Dear friends,
Last Sunday, we had a missionary family visit our church to report what the Lord is doing in Nepal. You can watch the entire service, including Steve Regnault’s message at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fSr2CdJZPE.
We live in a world of great contrasts, don’t we? A minority of people have the majority of material goods. However, great numbers of people in disadvantaged areas are finding spiritual treasure through faith in Christ.
Last month, two people who had a great influence on others, died. One was known for creating an empire built on the pursuit of pleasure, while the other man devoted himself to serving God and extending His kingdom.
Yesterday, I listened to Dr. David Jeremiah’s radio program, in which he gave some background information about the word “generosity” and the Roman world in the first century. In Mark 12, Jesus observed the rich and a poor widow putting gifts into the treasury. Many, no doubt, were impressed by the amounts given by the rich, but Jesus knew that the widow gave all that she had, in contrast to the rich. In his Study Bible, Dr. Jeremiah writes: “Although the poor widow gave very little – two mites … about one-fiftieth of a day’s wage for a common labourer – as a percentage of her income, she gave far more than the rich.” You can listen to Dr. Jeremiah’s message at:
http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio_archives.aspx.
Dr. Jeremiah stated that 85% of Americans give less than 2% of their income to charitable organizations. According to one study, only 10% to 25% of typical American congregations tithe (give 10% or more to charity). The study also reported the astounding changes that would occur, including the elimination of global hunger, if Christians would begin to tithe regularly.
Scripture for the weekend: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” 2 Corinthians 8:9 (NKJV)
Thought for the weekend: “Good leaders lead by demonstration. They pull people along with them instead of pushing them. General Eisenhower used to demonstrate the art of leadership in a simple but forceful way. He would place a single piece of string on a table and say, ‘Pull it and it follows wherever you want it to go; push it and it goes nowhere.’” – R. Kent Hughes (from his book “Disciplines of a Godly Man”)
By His grace,
Steve