11/25/51

Scripture: Matthew 6: 22-33

Text: Matthew 6: 33;...“Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness."

What is the church of Jesus Christ? That is a fair question to ask on a day when we give our earnest consideration to the manner and the degree of our financial support of its program.

We might begin by saying that the church is not the meeting house. Most churches do have a building where they worship and study and find Christian fellowship. But the house is not the church. The church is not the minister nor the boards of officers, musicians or teachers. It includes them but it is more than them. The church is the gathered company of all the believers. In the case of First Congregational Church of Wisconsin Rapids, it is all of us here present today who have taken the vows of its membership. Its friendship embraces all who worship here with this company. It is people; people who look with trust and hope toward God, led toward God by the spirit of Jesus Christ.

So when we give of time, of talent, of substance, or of prayer to our church, or for our church, we are giving not to something apart from ourselves, but to something very much a part of us --- a very significant and important part of us. Not that our giving is, as it were, back to ourselves; but rather through our Christian fellowship to the glory of God and for His service.

When we make a pledge to our church, we do a number of things:

1) We lay deeper spiritual foundations for ourselves and our families, binding ourselves together with better ideals.

2) We help to train the children of our homes so that they may grow in Christian character, and we assist in the further training of ourselves.

3) We assist our church to build a better community -- friendlier, more wholesome and considerate.

4) We assist in the benevolent task of healing the hurts of mankind at home and abroad -- healing of body, mind and spirit.

5) We assist in proclaiming the good news of Christ with sincerity and devotion.

6) Our pledging helps to instill moral stamina and spiritual power for meeting the tensions and fears of today’s turbulent world.

Because our pledging to our church means these important things to us, many people, all over the country are saying this year: “I will give my church the lift that it needs and pledge more this year.” [a slogan]. And they are writing their pledge in the full knowledge that costs in our homes, in our businesses and in our nation have gone up. Costs have gone up some in our church, too! And because we believe in the work of the church, we will underwrite the increased cost of keeping it serving as it should do.

Of course, it is no secret that the dollar does not go as far as it did a decade ago, a couple of years ago, or even a few months ago. But if it buys less of meat and potatoes, of education and travel, then the way we use our money takes on increased importance!

When we work out our personal and family budgets we are constantly making choices -- accepting some things and rejecting others. We are putting some things first. And an important question arises here: are we putting first things first? Putting first things first is a prime principle in Christian stewardship. And it is good sense. First things include items such as food, clothing, shelter, medicine -- and our church! The church of Christ is of first importance to each person here, to our families and to our town.

By being here, our church inspires us to a more courageous faith, to finer aspirations, to a nobler spirit of living. This fellowship may be a symbol of such inspiration, appealing to our better selves. But it is more than a symbol. It brings a vital force to our town and our households as it seeks to lead people to Christ. Verily, surely, every one of us should put our church first -- in our plans, in our efforts, in our own budgets.

Christian people must do vastly better than the average of our American population. The average American spends 3 times as much for alcoholic beverage as for the church. He spends 6 times as much on movies and recreation as on the church. Some pay more for their pet charity or for their club than for their church. Yes, the Christian church member must do a far better job of putting first things first than does the average American. The demands of all other organizations, all other attractions and comforts must be kept in their proper proportion!

Jesus said, “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” [Matthew 6: 33].

The world needs a vital church today more than ever in its history. The message of Christ is singularly pertinent to present day life. We who believe in its message and influence must strengthen its arm in this time of need and opportunity. We must put its budget first on our budgets.

Within the past few days you have received through the mail, I hope, copies of the proposed budget of this church for the coming year, together with a letter of explanation from our church committee. This budget was worked out carefully by representatives of the several boards and organizations of the church, and was considered at a regular business meeting of church members on November 7th. Those present voted to commend it to the congregation as the proposed budget or goal for 1952.

You have noticed that a major item of expense is that involved in pointing the walls of our church building. That is work that has needed doing for several seasons. While the masonry of 40 years ago is good for the most part, there have been spots where the mortar has become worn and soft. That needs to be replaced. In order to find the soft spots it is necessary to point all of the walls. The work has been finished on the south side and on much of the west end of our church before the weather turned too cold for the workmen to continue. Your trustees feel that the entire job should be finished and estimate that the rest of the job will cost about $3,000.

Our church school has kept growing and is in real need of better space facilities. The Board of Religious Education is especially concerned that we have improved space for the little folk of the Beginners’ department, that we go ahead with a worship center for the Junior department; that we make further progress on improving the lighting in classrooms. This needed improvement is a considerable item in the maintenance part of the budget.

There will be substantial improvements in our house of worship and Christian learning. They account for the major portion of the increase asked for in our giving.

At the same time that we find the costs increasing here at home, the costs of our Christian World Mission are also advancing. Home missionary pastors need cost-of-living increases in order to continue their work. In many of the fields served by our missionary teachers, ministers, doctors, nurses, social workers and others, the inflationary tendency is so strong that they must have some more help to keep going at the work of witnessing for Christ. It we are to have the counsel of a Conference Superintendent and an Assistant Superintendent, and of a worker in Religious Education; if we are to have the necessary promotional work of our Home Mission and Foreign Mission executives; we must do our share in providing for their needs and in giving them the tools with which to work.

Our church has met its suggested apportionment for mission giving for several years, and I am sure we intend to continue doing our strong share. The budget calls for a modest advance in giving to Our Christian World Mission for the next year -- for that is what the item we call “benevolence” means.

In order to meet these challenges, we must, as a congregation, advance our total pledging some 16% over last year. We can do it if we are willing to bring our gifts in the spirit of loving sacrifice. We sometimes hear the word “sacrifice” used as though it were a regrettable denying of one’s needs or desires for something else in order to meet a kind of compulsory need. That is not the truest meaning of “sacrifice.” A genuine sacrifice is the bringing of a worthy gift to the altar of God, there to leave it in love and trust that it will be used of Him for his good and high purposes.

We need to remember our increasing abilities as well as the increase in costs of all aspects of living. In the past 10 years, our church membership has grown some 25%; this in the light of an 18.5% growth in the population of our city. Our church budget has increased some 105% and the pledging portion of our giving has increased nearer 150%. But at the same time our personal incomes have also increased. I think that the per capita income for all people of the State of Wisconsin has increased some 177% during the past 10 years. This is not to say that every one of us has had such an increase, but by and large we do receive more, in terms of the dollar, than we did. And so we must spend more, and we should also give more. [A new church home in Grand Rapids, Port Edwards, or here in Wisconsin Rapids is being debated today.]

I am not suggesting that the canvassers, the officers, or any member, or any interested attendant in this congregation do what I am not willing to do. We shall increase our church pledge in our household, just as I am sure you will want to do, so that the work of this church may continue strong and that we may grow in Christian grace and nurture.

Last Thursday I attended the Union Thanksgiving Day Service. Not having the responsibility of leading any part of it, I enjoyed the opportunity to sit at worship with members of my family. I found Christian inspiration in the music and the responses of the service. And I was glad for the pointing toward thanksgiving found in the preacher’s sermon. During the time that the preacher was talking, there passed through my mind another cause for hearty thanksgiving, a cause in addition to those he mentioned. For I could see sitting in front of me people from my own church’s congregation whose very presence reminded me of something dependable. I thought of their names, the ways in which they actively participate in the life of the church, and was reminded that they have done so as long as I have known them. I though of other folk sitting across the church, and of those who were doubtless behind me. I thought of those who were away with their families for the day, some in this community and some in distant places and I remembered their real interest, their service and their customary presence at Sunday worship.

I do not think my attention wandered long from the preacher’s sermon, but I did have a great upsurge of gratitude in my heart for the fine dependable folk in this congregation that you call, and I call, “my church.”

I have confidence that we will work in this church with our time and talent; I have confidence that we will support it with the substance entrusted by God to our management. I join our church officers in inviting you now to make your pledge of church support for the coming year in generosity and in joy.

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Delivered in Wisconsin Rapids, November 25, 1951.