Corinth Reformed Church
150 Sixteenth Avenue NW
Hickory, North Carolina 28601

Robert M. Thompson, Pastor
November 04, 2007
(more sermons)

This changes everything

By now, probably everyone in this room knows that today is that climax of our Capital Campaign. It is not the end, and some of our members -- maybe even some of you -- will be making commitments through the end of this month. But today is the pinnacle, a day of "Celebration and Commitment." And we have asked you to come prepared today to make a commitment.

Brad Leeper, our Capital Campaign consultant, said that in a typical church about 70% or more of the congregation comes to a service like this having not made a final decision on how much to pledge. That would include many people whose pledges change during the course of the morning. That surprises me a little, and excites me as well. Many of you are still thinking and praying.

It also gets me asking the question, "What would be the most important factor encouraging every one of us to make the most God-honoring commitment we can?" Notice I did not say, "the largest dollar amount." I'll tell you why in a moment. But what would help us make the commitment that would most represent our desire to honor the Lord on this day? The answer to that question probably comes in remembering where we are. More on that in a moment.

Who-what-when-where-why-how

For now, let me help all of us to remember that for the past few weeks we have been talking about the who, what, when, where, why, and how of this campaign. But not in that order.

Our biblical subject matter has been King David's plan to build Israel's first temple. The story is covered in 1 Chronicles, a retelling of David's story six hundred years after the fact. A new generation of Jews had returned from exile to rebuild the temple, the wall, and the city that had been destroyed by the Babylonian invasion in 586 B.C. So that their worship renewal would be in keeping with the original intent and design, an anonymous writer (perhaps Ezra) recounted again how David made preparations for building the first temple. That whole theme of "preparing to build" seemed to me appropriate for a Capital Campaign.

As we come to this final section of 1 Chronicles, I see all those previous themes covered again, so let's review.

Why? We said that any building project like this must not be about personal ego or legacy. David prays in verse 11, "Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor." David searches his own heart, and he wants this temple built for one reason only -- the glory of God.

When? As David comes to the close of his life and offers in verse 19 his charge to Solomon to build the temple, it's clear that he has come to peace with the timing. David himself wanted to build, but he had to put his dream, and especially the timing of it, into God's hands. The "when" is always up to God.

What? David calls the proposed temple a "palatial structure" in verse 19. His description back in 22:5 was that this would be a building "of great magnificence and fame and splendor in the sight of all the nations." David wanted this to be the finest building in Jerusalem -- or anywhere else, for that matter -- as a tribute to God.

Who? Although David is the leader and takes the initiative, the giving and the building belongs to "the people." See verse 14 and 17. It requires something of everyone, including their financial help with the project.

How? Once again, as had been stressed earlier in this chapter, the gifts are said to come "willingly" (17) from the king, the leaders, and all the people. God loves a cheerful giver. When we close our hands around what he's given us and say, "It's mine!" he says, "Yes, it is." We then keep it to ourselves and wallow in the misery and self-deception that is greed. But when we open our hands in the awareness that, as David says in verse 14, "we have given you only what comes from your hand," then we share the overwhelming joy of generosity.

Where?

And so we come to the "Where?" question. And I said earlier that the "where" makes all the difference in the world in giving a God-honoring gift.

You may think that my answer to "Where?" is, "In church." In other words, remembering that you are in the sanctuary where will help you give a God-honoring gift. But actually, we're going outside before you write and turn in your pledge card. If I were trying to use the church building as a physical place to encourage you to make your commitment with integrity and generosity, I'd keep you in here.

When David leads worship in the assembly recorded in 1 Chronicles 29, he, likewise, is not in the temple. It hasn't been built yet. He's probably in an outdoor setting. Maybe even he has the people gathered on the site of what will be the new building, as we gather shortly.

What's important about the "where" of this time of praise and prayer is that there is a profound sense of God's is right there with his people. He is listening to them, responding them, affirming them, moving them, receiving with joy their offerings to him. They are in the presence of the Lord.

As you make your decision today about what to write on a pledge card, I hope you'll make it fully aware that you, and all of us, are in the presence of the Lord. That makes all the difference.

Imagine yourself at a desk across from him as your primary financial advisor. Or maybe imagine yourself in your living room, legs crossed, comfortable, maybe even in your pajamas and robe, and you're talking to him as your best friend. Or whatever setting makes sense to you. In this scenario, you're literally in his presence talking and thinking about what to write on that pledge card.

You say things like, "Well, Lord, first of all, I want to continue supporting the General Fund of the church. Those needs are only going to grow."

"Absolutely," he answers.

"Lord, you know I need to put food on the table for this family you've given me."

He nods, and says, "Absolutely, you do."

"And, Lord, you've seen my budget. It's pretty reasonable for clothes and transportation and other general living expenses, given my overall circumstances."

He says, "That's something I leave to you. If you've noticed, I given you a lot of freedom in making those kinds of choices. I don't micromanage."

"God, I think you've called me to make responsible choices about my retirement so that I don't have to depend on others in the future."

"OK," he says. "Just be sure ultimately you're always depending on me."

Then you say, "Now, Lord, I need some wisdom on this Capital Campaign. Now here's the thing. I need to budget enough to get my fourth vacation home in a couple of years. And I've been thinking I need to set aside enough to get my second Jag. The one I have is almost a year old. It might go out any day now. It already has two scratches."

You get the point. What you do with your money is between you and him. I think I can honestly say I've never put myself in the position of judge over what anyone else gives or saves or spends. I'm not after the biggest pledge you can make. A larger pledge might be irresponsible. All I'm asking is that when you make this decision, you make in the presence of the Lord.

When we are aware that he is there, it changes everything. Amen.

Copyright 2007 by Robert M. Thompson, Pastor. Unless otherwise indicated, Scriptures quoted are from The Holy Bible, New International Version, Copyright 1978 by New York International Bible Society.