Sunday, June 8, 2003
Sunday, June 8, 2003
Beloved, I urge you as aliens and exiles to abstain from the desires of the flesh
that wage war against the soul.
Maxie Dunnam tells a memorable story that speaks to the very heart of this matter. A church in
North Carolina, an old downtown church, with many affluent members, extended its ministry to
the city's poor and homeless.
When these domestic refugees became highly visible on church property, one well-dressed and
well-educated church woman stopped minister Harold Bales in the church corridor, obviously
wanting a justification for the presence of the intruders.
Rev. Bales explained that he was trying to save people from hell. The woman, hesitantly agreed
that the church should make an effort to save the street people from hell.
"No, I don't mean them," Rev. Bales said, "I'm trying to save us from hell." That's powerful, but
its true. Many people in our society are in danger of becoming rich fools--gaining the world, but
losing their own souls. That's the first reason giving is an important spiritual matter.
(1 Peter 2.11
NRSV)
Giving is a spiritual question. For some of us, our very souls are at stake.
Loving God, you have given me a lot of blessings. I will be generous in my giving to save my soul
and the souls of others. Amen.
