Pastoral Letter
Dear Friends,
A MAN WAS PACKING a shipment of food contributed by a school for the poor. He was sorting through the gifts separating beans from powdered milk, and canned vegetables from canned meats. Reaching into a box filled with various cans, he pulled out a little brown paper bag. Apparently one of the pupils had given something different from the items on the suggested list. Out of the paper bag fell a peanut butter sandwich, an apple, and a cookie. Crayoned in large letters was a little girl's name, 'Christy -- Room 104'. She had given up her lunch for some hungry person.
As we celebrate harvest in our villages this autumn we will once again be giving thanks for the amazing generosity and love of a God who has put us in this wonderful world, and given us so much wonderful food to live on. Yet the Bible tells us that we must never become selfish about the good things we have been blessed with. In fact it tells us not to build up our treasures on earth but to build them up in heaven.
The Bible tells us that
'God loves a cheerful giver'(2 Corinthians 9:7)
and
'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' (Acts20:35)
There is a classic example of that in the story of August H. Francke, the well-known German preacher of the 17th century, who founded an orphanage to take care of the homeless children who roamed the streets of Halle. One day when he desperately needed funds to carry on his work, a destitute Christian widow came to his door begging for one gold ducat. Because of his financial situation, he politely but regretfully refused. Disheartened, the woman sat down and began to weep. Moved by her tears, Francke asked her to wait while he went to his room to pray about the matter. Seeking God's guidance, he felt that the Holy Spirit wanted him to grant the request. Trusting the Lord to meet his own pressing needs, he gave her the money.
Two mornings later he received a warm letter of thanks from the widow saying that because of his generosity she had asked the Lord to shower the orphanage with gifts. That same day he received 12 ducats from a rich lady and two from a friend in Sweden. He thought he had been amply rewarded, but shortly afterward he was informed that Prince Lodewyk Van Wurtenburg had died, and in his will had directed that 500 gold pieces be given to the orphanage! Francke wept in gratitude. In sacrificially providing for that needy widow, he had not been impoverished but enriched beyond his wildest dreams.
I think it is so important to be generous at all times, not counting the cost but giving out of thanks for all the blessings in our lives. A little poem sums this thought up beautifully:-
Go break to the needy sweet charity's bread;
"For giving is living," the angel said.
"And must I be giving again and again?"
My peevish and pitiless answer ran.
"Oh no," said the angel, piercing me through,
"Just give till the Master stops giving to you.
May God bless you all,