Hey Team!
As I have been thinking about the generosity of the "anonymous donor" who graciously provided our S.S. class with comfortable new chairs and a new lectern, it has brought a lot of things to my mind.
Could it be said that out of the overflow of the heart, the checkbook speaks? Of course that is not in Scripture, but what is in Scripture is that "faith without works is dead" (James 4:17) and that when you give your alms (financial gifts), "do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing" so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you (Matthew 6:3-4). There are many more passages that pertain to this act of faith, giving, and generosity, but you get the picture.
But the picture is even bigger! Did you also know that another anonymous donor from our class gave the furniture for our new prayer room (see Scripture references above)? Did you know that a great many of our class are serving faithfully and regularly in our children's ministry, youth ministry, tutoring ministry, leading/teaching classes, and in many, many other ways?
None of us is perfect and none of us has arrived, but it has been encouraging to me to think about all the different and many ways that you give, serve and try to live lives of obedience. What's even more encouraging is that I am confident that I don't know even half of what so many of you are doing as mothers, fathers, friends, neighbors and in all of your other relationships. The good news is that you are not doing what you are doing for the applause of men, but out of a spirit of faithfulness. And at the end of the day, according to Scripture, your Father who sees in secret will reward you!
So . . . press on!
Andrew
