Dear Friends in Christ, Each of us is on a walk with Jesus. Every day we have the opportunity to
learn from Jesus on that walk, just as his first disciples did. As we disciples walk with Jesus, Jesus wants us drawn closer to him. Jesus wants our walk always to be drawing us deeper into our relationship with him.
It is because of this that Jesus often talked about money as he walked with his first disciples. Jesus recognizes that
the lure of money can erect a barrier between him and his children. He says so quite clearly in
Matthew 6:24, when he says, "You cannot serve God and money."
Perhaps the best example of this truth in all of scripture is the story of Jesus and the rich ruler in
Luke 18:18. Jesus asks the ruler to sell his possessions, give the proceeds to the poor and follow him. The ruler is unable to do this. His loyalty to his possessions is so strong that he cannot follow Jesus.
Jesus wants you to be a generous giver. He wants this not because our church needs your money. He wants this because Jesus knows that you need to give. You need to generously give yourself and your possessions away in order that you might follow your Lord.
Clinging to possessions blocks your relationship with Jesus, just as it did for the rich ruler. Giving generously to Jesus opens the way for a new and deeper level of walking with Jesus.
In worship on Sunday, March 21st, you will have the opportunity to complete your estimate of giving card indicating your plan for giving to Resurrection Lutheran Church for the coming year.
Make your generous giving a part of your walk with Jesus.
