How are you giving of yourself for the Lord’s Church?

From left to right, Tracy Griggs, Lexi Griggs, and Kathy Roberts organize donated food at Trinity Lutheran Church in Panama City, Fla., following Hurricane Michael in 2018. (LCMS Communications/Erik M. Lunsford)

When St. Paul wanted to encourage Christians to faithfully support the ministry with their gifts, he brought it around to Jesus with these words:

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. (2 Cor. 8:9 ESV)

The Lord Jesus sets the pattern for the whole of our Christian life. We are, after all, Christians: those who follow the Christ.

And our Lord Jesus gives. He is generous. And His generosity is all encompassing.

He takes the time to teach the disciples. He stops to listen to the woman who reached out to touch the hem of His garment. He has compassion on a tired, hungry crowd and multiplies the loaves and fishes for them.

In other words, when He gives, He gives of Himself: time, effort, attention, concern.

That’s a great thought during a month in which we highlight and celebrate volunteering.

How are you giving of yourself for the work of the Lord’s Church?

Whatever it is, the Lord will bless you in it, because in doing so, you are imitating the Lord Himself.

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod celebrates our treasured volunteers during National Volunteer Month in April 2019.