Monday, October 25, 2010

Message from Debbie Klem, PCUS Board Chair

This is the 2nd in a three part series from our Board Chair, Mrs. Debbie Klem, from the devotions shared with the Board in August 2010.

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Isaiah 40:29

Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God." Luke 18:27

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

A mentality of dependence on resources imprisons much of the church today and as we’re faced with our finances we, too, could become imprisoned by such a mentality. We need to constantly check that our dependence is on God. He may use outside resources, but we need to look to Him as our primary resource.

The concept of Kingdom Mathematics begins with the passage Isaiah 40:29: “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” The mathematical equation that could be derived from that verse is “Our weakness x God = Strength. When we are ready to admit our weakness, we are in a position to come to God and offer our weakness to Him. It is then that He performs the miracle of Kingdom Mathematics and transforms our limitations into His strengths.

The author converts several Bible stories into mathematical equations. The story of the boy’s lunch of fish and loaves feeding the 5,000 becomes the equation “Boy + 5 loaves and 2 fish x Jesus = Food for 5,000 men + Food for women and children + 12 baskets”. The story of the widow giving her last 2 coins becomes the equation “Widow + 2 coins x Jesus = 2,000 years of inspiration”. All the Bible story equations can be summarized into the equation “All people (even the poor) + Faith in God + Sacrificial giving x God = Great multiplication + Blessing to others + God is praised + Personal blessing (sometimes)”. The last story he uses is the story of the wealthy man and the talents given to the three servants. The equation represented by the last servant that did nothing with his talent is “Servant + 1 talent x 0 = 0 + Servant thrown into darkness”.

The stories and equations can teach us the following:
• Sacrificial giving leads to multiplication. God always multiplies what we give Him.
• The greater the sacrifice, the greater the increase.
• The last lesson is perhaps the hardest: If we do not invest what God has entrusted to us, we not only lose it, but risk being thrown out of the Master’s household.

I know we do have the mindset of being dependent on God. But, this was a new way of reinforcing that dependence and trust for me. God tells us, “Do not be afraid”. We need to have full confidence in God as the multiplier of our faith and our sacrifice.

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