Dance (serve and give)
- Jerry Witham
- Nov 22, 2008
- Series: Advent
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The other night my wife and I spun around the kitchen to a catchy tune. I love to dance, but I am definitely no Fred Astaire. In fact, I am probably more like Elaine on Seinfeld. I definitely am the one stepping out of line and causing the beauty of it to be marred.
In Paul’s ministry to the church at Thessalonica he had to address a group who was stepping out of line. They acted like they were in step with the rest of the congregation. They would show up and look busy, but in all actuality they were being idle and not holding up their part. Paul calls them out saying, For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies (2 Thessalonians 3.11). These undisciplined busybodies were causing the beauty of this community to be marred by their withholding of their serving and giving. They were stepping out of line and disrupting the beautiful dance of the church.
I want to invite you to dance with us this advent season (November 30-December 24). There are many ways to serve and give as we close out this year. You will find those opportunities in the advent guide enclosed. For our year-end giving the elder team has put a goal of $85,000 before us as a challenge beginning November 30. This year we will once again take the first $10,000 given and give it as a first fruits offering to the Lord to build ten water wells in Asia. It has been such a blessing to see the ten built this year and how they have impacted so many. Your generous giving last advent provided clean drinking water to thousands and hundreds received the gift of living water. The rest given will go to continue the ongoing ministry for this year into next year.
So, as Paul says to the church at Thessalonica, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good (2 Thessalonians 3.13). Let’s keep in line with serving and giving this advent season and dance beautifully together for the glory of God and your advent joy!
The Lord be with you all (2 Thessalonians 3.16)!
