Love So Amazing

12 August 2014

LOVE SO AMAZING

A Word from General Andre Cox

           Perhaps one of the greatest dangers that today's Army may face is compacency.  We have a unique calling to proclaim the gospel message but at the same time to reach out - without discrimination - to help and support people who are suffering in the world.

            The question that has to be asked is how involved are we in our core mission?  How committed are we to reaching the world for Christ?

            In an age where 'outsourcing' is a popular way of getting the job done, I feel that there is an increasing danger for us, as Salvationists, to distance ourselves or to become disconnected from our own responsibilities with respect to the 'Salvation War'.

            Many of our social programmes that 'serve suffering humanity' are funded through external means.  In recent years we have come to rely upon specialised social services institutions in the delivery of these services.     

            While we rightly take pride in the great advancement and professionalization of many of the things that we do, we must not lose sight of why we do them.  Jesus said: 'Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives lifht to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven' (Matthew 5:15,16).  Al that we do should glorify the one who calls us out into the world as witnesses.

           In many places where I have served, the area where we struggle the most is in financing corps and evangelical aspects of our mission.  When it comes to self-support I believe that we all need to face our personal responsibility in this respect.

           As soldiers, we sign a covenant with God in which we affirm: 'We will be faithful stewards of all we have and are.  We will be active in God's work both in sharing the gospel and in serving the needy, and will contribute financially to its support.'

           That is a covenant that we have all signed, both soldiers and officers.  Could it be that we too easily forget our covenant agreement with God?  Could it be that we do not take our covenant seriously?  Salvationists are not always renowned for their sacrificial giving to support the work of God!

          However, this is something that goes way beyond a simple finaicial commitment to support God's work.  It touches every aspect of our lives, our time, our talents and our treasure!

         While there is no doubt that we need money to survive, what is our relationship with money?  Is it a healthy relationship?  There are many Christians who are fervent until it touches their purse!  It is easy to have faith and trust in God when we have money in our bank accounts and when we do not have to worry about the material things of life.

         Money is a touchy subject; it is a source of great temptation.  The Early Church faced this problem and no age of Church history has been exempt.  Many people have compromised their faith through a disproportionate desire for wealth or through a lack of integrity in handling money.  Could it be that we need to regain a right attitude concerning the physical and material things of this world?

        General Shaw Clifton (Retired) in his book Never the Same Again wrote: 'When you are a Christian, you come to see possessions in a new light.  Yes, you still own things, whether few or many, small or large.  But your ownership is not according to this world's laws.  Your eyes now are on a more distant horizon and you realise that "the earth is the Lord's and everything in it" (Psalm 24:1).  So if you have money, it is all God's money.  If you have land, it is all God's land.  If you have books, or a car, or clothing, they are all God's things.  You have possession of them but they are all ultimately God's.  He has granted them to you as his trustee or steward.  You are looking after them for him, using them according to his will.'

        The Bible Speaks to us also about the heart of the giver.  The Old Testament speaks of our giving as tithing and so it is in proportion to what we have that we give.  The New Testament maintains that teaching, while also focusing on the cheerful, willing, sacrificial and generous giving of believers.

        Paul writes wise words to Timothy: 'But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.  But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.  Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.  Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs' (1 Timothy 6:6-10).

       Contentment is something we see little of.  People always want more.  Unfortunately, even Christians are tempted to take what is not theirs as they seek ever more!  It is a sorry thing to say that often officers and even leaders have set bad examples by seeking to gain rather than to give!  Paul never said that we shouldn't have material things, but that we should be content with what we have.  In that way we will live happier lives!  Those who always want more inevitably fall into the sin of covetousness!  It does not matter if we are rich, poor, free or slave.  As Christians we are all called upon to generously share what we have been given with other people.

        We cannot escape the fact that our faith is demonstrated in the things that we do, rather than the things that we say.  We need to put 'our money where our mouth is!'

       As Easter hymn of Isaac Watts reflects on Christ's giving and our own in these verses:

                        When I survey the wondrous corss on which the Prince of Glory died

                        My richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride.

                        Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were a present far too small;

                        Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.   (SASB 136 vv 1,4)

Money and material things will weigh for nothing in eternity.  Therefore, let us make wise investments for the future now!  When it comes to the issue of self-support - just imagine what greater things will be achieved as God leads us to greater generosity in the giving of our time, talents and treasures.

(THE OFFICER SEPT-OCT 2013    -    Permission to reprint provided reference to source indicated)