Thanksgiving

 

You know, sometimes in the fall, it’s really hard to be thankful.  The fall is a beautiful time of year but it’s also a tough time.  The kids have just started back to school; probably the most expensive time of year for parents.  Because of this, others suffer also.  The effect trickles down to restaurants, charities, travel, and yes, even church tithing.  

 

What can we do about this?  As the old adage goes, “PLAN AHEAD.”  Most of the time, however, it turns out to be, “PLAN AHEad.”  Now and again, no matter how we plan, there just isn’t enough money at the end of the month.  Unexpected expenses are bound to occur.  That’s just part of life.  Even the best financial planners sometime come up short.  This is true all through the year.

 

How do we decide which items are important enough to pay for and which ones can wait until next month?  Let’s see, we need food, shelter, and clothing.  Should our diversions and hobbies be postponed?  They’re important.  They relieve stress and help us relax.  What about movies? Auto maintenance? A new outfit for the upcoming parties?  What are our priorities?  And, just how does our church fit into this whole financial scheme?

 

Let’s go back to basics and determine our real needs.  What did Jesus say about this?  I remember Him being emphatic about giving God His due.  I also remember Him saying that it’s not the dollar amount but the spirit in which it is given that counts.  We can’t out give God, but we can give to Him first.  With God’s help, the money left will go much farther than the total amount we had before tithing.  We can’t buy God’s blessings but we can put our treasure where our heart is.  If we have a heart for God, we will truly be thankful at Thanksgiving.

 

 

                                                                                                                    Lanny Joe Burnett

 

Cindy Baker & Lanny Joe Burnett