As we continue to explore one of Saint Peter’s five Habits of Discipleship every week, here we look at the habit of Generous Financial Support of Ministry. (In case you missed it, you can find last week's article about Recommitting to Worship on the Saint Peter blog here.)
 
“The key question for Christians is this: 'Is wealth our servant or our master?’ Healthy and faithful Christians make use of wealth to accomplish great things for the sake of the Gospel.  But wealth has a seductive power.  Often without even realizing it, people become enslaved to their wealth – spending far more time on accumulating it and protecting it than on anything else.”
 
The above text is taken from the work of the Saint Peter committee that developed the Habits of Discipleship 15 years ago. It's strongly connected to the first, and greatest commandment. As Martin Luther states, “We are to fear, love and trust in God above all things.”  When wealth becomes our master, it has displaced God at the center of our lives.  Only when we truly trust God with our very lives are we free to live out the second greatest commandment of loving our neighbor.  God calls us to a generosity that puts our neighbors’ needs ahead of our own comfort.  
 
The current economic condition of the country has led to varying degrees of uncertainty for all of us and you may be experiencing a very normal fear that you may not have what you need to get through this. But we all need to fight against that fear and instead turn our trust to God.

Of course, it's not up to me or anyone at Saint Peter to give you financial advice or to suggest you give money that you don't have. But if you are able, then we strongly encourage you to continue giving to Saint Peter and the non-profit organizations that we support as a congregation. Many of the agencies we support year-round are seeing much greater needs today. Please see the links to many of those organizations at the bottom of this letter.

If financial giving is just not possible for you, there are other ways you can support your neighbor. Perhaps you know someone who could use a little extra help in the yard. Perhaps you are able to give blood. Perhaps you can donate some of your gently used household items to a refugee family. 

Wherever you decide to put your resources, let your love for God be your guide. 

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

-Matthew 6 verses 19 to 21