Huguette Clark died in 2011. A vastly wealthy heiress, she died in seclusion in a hospital room at the end of a very long life, yet she maintained numerous empty mansions, one of which she never set foot in.
Her empty houses were temples to her fear that people only wanted her money. She maintained them meticulously, but she didn’t live in them.
We are to maintain temples not to the things of this life, but to the Lord God of all creation. Nehemiah 10:32-33 speaks to our need to give offerings to the Lord’s house.
Need #1: Maintenance
Our church facilities need regular upkeep. There are utilities to run and carpet to replace. The lawn must be trimmed. Security must be maintained.
Nehemiah instructs us to determine a set amount we will give on a regular basis for these expenses.
Need #2: Appreciation
The church body is a family. Our ministers deserve a livable wage. When we tell our leaders we love them, we should elevate our praise with a cash booster chair.
When we give of what matters to us most, then others will see that our appreciation is real.
Need #3: Celebration
God gives us life to enjoy, and when we find our enjoyment within our church family, we bind our spirits in one accord.
Whether it’s an all-church picnic, a church softball league, or a bowling night, offerings to fund social events within the church body keep our Christian foundations strong.
Need #4: Special Occasions
Whether a visiting minister, a traveling musical group, or a seasonal holiday display, when we participate financially in our church’s special events, we become the bulwark that shores up our defenses against the attacks of the devil.
Write a check to send a child to summer camp. Hire the youth group to do an elderly member’s yard work. Invest in graduation gifts, or in birthday celebrations for the church staff.
Need #5: Ongoing Projects
It is important for the church body to have long-range goals. It might be an addition to the classroom wing or a new baptistry. Perhaps the church needs updated water fountains or flower beds to line the sidewalks. Or maybe the mission field is our body’s calling.
We will have a future as long as we have a vision for the future. However, visions also require cash, and that comes from the members of the local church.
When we give of our money to fund the workings of the church, we offer worship unto the One who inhabits our praises.
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Code: FD.FGO.E.26.13.vp