An Interesting Fundraising Campaign
2 Kings 12:9-10 "But Jehoiada the priest took a chest, and bored a hole in the lid of it, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one cometh into the house of the LORD: and the priests that kept the door put therein all the money that was brought into the house of the LORD. And it was so, when they saw that there was much money in the chest, that the king's scribe and the high priest came up, and they put up in bags, and told the money that was found in the house of the LORD."
There are occasions when churches need to raise funds for special projects. It is common, when churches seek to build or remodel a building, to initiate a building fund. Such was the case in today's passage. Joash, king of Judah, wanted to "repair the breaches of the house wheresoever any breach shall be found." (2 Kings 12:5) He had a heart to see the temple repaired in those places where a breach had occurred. They first attempted to use funds from the daily operations of the temple, but this didn't provide any results. So the priest Jehoiada, "...took a chest, and bored a hole in the lid of it, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one cometh into the house of the LORD..." This method proved to be greatly blessed of the LORD. Verse 10, "...there was much money in the chest..." This unconventional method was used by a pastor friend of mine in his church, they placed their "Jehoiada Chest" on the right side of the church pulpit and God greatly blessed. It is a method that I am determined to use in the future as we have need for building and or remodeling.
God blesses those who have a heart to give. It should be a joy for us to invest our monies into God's eternal purposes. Are you a person who rarely invests in the work of the Lord? Do you give very little, and do so just so you don't look bad when the offering plate is passed? Giving is a personal thing, but it is a commanded thing. The LORD has chosen many causes to which we should invest our earthly treasure. Missions, benevolence, building, church general fund, to name a few are all great causes to which we can give, and be blessed in so doing. If God loves a cheerful giver, then He must love those who give. "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give, not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:6-7)
Is your heart surrendered to investing your money for God's eternal purposes? I hope you know the joy of giving!
Your Friend and HIS,
Pastor Abbott
QUESTIONS TO PONDER
1. Would you say you have a heart to give? On what basis?
2. When was the last time you gave to a special cause at church, which was above your tithe?
3. Do you regularly participate in giving to your church? What does Matthew 6:19-21 mean to you?