This past Sunday, I visited a new church. My neighbor invited me and I was eager to check it out. Overall, it was a great service. The church was fairly laid back, welcoming, and the pastor showed signs of such strong, godly leadership. As the worship band paused between songs, Pastor Ron stood before the congregation and did something I have never before witnessed during a church service. He started by admitting that he had not previously met with the elders or discussed his pending idea with anyone, but rather felt the Lord compelling him to follow through with it. He asked the single parents in the congregation to please stand. He encouraged them and then asked the members of the church to give them money. At first, I thought he was joking. Give them money? Really? But then, people started pulling money from their pockets and walking over to these single parents and placing it on their chairs. Their willingness to give amazed me. Then I started thinking, ‘this is the closest thing to what Jesus would have actually done that I’ve seen in a church for a long time.’ It was such an act of LOVE. I was so encouraged by how the people of this church were caring for each other. Sure, the single parents may not have walked away with enough money to quit their jobs, but in this time of economic hardship, any amount of money is so helpful. I know it had to have been such a blessing for the people receiving money. I think it was also a blessing for those giving.
It’s refreshing to see Christians being Christ-like and not just Sunday morning church goers who “talk the talk” but don’t “walk the walk”. God calls us to lift each other up in hard times and to support our brothers and sisters in Christ through love. Galatians 5:13 says “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”
