Dear Prayer Warriors, This second of the two part series on the Three Fold Cord of Missions Those Who Give I can remember my first student conference. A missionary, Tom Eynon, was being sent to Taiwan and then on to Hong Kong. An appeal was made for support. I had worked hard all summer, my college was paid for with a little left over. I knew if I made a pledge I would have to take a job at school, something I had worked hard at to avoid. However the chance to be involved in the next mission wave to China could not be passed up. I remember how important it was for me in my Christians life to write out that check every month and send it in for Tom and his ministry in Taiwan. Now I was not just praying for missionaries, I was actively participating in their material needs. The letter Tom sent telling how my small gift was reaching the Chinese was a great encouragement and stimulus to me in my Christian life as a University student. It caused me to begin looking at international students on campus in a new way and I began to pray for African and Chinese students to whom I might witness and minister.
As in prayer, those who give become co-laborers in the ministry – II John 1:6 - 8 and they bear witness to your love before the church; and you will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support such men, that we may be fellow workers with the truth.
Did you ever feel that life passed you by? Perhaps you received Christ late, perhaps you have family constraints, perhaps you have health constraints, perhaps you are not gifted nor called. You can still go. Your checkbook or your debit card is your passport to world missions. My good friend Sheldon Hdogson reminds me of this. I once mentioned to Sheldon that he should join me on a mission trip. Sheldon in turn reminded me that he had been on every mission trip I had ever taken since our first Bible study. He reminded me of his prayers and gifts. You know, I should listen more carefully to my own sermons because that is exactly right. By giving and praying Sheldon is as much a part of our mission work as we are. In God’s eyes each of these contributions is equal. They require equal diligence, equal sacrifice and they reap equal rewards.
By giving we are adding an international element to our spiritual portfolio – Matthew 6:20 & 21 "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Paul relied on this ministry - Philippians 4:18 “But I have received everything in full, and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.”
We participate in giving through our church... Philippians 4:15-16 “And you yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs.”
We participate in giving to individual missionaries... Philemon 1:1 “Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved brother and fellow worker,” Philemon1:7 “For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.” Philemon 1:22 “And at the same time also prepare me a lodging; for I hope that through your prayers I shall be given to you.”
Those Who Go - We can all go. You can go physically like Eleanor and I – but that is not always God’s will. Often family, health, responsibilities and circumstances close this door to some. Yet we can still all go. We can go through prayer and we can go through our gifts. This is not simply motivational exaggeration. God the Holy Spirit has no need of such tactics, nor would I stoop to this. Rather it is the clear teaching of the Word of God. We see this illustrated in David’s army. Those who went out to battle and those who kept the supply lines open were to share equally. They were to share equally in the responsibilities and they were to share equally in the rewards.
I Samuel 30:22-25 22 Then all the wicked and worthless men among those who went with David answered and said, "Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away and depart." 23 Then David said, "You must not do so, my brothers, with what the LORD has given us, who has kept us and delivered into our hand the band that came against us. 24 "And who will listen to you in this matter? For as his share is who goes down to the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage; they shall share alike." 25 And so it has been from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel to this day.
This is true today. Those who Go; Those who Pray and Those who Give all share equally. They share equally in the responsibilities. They share equally in the faithfulness. They share equally in the sacrifices. And they share equally in the rewards. That is why God the Holy Spirit assures us in Philippians 4:17 “Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account.”
I close this email as always with a deep and abiding thankfulness for your sacrificial and effectual prayers which empower and drive this ministry ever forward in the cause of Christ.
By His mercy, II Corinthians 4:1 Rev. John S. Mahon Grace Community Int.
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