If someone wrote your biography on the basis of your checkbook or your income-tax return, what would it say about you – your loyalties, your focus, your priorities, and about whom you serve? A person who has been a Christian for even a short time can fake prayer, Bible study, going to church and so on, but they can’t fake what their checkbook reveals. That is why so many of us are secretive about our personal finances.
Jesus shares the parable of the talents, recorded in Matthew 25. We discover in that parable that the amount we make is not what is important. God is just as concerned about the attitude of the believer making $12,000 a year as he is about the attitude of the believer making $120,000 a year. The servant who was given five talents, and the servant given two talents were ultimately told, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” God didn’t care about the amount. But God did care about the attitude.
Many people say that they cannot give because they don’t have enough. They say things like, “God doesn’t expect me to give.” But they are missing the point. The amount they have isn’t important. It is their faithfulness with the amount they do have. If we are faithful with what we have (and it may be little), God will reward us on how we managed it – whether $12.00 a week or $12,000 a week.
Of the three servants in the parable only one wasn’t ultimately told “Well done” – the one who took what he had and hid it, held on to it, and didn’t pass it on. (It was the servant who wasn’t faithful with the small amount that God had given him). Some of us believe because we don’t have much that God doesn’t expect us to give and put Him first in every area of our lives. It is my prayer that we will not have that attitude! The servant that ultimately got banished ONLY had one talent. If we make $200 a week or $20,000 a week, God wants us to be responsible for it.
May God challenge us to be faithful stewards of ALL He has given to us!!
SUNDAY WORSHIP
THIS SUNDAY we will meet once again at 2910 West Main Street for our worship service at 9:30 a.m. We will Live Stream the service on Facebook and our website.
Pastor Glen’s sermon will be “The Currency of Faith,” based upon Genesis 21:1-6. Please read this text in preparation for worship!
We will expect individuals and families to follow appropriate social distancing guidelines. We want to be respectful of our brothers and sisters. You will need to bring and wear protective masks while entering and moving about the building. We will not pass an offering plate (an offering plate will be available for your tithes and offerings). Online giving opportunities are available on the website.
Children are welcome but families must sit together.
NURSERY IS NOW AVAILABLE
We are pleased to offer a nursery for children through pre-school. The nursery is in the Sunday school area.
THE CHOSEN STUDY SERIES IS COMING!!
We are excited to be offering an 8-week Small Group Bible Study series based on the popular DVD series, The Chosen. The small groups will begin on March 3rd. Small groups will either meet virtually through Zoom meetings or in person, depending on what works best for each participant. Pastor Glen will be basing his messages each Sunday on the series!! Please check out the information on our website and SIGN-UP!!!
BOTTLE CAMPAIGN
We are once again participating in ComfortCare Women’s Health Baby Bottle Campaign, in order to raise support for their life-saving services and ministry with women. ComfortCare is a ministry that specializes in the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of unplanned pregnancy.
Baby bottles are still available for you to save your change. You may pick them up at the church. We will collect the baby bottles on February 28, 2021. If you would like to contribute to ComfortCare Women’s Health, you can also make checks payable to Hope Community Church and put in the memo “Baby Bottle Campaign.”
FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS
Albert Danraj (2/5); Richard Jessee (2/10); Matt Lucas (2/14)