2024 Week 37

Hello, Springers!

During our moment for giving on Sunday, I mentioned these verses from Proverbs 27:23-27:

Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds,
for riches do not last forever; and does a crown endure to all generations?
When the grass is gone and the new growth appears and the vegetation of the mountains is gathered,
the lambs will provide your clothing, and the goats the price of a field.
There will be enough goats’ milk for your food, for the food of your household
and maintenance for your girls.

Part of my personal story is that money makes me anxious. Far too often, I wonder if there will be enough. Will there be enough in the future? Do you have this worry, too?

A few years ago I discovered these verses in Proverbs and God used them to bring me a new measure of comfort regarding personal and church finances.

Knowing the condition of your income stream (flocks and herds) is important. They do not last forever. There is a time when working years end. The status (crown) of being a worker comes to a close in our earthly lives.

But the writer of this proverb reminds us that new growth appears. Those flocks that we have tended become the retirement plan and they provide food, not only for you but for your household. They provide the necessary household items for your family.

For me, it is the gentle poetry that brings me comfort. I quickly get anxious when I consider spreadsheets, raw numbers, and online calculators. But when I look to God’s creation and hear this proverb and remember God’s care for me in years past, it gives my heart a measure of rest.

If you struggle with anxiety around finances, I pray that God will use this proverb to remind you of his good hand on you as well.

I did mention this during the giving moment on Sunday because we are 10% behind where we hoped to be at this point in the year. That is a significant number over $116,000. The session will bring more communication about this in the near future. In the meantime, we continue to invite you to be in prayer and consider your own generosity toward Valley Springs this year.

in Christ,

Pastor Tag