Last Sunday my family attended church at Trinity Baptist in Keystone Heights, Florida, with my grandparents. They, I'm sure along with several other Southern Baptist Churches, showed a video about the International Mission Board's "Christmas in August." Every year at Christmas time Southern Baptists take up a special offering called the Lottie Moon Offering. The Lottie Moon Offering is named after one of the great SB missionaries to China, and was established in 1881. This great ministry has allowed missionaries to go and share the gospel all over the world without having to worry about raising support. However, last year the offering fell short of the necessary goal by almost $30 million. This has resulted in an indefinite hold on sending missionaries as well as a cut back in the number of full time missionary appointments.
Therefore, the Southern Baptist Convention President, Johnny Hunt, along with other SBC leaders, has called for a special Lottie Moon Christmas in August offering in the hopes of offsetting the shortage from 2008. However, the problem isnt going to be fixed by a one time offering, because the problem isnt just that there was a shortage in giving last year.
To find the problem we must go to the root of it, and we must be honest with ourselves. Why aren't people giving? Is it because we just dont know? Or is it because we have been so captivated by the fleeting things of this world that we dont care for the perishing around us? The time for giving what is required has passed. Brothers and sisters, I urge you to give sacrificially. Whether it be clothes, technological toys, books (this is where I love to spend money), Alabama Season Tickets, or even giving up something you want for your birthday or Christmas, I urge you to give until it hurts. I am not saying you must go without food, but we waste so much money on material things. Sure, times are hard economically, but that doesnt mean we should stop giving. Even when times are tough somehow we manage to continue wasting money. Get creative in your giving. If we just say we aren't going to buy something in order to save money, we will end up wasting it on something else. Instead of just deciding to not spend money on something calculate what you would spend and give that. Instead of buying things you dont need, set that money aside to give and help spread the gospel among the nations. Alabama games last a few hours and are over, books will burn, the souls of men will last forever. I, too, am guilty of wasting money. Let us together support the cause of Christ. What would it look like if for Christmas this year if instead of making a list of things we dont need that will only end up as clutter, we make a list, calculating the price and giving it all away? We dont need more stuff, but the world does need to hear the Gospel. Give to His work and watch the Lord faithfully provide for your needs.
Amen! That is just what needed to be stated. Oh that all God's people would tune into to your blog and read this post. Thank you for reminding all of us that the commission is great and not an option. We must give till it is a sacrifice and not out of our abundance. That the world may praise Him, Aunt T.
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