Daily Devotionals

The Conversion and Buy-in

Posted in Stewardship/Giving

Scripture:  “In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.  For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.” – 2 Corinthians 8:2-3

 

I remember my conversion vividly.  I converted to a Gamecock on a hot day in Athens, Georgia.  It was the same Athens that I was born in during the days of Herschel.  The same Herschel that I share a last name with. The same school where my parents were doing their graduate studies when I was born, and in the state they grew up.  The same Dawgs football team I grew up barking for.

It was September 8, 2007 during my second year of law school at UofSC, and for some reason I was standing with my rabid Bulldog brother in Sanford Stadium pulling for Steve Spurrier’s Gamecocks. I couldn’t help it. I had involuntarily jumped ship and changed allegiances. My family has come to live with my cheering for the Gamecocks, but they may never forgive the cheering for Spurrier.  The Cocks got the best of the Dawgs that year, 16-12.

What does this have to do with EPC and stewardship?  I think I changed allegiances because I bought into Carolina.  Not just the football program, but the school where I was studying, the school where I was paying tuition, the community I had moved to, and the place where I was planting roots.  I was going to be with Carolina for better or worse.

I think that’s the way it goes with God and his place of worship. The more you buy in, the more it means to you. The more you answer his call to give your time, talent, and resources, the more you’ll get out of his home at EPC and in his Heaven that he’s invited you to be a part of.  Just like it doesn’t matter what team you pull for, it also doesn’t matter what church you support so long as Christ is at the center. We all know from our own experiences that Christ is in our midst at EPC.  Commit generously and reap further God’s invitation to be a part of his glorious community.

Prayer:  Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for our many blessings of which we are not worthy.  Remind us to return those blessings to others and to our church, so that others may share in your treasures.  Amen.

 

Submitted by:  Drew Walker