October 3, 2003
All shall give as they are able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God that he has given you. (NRSV)
Deuteronomy 16:17

Most folks who are in my profession tend to be optimistic women and men of faith who are striving to do what they believe is right, both in the sight of God and in the eyes of their donors. Most days we are confident of God’s ability to supply all needs. Yet the tides of institutional life, the influences of surrounding culture and economic pressures are all strong. They can combine and pull even the most determined development person away from the sure ground of confidence in divine sufficiency. It is then that this biblical passage speaks so assuredly to my heart.

This passage reminds me to trust both God’s providence and God’s people. Taken in context, this passage refers specifically to the festival of the booths,” which was Israel’s autumn thanksgiving festival. In Exodus 23, God commands that Israel shall observe the festival by gathering from the field the fruit of its labor. God states that the choicest first fruits shall be brought into the house of the Lord. Taking God’s word to heart, the early Israelites believed what God commands, God makes possible.

As we journey together over the next few weeks of Fourth Church’s Capital Campaign, let’s remember that God’s abundance is all sufficient, that our mission is rooted in Christ’s message, and that even in a societal climate of scarcity, all we are asked to do is celebrate God’s blessings as we are able. This campaign period will be a time of reflection and prayer in which we all will be invited to look deeply into our hearts, to see God’s abundance in our lives, and to “give as we are able.”

Dear God, help me to believe in your abundance, to respond in faith, and to know your will as all of us as believers in your Christ move forward in building the future of Fourth Church. Amen.
Written by Patrick T. Quinn, Director of Giving Ministries