Life is fleeting. Trust me, I know. One minute you’ve got little kids running around the home, next minute they’re gone and have started families of their own. Well, it seems like that at times. The years seem to fly by so much faster the older you get.
I led the funeral service for my uncle Bill down near Sale in the first week of January. It was a special day for a number of reasons. But of all the things that stuck in my mind was how Uncle Bill was remembered. In my earlier years (up to about age 19) I have very fond memories of a simple living, uncomplicated farmer from Woodend (via Sunshine). On the way home I was thinking about the absence of any – I mean, “any” – negative sentiment concerning Uncle Bill, verbal or otherwise. At most funerals I have attended, or led, the life being remembered usually has some elements in the eulogies that hints at some flaw, or negative trait. That’s not a bad thing, of course, it’s important to acknowledge these things if for no other reason than honestly remembering. Authentic memorials are really important. People appreciate that. Of course, that’s a question of degree. I have heard some very unflattering eulogies, some quite harsh and even mean. But this was quite absent in the eulogies and reflections concerning Uncle Bill. And neither was there any whitewash fakery or insincerity.
I got to thinking on the long drive home, “How will I be remembered?” And, “How would I like to be remembered – honestly remembered?” Good questions, eh?
I think I’d like to be remembered as one who was generous of spirit, self-giving and generous with the provision God entrusted to me - like Jesus was - and passionate for His kingdom cause. At funerals peoples’ lives are remembered in their entirety – not just their last few years if you get my drift.
And that’s the point, isn’t it? How will your life and contribution be remembered? All of it. Not just the best bits of it. Not just the highlights, with other less flattering or embarrassing bits edited out of your eulogy.
So, I ask again,
“how will you be remembered?”
Will you be remembered for your generosity, or your stinginess? Will you be remembered as one who blessed others out of the excess God entrusted to you while here, to steward and distribute for His glory? Will you be remembered as a liberal giver, or a taker? In the end, all of that is up to you.
We are in a very challenging season. Having come out of the COVID lockdowns, we are still coming out of COVID and trying to overcome the currents that have pulled us back. May I encourage you to become even more generous than you are right now – in every way. With your money. With your time. With your praying. With yourself. What would that mean for you? Right now we need everyone in the church family to lift their giving which starts with properly and faithfully bringing tithes and offerings to the Lord. May I encourage you, as we approach budget time again, to review your giving to the Lord’s work here and ask Him to refresh your thinking about your tithing and giving?
I believe God wants to release untold resources and provision for our church so that it can carry out all that God has called us to. But it starts as we are intentionally generous – really, generous. There is a potent spiritual principle that activates when the people of God become really generous. The apostle Paul teaches us this …
2 Corinthians 9:6-12 (NIV)
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: ‘They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.’ 10 Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.”
May our church be remembered in the community for its liberal generosity as seed for sowing is brought by us all, so that new mission initiatives can bring the love and hope of God to the thousands He is seeking. Your prayerful generosity is urgently needed right now.
Think on these things.
Ps Milton