Real People…Real Stories

   In Acts 20 are these words:

"In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive."

   How easy it is to read those and to ascribe to that doctrine in our minds than it is to actually live it out in daily life. With all the stuff going on at Christmas, it is easier to give lip service to that idea, even one coming from the mouth of Jesus, than to carry it in the forefront of our minds.

   For the past three seasons, our church has emphasized something we call The Great Give. It sought to highlight the needs in our own congregation along with soliciting the funds to alleviate the same.

   Persons who had financial needs were encouraged to let the church know their situation. In our day, especially where we live, that is not always easy. For some there is the stigma of having to tell someone they cannot make it on their own, but it is always hard to know about all who come to the church, even those who have come for a long time. So the church asks.

   Then these needs are presented to the congregation, without the names of the needy, just stories of what their life is like and how it could be helped. From car payments, to electric bills, to food or being able to buy some gifts for their kids at Christmas.

   I guess one of the most persuasive pleas is when the pastor, speaking from the stage, tells the congregation to look up and down the row that they are sitting on, stating that there may be men and women, boys or girls, sitting right next to us, that are in need. They may not look ilke it that morning, in their best clothes, but underneath all that may lie a body, soul or spirit that is in great need.

   It is so easy to come to church, speak to those we know, smile at others who also come, but come away with the feeling that all is well with everybody. It is just not true.

   I remember sitting in that service the first time we did this at Christmas. After the stories were presented and the opportunity given for folks to bring some offering to the front, people could not wait to get to the offering boxes. Sure they knew that we were going to do this on that particular Sunday morning, but you could see in their eyes and on their faces, the tangible expression of a love of being able to help someone. It was someone helping a neighbor, a person from right down the street, with a face and a family.

   Each year the money contributed has taken care of all the needs presented, the overage given to others in our community, not of our body, and ministries to help the destitute and hurting all over the area.

   One of the best things to come out of all this is, when the needs are presented the next year, and the money counted, there are notes accompanying the gifts from people who had been recipients the year before, that, because of the gifts they had received, they had been able to get back on their feet, and give back to help others who now find themselves in that same situation.

   The ability to help someone else is a privilege, and using that ability to meet needs of people, real people, people with faces and stories is awesome. It helps open our eyes to people, something we need to do all the rest of the year as well.

   It is more blessed to give.