Stories Of Sacrificial Giving

The other pastors and I have spoken about biblical giving during our current vision campaign and from time to time. In fact, just a couple weeks ago I spoke to you about it in a short video for our “Mondays Are For Movies” series here in the Pastors’ Blog:

We’ve heard stories from many of you regarding how God has grown you and revealed more of Himself to you as you’ve sacrificially given of your money, time and resources.

It would help others to understand what we mean by “sacrificial giving” if you could email your personal story to stories@sojournchurch.com. We will not use your name, but we want to share these examples by quoting or publishing them anonymously.

You can read a sample by Pastor Simon Groce at vision.sojournchurch.com. Whether just a paragraph or page, we’d greatly appreciate it if you could email stories@sojournchurch.com as soon as you have time.

Here is an excerpt from Pastor Simon:

One of the most exciting ways the gospel has challenged and changed me is in the arena of caring for “the least of these.” As I was reading through the sheep and goats passage in Matthew 25 (“whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me”) I was convinced that I needed to sacrifice more because of the ultimate sacrifice on the cross. This means diving head first into the messiness of marriages in crisis, giving sacrificially of my time and resources, and caring for the destitute and orphan.

One of the ways this is worked out in my life is with my car. About six months after we bought our 2003 Corolla, the paint on the hood began to peel. The previous owner had been in an accident, and the used car dealer had done a cover-up paint job. Every time I am tempted to get it fixed, God brings to mind a hundred kingdom things to do with that $500.

Now as I drive around town and see other cars that don’t look like they have a disease, three things happen: (1) I am humbled (2) I am reminded of what is really important and (3) I get to talk with others about the gospel. You would be surprised how many meaningful conversations start with “why does your car look like that?”

This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men 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. 14And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

– 2 Corinthians 9:12-15