FirstFruits Findings Fall 2002 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A Note From The Director Did you ever read a book that troubles you because of its premise or main thought? I’m reading such a book, Money, Possessions and Eternity by Randy Alcorn. Salvation is a gift of God, not connected to works. The troubling thought? God will reward us in heaven, and one of the measurements He will use is how we managed His money. Lest you think Randy is way off base in his thinking, read Matt. 6:19-21. Are rewards the reason we should be wise managers of God’s money? Our reason should be because of a joyful and generous response to God, shouldn’t it? It makes you wonder though. . . pup tent or mansion just over the hilltop. ~ Norm Vander Wel ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In our last issue of FirstFruits Findings, we talked about the understanding that God owns everything and we are managers of the gifts He gives. This is a foundational principal in understanding our relationship to God and how we are to respond to Him. If we don’t get this one right, the rest of it won’t make any sense! Principle #2 GIVING IS ESSENTIAL Giving is the result of understanding what it means to live a life of stewardship. It is essential because it involves putting God first in our lives. What are ways we can put God first? One is spending time with God — to have a daily quiet time with Him. If that is not happening, that means that somebody else or something else is coming before the Lord. Another way to put God first is by trusting Him to take care of us. Trusting comes before giving. This is probably one of the most difficult principles by which to live. Sometimes it is easier to trust God for our eternal salvation than it is to trust Him to “give us this day our daily bread”. However, a Christian knows that if we trust in God and live according to His will, He will take care of all our needs. If we trust in God, we can never say “I cannot afford to give”. According to Deut. 14:23, one purpose of tithing was to teach the people of Israel to put God first in their lives. It teaches a reliance on God that is fundamental to our relationship with Him. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- APPLYING EQUAL STANDARDS A pastor was asked to define “faithful giving”. His eye-opening reply was simple: “All I ask is that you apply the same standards to your giving that you would to other areas important to your life!” Now if you don’t think that is too much to ask, please consider the following: + If your car starts one out of three or four times, do you consider it faithful? + If the paper boy skips your Monday and Thursday editions, would you miss them? + If you fail to come to work two or three times a month, would your boss call you faithful? + If your refrigerator quits for a day now and then, do you just excuse it and say, “Oh, well, it works fine most of the time?” + If you miss a couple of mortgage or car payments during the year, would your bank say, “Oh well, 10 out of 12 is not that bad”? + Or, finally, if you count on someone to meet you at a certain place or time each week, and he consistently stands you up, do you consider this person faithful in his promise to you? If you contribute financially only now and then are you faithful? Why not apply the same standards to your giving as you do in other areas of your total life? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TIPS TO TRY - Clever cost-cutting ideas to use at home Tea kettle. Place an agate marble in your tea kettle and you’ll never have to clean out lime deposits. Needle sharpening. Sharpen a sewing machine needle without removing it from the machine by “stitching” through a sheet of fine-grain sandpaper. Brakes. Have your brakes replaced before the rotors have to be turned. You’ll save hundreds of dollars. Your mechanic should check for free and tell you how much of the pad is remaining. Don’t push it past 5 percent. Rust. To loosen rusty nuts and bolts, pour club soda over them. Pie crust. Place unfilled piecrust in the freezer 10 minutes before baking to reduce shrinkage and to hold fluted edges in place. Rolling pin. Chill the rolling pin in the freezer and the dough won’t stick to it. This prevents more flour from being added to the dough. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SIMPLY SIMPLIFY *God’s Promises * In previous articles in this column, we have shared reasons to simplify. Some of the benefits are that it reduces stress, it gives us more time with our families, and presents opportunities to use our time or our resources in a different way. What you are about to read is not intended to start a theological debate, although that may well be. As Christians, we believe that when God gives us a directive, He also gives us a promise. In this issue’s “Note from the Director”, we talk about eternal rewards for how we manage the possessions God has given us. But God promises significant rewards in this lifetime. Galatians 6:9 says, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” For additional scripture reading, we’d recommend Eph. 6:8, Rom. 2:6-10, Matt. 16:24-27 and II Peter 3:11-14. We enjoy an ecumenical relationship with 24 other denominations, and are in dialogue about this issue of rewards for Christians. We would enjoy hearing from any of you who are interested in that dialogue. You may reach us at the email address listed below.