Uncle Billy Moments!

Image
Photograph courtesy of Paramount Pictures Many of you will remember the beloved uncle who partnered with Jimmy Stewart’s character in the Christmas favorite, It’s a Wonderful Life. Uncle Billy was absent-minded and habitually wrapped a "reminder string" around his finger so he wouldn’t forget things. There is that pitiful exchange between the uncle and his nephew George Bailey. After a costly lapse in judgement in which $8,000 falls into the villainous Potter's hands, George, fearing the bank examiner's reprisals, called Uncle Billy, “A silly, stupid old fool!" Indeed, it was a sad occasion for the Bailey Building and Loan at the cusp of the Great Depression when that amount of money in today's dollars would exceed $114,000 in value. This was for me an unforgettable (and I use that word carefully) confrontation by the two characters in the film. I had an Uncle Billy moment last week. One that I am still embarrassed about. I absentmindedly left my bank ...
Read more

"A Blue Christmas"

Image
We recently celebrated what would have been the ninth birthday of our beloved granddaughter, Kayley Janelle. She was only given to her family for a fleeting time of about sixty days before a severe heart defect and catastrophic stroke prematurely shut down her precious little life. Every time we visit the cemetery we are painfully reminded of how we would have loved on and delighted in her! Kayley's Ninth Birthday! On this occasion, we brought a special dessert drink with whipped topping from the local coffee shop. It was our way of commemorating in a tangible way just how much we miss those everyday opportunities to spoil Kayley! There would have been special “date times” to eat at her favorite soup and sandwich shops and chat about her school and social activities. At this season, we would have loved to hear her screams of delight when she opened her gifts, large and small, along with the entire family! Life has a way of changing things! Our hopes and longings can be dashed to pi...
Read more