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The Burden of Our Blessings
Friday, March 16, 2007 (767 reads)
By: Rev. Dr. Delores Carpenter
Senior Pastor, Michigan Park Christian Church, Decatur, GA
Adapted for web by Theresia Whitfield
“From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.” (Luke 12:48b, NRSV)
This text, drawn from the parable that teaches us to be ever vigilant and ready for the Lord’s coming, also establishes the principles of accountability and responsibility. Blessings are not to be treated as pearls and placed before swine — unappreciated, mismanaged, mistreated, trampled upon, and abused. We are not to do with our blessings whatever we please — as if they are ours. Blessings are given to us to manage, for the Bible teaches that God, the giver of every good and perfect gift, holds us accountable for the way we treat the blessings that heaven’s grace bestows upon our lives. However we’re blessed — whether with riches, education, a good job, a good companion, children, the exuberance of youth, long life, friends or people who love us, health, a creative mind, a particular talent or spirituality — we must manage our blessings wisely and handle them well. For one day we shall give an account for the way we have treated or mistreated our blessings.
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Why Should I Tithe?
Friday, March 16, 2007 (703 reads)
By: Rev. Dr. Cynthia Hale
Senior Pastor, Decatur, GA
Adapted for web by Theresia Whitfield
Every child asks the same question. Why? They curiously want to know
why the sky is blue. They want to know why dogs can’t talk. They want
to know why Susie can’t come play with them. Some of the questions are
simply adorable and let us marvel at how God gives these little ones
such imaginations. And yet, they also want to know why they have to
brush their teeth. They want to know why they have to go to bed so
early. They want to know why they have to go to church every Sunday.
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Robbery Without a Weapon
Wednesday, February 21, 2007 (726 reads)
Written by Bishop T. Garrott Benjamin, Jr., D. Min.
Light of the World Christian Church, Indianapolis, IN
Adapted for web by Theresia Whitfield
The headline in the daily newspaper grabs your attention before you can
grab your first cup of coffee. Members of your church were arrested in
the middle of the night for robbing your church. You read on in
disbelief discovering that your fellow parishioners robbed the church
of its tithes. No one used a gun. No one wielded a weapon. No one was
physically harmed. Nothing was taken except for the tithe which they
took and kept for themselves. They had only one demand for the pastor.
The hand-written note said; “Ask God if He would open the windows of
Heaven and pour out blessings upon us, despite our disobedience.”
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