Check back soon
Once posts are published, you’ll see them here.
The man looked a little worried when the doctor came in to administer his annual physical, so the first thing the doctor did was to ask whether anything was troubling him. "Well, to tell the truth, Doc, yes," answered the patient. "You see, I seem to be getting forgetful. No, it's actually worse than that. I'm never sure I can remember where I put the car, or whether I answered a letter, or where I'm going, or what it is I'm going to do once I get there -- if I get there. So, I really need your help. What can I do?" The doctor mused for a moment, then answered in his kindest tones, "Pay me in advance."
Most of us probably do not enjoy a yearly physical. Perhaps because of the added expense, the time which it will take to go and wait at the doctor’s office, or due to some unfavorable report which one is afraid he might learn about his health, a yearly appointment with the doctor is an unwelcomed event. However, unenjoyable or not, a yearly physical is a good idea. At this appointment, the doctor will perform any number of important diagnostic tests which will indicate important changes in health. The signs of sickness that often go ignored in the busyness of daily life can be revealed at the yearly physical appointment with the doctor. With this visit, sickness can be avoided and good health can be enjoyed. While a health physical will not completely ensure one’s total health in all matters or necessarily prolong life, it does provide a general bill of good or poor health.
In the same manner that a yearly health checkup with the family physician is important to one’s physical life, regular checkups are needed for one’s spiritual life. In the busyness of life’s activities, we all need regular soul examinations which will help uncover sin which may have taken root though we are unaware. Certainly, the daily reading of Scripture, frequent prayer, regular fellowship in the local church, and the intentional sharing of the gospel will each help to keep a check on our spiritual health. However, there is one diagnostic for which we may have overlooked that can provide distinct indicators regarding the vitality of our faith. What is this spiritual examination? The yearly contribution statement of giving to the local church.
While the IRS demands that each church produce a statement describing any moneys given in a particular year to its contributors, it is in fact a means by which any of us might realize just how faithful we are—or not—to the gospel of Jesus Christ. While true spirituality is certainly much more than about dollars and cents, it cannot at the same time be any less than this. It has been rightly stated that if one wants to know the contents of a man’s heart, he need only open the man’s bank statements. Jesus communicated this very principle when he stated, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Luke 12:34). It is during this very time of year that our church provides year-end contribution statements. As you look at your own and then provide that information for tax purposes, what does it say about your heart? What portion of your money do you spend on yourself? Or rather, what portion of God’s resources are you giving to His cause? (Remember, everything we have is really God’s—Psalm 24:1.)
In 2 Corinthians 8-9, the Apostle Paul provides insight as to how each believer is to give financially to God through the local church. In fact, he calls giving “an act of grace” (2 Corinthians 8:7). Following this designation for this spiritual discipline, he goes on to explain how we can make certain we are growing in the grace of giving. Years ago, I created an acrostic to help understand these principles of giving. You will note that it creates the word SPARC. (Some smart aleck pointed out to me that it also spells CRAPS, but I think I’ll stay with the other!)
Systematically—2 Corinthians 9:5
Just as your finances require systematic attention, so the church cannot operate from random or flippant resources. If we are going to fulfill the Great Commission, it will require careful allocation of resources. It requires planning a budget.
Proportionately—2 Corinthians 8:3
The tithe (10% of income) is a good starting point for giving (Matthew 23:23). In giving to God’s work through the local church, the amount is less important than the percentage—no less than all of our lives.
Abundantly—2 Corinthians 9:6
I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc, is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little.—C.S. Lewis
Regularly—2 Corinthians 8:8-9
Unquestionably, it could never be said of Jesus that He was stingy in giving. May no less be said of His followers.
Cheerfully—2 Corinthians 9:7
It is not just our resources for which we must give an account, but also for the motivations and attitudes of our hearts.
Checkups, whether they be physical or spiritual, may not be pleasant. However, they can keep us from debilitating illness. And a favorable report can serve as encouragement that God is graciously giving us good health. This is good for the body and good for the soul.
Jason