Dear God...........It's
stewardship time at our church and..............
I'd like
to give the church, God, but you see I'm still in diapers
and I don't have any money of my own. I'm sure you understand.
I'd like
to give the church, God, but you see I'm a toddler and I haven't
learned to count yet. I'm sure you understand.
I'd like
to give the church, God, but my allowance is only a nickel
and if I you a penny, that only leaves me with four pennies.
I'm sure you understand.
I'd like
to give the church, God, but my parents say I have to save
every dollar for college, and to keep up with my friends,
$8.00 is a lot to spend for a movie. I'm sure you understand.
I'd like
to give the church, God, but now I'm in college and other
people are helping me, and I'm sure you don't expect me to
give when I'm on scholarship. I'm sure you understand.
We'd like
to give to the church, God, but we just got married and you
know how hard it is when a couple begins to set up homemaking.
We're sure you understand.
 We'd
like to give to the church, God, but the expenses of raising
a family have risen so sharply that we can hardly make ends
meet. We're sure you understand.
We'd like
to give to the church, God, but the costs of sending our children
to college are so great, we have nothing left over. We're
sure you understand
We'd like
to give to the church, God, but retirement has arrived and
we live on a fixed income now, and you know how hard it is
to manage money with the economy in a recession. We're sure
you understand.
We'd like
to give to the church, God, but now the will is drawn up and
though I forgot my church, I'm sure my kids will take care
of it the way I always wanted to. I'm sure you understand
Our church
operates on certain very basic principles. Stewardship is
a personal response that no one else can make for you. If
churches exempt anyone from the opportunity to give, they
rob them of a choice only they have a God-given right to make.
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