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Everything Comes from GodTwo passages from the Old Testament teach us that everything that we have is given to us by God. In his old age, King David organised a huge collection to fund the building of the new temple by the next generation "Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you have already given us! We are here for only a moment, visitors and strangers in the land as our ancestors were before us. Our days on earth are like a shadow, gone so soon without a trace. O Lord our God, even these materials that we have gathered to build a temple to honour your holy name come from you! It all belongs to you!" 1 Chron 29, 14-16 Job said (1, 21) "I came naked from my mother's womb, and I will be stripped of everything when I die. The Lord gave me everything I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!" |
Responding to God's GenerosityMaking a will, and keeping it reasonably up-to-date, makes good financial sense for your family, friends and dependents as well as your own peace of mind. As Christians, the Bible teaches us about God's overwhelming generosity to each one of us, especially in the gift of Jesus. God provides all our wealth and possessions on loan, and expects us to enjoy them and be generous to others, particularly our families and those more needy than ourselves. "Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren" Prov 13, 22 Jesus taught us to store up our treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not corrupt. "Wherever your treasure is, there your heart will be also" Matt 6, 19-21. Many Christians give regularly to support the work of the Church, as well as to other charities and mission organisations. The Bible teaches us to give proportionately, generously and cheerfully. All of our wealth comes from God, and so we have the opportunity in making a will to give back to God a thank offering for the way that He has blessed us. |
| :: Bigger and Bigger Barns | :: For Nearly 500 Years! | :: Pause for Prayer |
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Jesus warned his followers "Don't be greedy for what you
don't have. Real life is not measured by how much we own" He
then went on to tell the parable of the rich farmer who built
bigger barns "But God said to him, 'You fool! You will die
this very night. Then who will get it all?' "Yes, a person is
a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship
with God." Luke 12, 15-21.
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For nearly 500 years, the Church of England has encouraged its members to keep their wills up-to-date. The Book of Common Prayer instructs the clergy to visit those who are sick and remind them: "And if he have not before disposed of his goods, let him then be admonished to make his Will, and to declare his debts, what he oweth, and what is owing unto him; for the better discharging of his conscience, and the quietness of his Executors. But men should often be put in remembrance to take order for the settling of their temporal estates, whilst they are in health." |
Lord of the living and dead, we thank you for all those who have
walked before us in the way of Christ; those who have shared their
faith and love with us, and those who have been generous
benefactors of church, nation and world, by the lives they have
lived, and the inheritance they have left to us who come after.
May we, with them come to share the joy of your heavenly banquet
and the blessings of life.
A period of silence |
