Heart Tracks - The Plate

"The churches of Macedonia...first gave their own selves to the Lord." 2 Corinthians 8:1,5....."Modern Macedonians give money, but the early Macedonians first gave God the Macedonians." Vance Havner

The above Scripture and quote make me think of two stories that greatly impacted me. The first was told by Sheila Walsh about a young man in the Scottish village she grew up in. He was known as "Wee Jimmy." Wee Jimmy was known throughout the village as a thief and troublemaker. One night he slipped into a church with the intent to rob it of the night's offering. As he waited on the back row, the Word being preached pierced his heart, and at the end of the service, responded to the invitation and gave his heart to Christ. He then faithfully began attending all worship services. A few weeks later, as the offering plate came to him, he asked the usher to place it on the floor beside his seat. The older gentleman softly told him that it was fine if he had nothing to give, but Wee Jimmy persisted, and finally, the usher placed the plate right beside his seat. Jimmy then stood up, and placed his feet in the plate. This was his witness to all that he was offering to God, not part of his money, goods, or himself. He would be the offering. He was the offering. Like the Macedonians, Wee Jimmy gave God the offering of himself; all of himself.

The second story is one I heard of taking place in a worship service in a poor Chinese village. It was customary during the worship to pass around a large sack, into which the villagers would place whatever they could, chickens, farm goods, and so on. When it came to one woman, she had absolutely nothing countable to give; so she gave to Him all that she could. She stepped into the sack, and by doing so gave witness, just as Wee Jimmy had, just as had the early Macedonians, that she gave to Him herself....all of herself.

How do we fit into these stories? Do we find it easy to write a check, make a pledge, to give a portion, while holding back the rest? Do we ever, as the "plate" comes to us, step into it? When the "sack" comes before us, do we pull it over ourselves? Just how far, how deep, does our offering to Him really go?

In Jesus Christ, the Father gave us His all. What do we offer in return? In Jesus Christ, the Father gave to us according to His riches, which are infinite. Why do we tend to always give to Him out of our own. I remember an older pastor once telling this young pastor to not fear asking too much of my people, "They'll never give too much." Cynical? Perhaps, but the Wee Jimmy's and the Chinese villager are too rarely found in our churches. We'll give up to a tithe, sometimes even more. Rarely will we give all of ourselves, our time, resources, talents, lives, to Him. His plate and sack will come before us today; what will we put into it....a portion.....or all that we are? We may avoid them today, but they'll come again tomorrow, and the next day after, and beyond. What will we put into them?

Blessings,
Pastor O