“But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires . . .” – 1 Timothy 6:9 (NRSV)
Some of our Wednesday study groups have been focusing on the life and teachings of John Wesley. Wesley was a Church of England pastor in Great Britain in the 1700’s. His actions led to the development of Methodism in his home country and the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States of America.
As a group, we have learned about Wesley’s brilliant organizational skills. We have seen his expertise come out in other areas too. These areas include music, medicine, and money. In fact, Wesley had a lot to say about money. He was concerned that prosperity would lead Methodists down a destructive path. In his famous sermon, “The Use of Money,” he lifted up three rules for Christians. The rules were, “Gain all you can. Save all you can. Give all you can.” These rules made an impact during his time. They make an impact today.
As much as anything, Wesley lived what he taught. For him, the first tenth of his income to God was a minimum. In his early years of ministry Wesley earned thirty pounds a year. He gave away two pounds and lived on twenty-eight. The next year his salary increased to sixty pounds, and he gave away thirty-two. As the years moved on (and his book sales became an important part of his revenue) he gave away more of his money and lived on the smaller amount. He was focused and devoted. He knew that a person’s use of money can shed light on that individual’s spirituality.
It’s probably very hard for a person to live like Wesley today, but we can be inspired to use our money in a manner that glorifies God. As we reflect on Brother Wesley, we move into our stewardship campaign this month. The theme is “Building a Better Life.” We will consider ways we can faithfully manage our resources and assist others along the way. Commitment Cards for 2025 will be collected in worship on November 24.
Let us prayerfully consider our giving commitment for the year to come!
Grace and peace, Scott