From the Pastor…              Duration or Donation?

The measure of life is not its duration, but its donation. — Peter Marshall

Do you want to live a long time?  Who doesn’t? Sure, a few people here and there don’t care about living a long, but most of us want to maximize our life span.  But does a long life equal a good life, a meaningful life?

Not necessarily.  Should we choose merely to serve ourselves and our interests, such a life means little or nothing.  Should we invest our time and energy in lifting up others and lending a helping hand… well then, our lives amount to something worthwhile.

Jesus holds out this truth to his followers.  He claimed that those who would find their life (living for self) would lose it, but those who lose their life (serving others) will find it.  In his vivid parable of the separation of the sheep and the goats, it’s the sheep who get welcomed into the kingdom.  Why?  Because when they saw someone hungry, they gave them good.  When they saw someone thirsty, they went and got water for them.  When they were sick or in prison, they went and helped them. – That’s a Jesus-person for you!

In this life there are Takers and Givers.  Which are you?  When Judgement Day arrives, there will be an extreme vetting process at work.  Givers will be recognized and ushered in.  Takers will be called out and excluded.  The Great Judge won’t be looking for words or correct thinking; He will be looking for our record of donations.

Sounds like bad news.  But the good news is that we can all do something about it, right now, today. – So, what donation of yourself will you be making?  More important than counting the years is making the years count.  I’m glad we know how to do that.

God’s best to you,     

         Lee