By Pastor Kevin Van Wyk
This is the week when every business seeks to get some of your money. What once was one day of crazy sales has blossomed into a full month of “Black Friday” deals. Cyber Monday started in 2005 and Small Business Saturday started in 2010. No doubt most of us will be convinced this is the time to buy something we don’t really need. 

Even non-profit organizations have tapped into this, effectively utilizing buyers remorse with “Giving Tuesday” which started in 2012. If you splurge over the weekend, you can ease your guilt by giving to a worthy cause on Tuesday.

As a pastor, it’s hard to watch. I wonder - How much expendable income is out there? How much will be spent on unnecessary purchases? How much will be given out of guilt?

And most troubling, how should the Church respond to this trend? Shall we start promoting Sacrificial Sunday? People who have not given all year can ease their guilt with a generous gift. Those that faithfully tithe would be challenged to do more. 

However, I see some problems with this approach. First and foremost is the motivation for giving. Appeasing guilt is not what should motivate believers to be generous, but a thankful heart does lead to generosity. Consider Paul’s words to the Corinthians. 

6 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.”[a]
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. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! (2 Cor. 9)

I hope you did not skip over that passage. It is full of wisdom for us. Your giving to the church matters and the attitude in which you give matters, too. Know that our deacons work hard to steward our resources well that we do all we can to make disciples, providing teaching in many different ways, assisting those in need, and supporting missionaries around the world. 

While I am not calling for a Sacrificial Sunday, I do want to urge you to consider what it might look like for you to give from a cheerful heart.

​I’m kind of, sort of, committed to my Fidelity retirement planning. Once or twice a year, I check to see how things are going. Occasionally, I make a change to the investments. I must confess to Fidelity that Steph and I have been seeing someone else. Don’t worry, we aren’t pulling funds out, but Edward Jones is getting a bit more attention than you are. I’m kinda, sorta, committed.

There are a host of things I am kinda, sorta, committed to... Exercise is another. I did really well for two weeks. I used a stepper thing for 30 minutes a day, five days a week, but then I got sick and took a vacation. Work piled up quickly, and now I have no desire to exercise. 

What about you? What are you kinda, sorta, committed to?

At the dedication of the temple, Solomon prays a looooong prayer (1 Kings 8:23-53). Then he stands and proclaims these words to the people...

8:56  "Praise be to the LORD, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses. 8:57  May the LORD our God be with us as he was with our fathers; may he never leave us nor forsake us. 8:58  May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep the commands, decrees and regulations he gave our fathers. 8:59  And may these words of mine, which I have prayed before the LORD, be near to the LORD our God day and night, that he may uphold the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel according to each day's need, 8:60  so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God and that there is no other. 8:61  But your hearts must be fully committed to the LORD our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time." (1 Kings 8:56-61)

What a great statement of praise... God has helped us (56). Then a statement of hope... May God keep us on track and continue to help us (57-59). Then a statement of purpose... May the result be that ALL PEOPLE KNOW GOD IS LORD. Finally, a clear challenge... God’s help and mission rests on our being fully committed to Him!

I hope you are saying, “I’m all in God! I am yours. I’ll do whatever you call me to do.”

If that is you, I want to flesh that out a bit... What does it mean to be committed to following Jesus?

#1. We commit to daily prayer and Bible reading. You have God’s Word readily available. Are you reading and studying his words with a humble, prayerful heart?

#2. We commit to obeying God’s instructions. This includes discipling others, witnessing to the lost, gathering in worship, giving to His mission, and serving with our God-given abilities.

#3. We commit to His body, the church. Our membership vows and our leadership covenant lay out this commitment well. We commit to following Jesus with other believers, to love them, to receive correction, and to correct our fellow believers.

Have you committed to partnering with us as a member (see The Discovering Membership Packet at the information desk)? Have you committed to leading well by signing our leadership covenant (available at the information desk)? Solomon makes it clear that it’s not perfection God is looking for, but a passionate commitment! So, are you kinda, sorta, committed, or fully committed?

I urge you take the step of commitment today! Partner as a member or sign our Leadership Covenant so all people may know the Lord is God! 

What’s up with the Task Force, staffing, and the RCA? Join us for the congregational meeting on Nov. 10 for details.