rich toward God
Some of us are one rent payment away from eviction. Some of us are receiving Illinois property tax rebates. Some of us are selecting Medicare supplemental insurance, while others are opening their child’s first savings account.
“A certain rich man’s land produced a bountiful crop. He said to himself, What will I do? I have no place to store my harvest! Luke 12:16b-17 (CEB)
I would like to write a different ending to this story. First, I refer this friend to Everence Financial Services. They can help you manage your great harvest! Unlike other financial and insurance agencies, Everence is a faith-based organization that turns their “profits” into grants for churches to distribute. By using their services, you can help your community while taking care of business.
Then he thought, Here’s what I’ll do. I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. That’s where I’ll store all my grain and goods. Luke 12:18 (CEB)
That sounds like a lot of work! Why tear down perfectly good barns? Here’s another idea: invest the income you expected and then give the excess to the Family Fund. Not everyone owns land, you know. Rent is expensive and late fees add up quickly. The Family Fund will distribute what you don’t need to those who need it the most. No overhead costs, no hassle for you.
The Family Fund relies on three sources to help our extended fellowship with utility bills and rent: annual budgeted amount from NCF, contributions from individuals earmarked for this purpose, and money from Everence. The amount of sharing grants available to the NCF Family Fund is determined by congregational participation in Everence. By banking through Everence Credit Union, purchasing your Medicare Supplement through them, or utilizing their investment services, you can increase Everence’s contribution to our Family Fund.
I’ll say to myself, You have stored up plenty of goods, enough for several years. Take it easy! Eat, drink, and enjoy yourself. But God said to him, ‘Fool, tonight you will die. Now who will get the things you have prepared for yourself?’ Luke 12:19-20 (CEB)
You can’t take it with you. Rich and poor, wise and foolish, we will all die. While we live, we all make financial choices. How much our faith impacts those decisions is up to us. Jesus’ parable shows one way, while directing us to another.
This is the way it will be for those who hoard things for themselves and aren’t rich toward God.” Luke 12:21(CEB)
How do we become rich toward God? Rather than planning just for ourselves, we can invest in the work of the kingdom, sharing our resources with those in need. Like other aspects of our faith journey, we need not walk alone. Our musicians lead us in worship. Our teachers enable us to better love God with our minds. Our prayer team intercedes with us. And savvy financial managers can help us invest our treasure where we want our hearts to be.
Then Jesus said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourself against all kinds of greed. After all, one’s life isn’t determined by one’s possessions, even when someone is very wealthy.” Luke 12:15(CEB)
May we increasingly love God with all our hearts, minds, souls and strength as we learn to love our neighbors as ourselves. That the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds in the presence of Jesus the Messiah. -Renée
Donations to NCF (124 W. White St, Champaign, IL 61820 or via PayPal) with the memo “Family Fund” are used exclusively to meet needs of our extended family.