This column is about choices and giving—not out of scarcity, but of abundance and it is all related to stewardship and planned giving. The Bible tells us that God provides all our wealth and possessions, which are on loan. We are expected to enjoy them and be generous to others, particularly our families and those more needy than ourselves. Certainly, that is a good justification for planned giving. I would encourage you to ensure that you have a will, and to prayerfully consider leaving something in that will for your church.
Years ago, I heard a conference speaker give this advice:
Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling five balls in the air. You name them work, family, health, friends and faith, and you are keeping all of them in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls—family, health, friends and faith—are made of glass. If you drop one, it will be nicked, damaged, or even shattered. It will never be the same.
Think about it. Work is a rubber ball, but the other important things in life—family, health, friends and faith—are made of glass. Do not neglect these concerns in your quest for life.
Stephen Covey, author of The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, says that many of us are torn between the compass and the clock – between what’s deeply important to us and the way we spend our time. The clock represents our commitments, appointments, schedules, goals, and activities—how we manage our time based on the demands of our lives. The compass represents our vision, values, principles, mission, conscience, direction—how we lead our lives based on what we feel is important. Tension arises when we sense a gap between the clock and the compass—when what we do doesn’t contribute what is most important in our lives.
There comes a time in our lives when you reach a certain age and you ask: “What have I done with my life? What kind of legacy do I want to leave on this earth?”
Isn’t it interesting that both Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, two of the wealthiest people in the world, have decided to give a vast amount of their fortune to help alleviate human suffering! These men have every material comfort in life, and yet they feel a need to give it away. After all, we only pass through this life once so we might as well make the most of the opportunity.
So, what matters most in our lives? Only you can answer that one!
Have a great summer everyone and hopefully we are a little closer to end of this pandemic.
