June is the last month of our fiscal year and as such it is a time when we take account of ourselves as a church, as the Body of Christ. Jesus himself We re-evaluate our calling and the the resources God has entrusted us with and try to determine just how well we have done and how we should move forward together in ministry.

The annual meeting is behind us, we have a new budget and so the temptation is to just let down and wait for the new plans and programs to take effect. to do that though is to sit down before the race is finished. As the Author of Hebrews says we need to persevere.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perserverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3

The race we set before us last year is not finished and one thought that is easily overlooked is the part of the race we don't finish this year is added to the distance we need to run next year. probably the place this hurts our ministry most is financially. In May there was about a $3000 difference between income and expenses. I am not talking about budget, our spending plan, this is real debt. It doesn't sound like much, after all it is only about one percent of the budget. The problem like I said is that it adds to the distance that must be run next year and the year after and the year after that. We have been finishing our year just a little bit behind for a number of years and it has added up to the point where it does create difficulties.

It is not primarily a financial problem though, it is a spiritual problem that interferes with our relationship with God. Some might think I am making much ado about nothing or that spirituality and finances should not be mixed but Jesus had a great deal to say on this very subject. In Luke Jesus says:

"Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own? No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth." The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all this, and they ridiculed him. Luke 16:10-14

According to Jesus our stewardship reflects our spirituality pretty accurately. Far from being discouraged when we hear this we should rejoice for we are really near the finish line this year. Our stewardship this year, the work we put into budgeting last year, all of this was done well and we should take great satisfaction in this. but we also should not allow the summer months to put us behind before we even begin the fall programs. As Saint Paul encourages us in time like these; Let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith. Galatians 6:9-10

Let us finish the race that has been set before us at RLC so that we might look into our future knowing that we have been faithful stewards and feel good about our ministry here at RLC knowing that we have been faithful in the little things as well as the big ones.

Pastor Jim Bliss
June 2010