During a conference called Uncover at Cambridge University, Presbyterian pastor, Tim Keller delivered a talk called Uncovering Satisfaction. (You can view it on YouTube in its entirety.)  He took some time to explain Augustine's concept of Disordered Love.  Augustine explained that what makes us human is not so much what we do, but what we love.  When what we love gets out of order, we begin to love lesser things more than primary one.  For example, say, you really like your spleen.  You think it is the most important organ in your body.  It filters the blood and boosts the bodies immunity.  You can live without it but not without difficulty.  Now say you are in an accident and either your heart or your spleen must be removed for you to survive.  If your love is disordered you might choose the spleen over the heart.  As a result, now you are in a life threatening situation.  Not only your life will be lost but the remaining spleen, you loved so well.

     So it is with our lives when our loves are disordered.  So it is with the  giving of our resources, the ninth characteristic of what Christians are called to do.  Giving of our resources back to God was expressed in scripture as early as Genesis. Consider, Jacob has just escaped near death at the hands of the brother whom he had swindled out of his birthright.  He flees for his life.  In a moment of reflection, Jacob suddenly understands that his love of Esau's birthright has overshadowed his love of God's law, his Father's trust, his brother's future and his mother's presence in his life.  His disordered love has separated him from everything he knows and loves.  He is entirely alone.

     Jacob decides to get his love ordered aright and goes to God with his heartfelt desires, promising, "if the Lord will be My God, this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God's house and of all that you give me I will give a tenth."  While not always perfect, Jacob made God first in his heart and all the other things he desired; God's protection, God's provision and safe return to his childhood home, fell into place in God's time.  All this led to God changing his name to Israel; the name of all his descendants to this day.  Do you have your loves in the right order?  Do you give freely of your resources; time, talent and treasure for God's kingdom.  I hope so. If not, I pray you will allow your heart to be open to a new ordering of love in your life- putting God first!  You'll be amazed what God will do!  Rev. Ellen