“Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” II Corinthians 9: 6-7 (NASB)
“God loves it when the giver delights in the giving.” (The Message)
As a boy growing up in East Lake with elm trees as a canopy over our street and neat tidy yards, we were 1 ½ blocks from Howard College. Our church, Ruhama Baptist was on the other side of campus. Our family, as did most in the neighborhood, did not have a lot of material possessions, but we did have love. Each Sunday morning, I remember that my sister and I would be invited over to our next door neighbors, Owen and Lenora Swindal’s home before we left for church. We would step just inside their backdoor to their kitchen. Mr. Swindal would get one of the small cans from their canister set, open it up and give us a dime a piece, sometimes just a nickel to give in Sunday School. We would thank and hug them and go fill out our Sunday School envelops before leaving for church. This was my beginning of giving in church. Then I remember the very first dollar I saved from helping neighbors sweep their porches and side walks. Most times I would receive only a nickel or dime. It seemed like a long time before it added up to a dollar. My parents encouraged me to give 10% back to God. From that point on I recall how important it is to give back to God and to give generously with a cheerful heart.
Starting with my 8th grade year, my first job was working as a church janitor at Hillcrest Baptist Church. I held this job through my senior year in high school. Also, at age 15, I was one of the first sack boys at the then new Food World in Huffman. Each payday, it was important to give back to God from the ‘first fruits.’
During college at Samford University, working 3 jobs and having 2 scholarships, it required a lot of discipline to study, practice piano 3 hours per day and being frugal with the money I received from work. By this time, it was instilled in me the discipline of giving back to God as He had so richly blessed us.
After college in 1980 and working full-time, I discovered giving not only money, but time and talent, back to the church and people who need a touch of God’s Love and Grace. Giving became important in my Christian walk.
Now at age 54, with a son graduated from Ole Miss and now working in Birmingham, a son in South Alabama, elderly parents with health problems, accounting projects and managing a team of accountants, juggling time and care giving are a part of life whether blood kin or God’s family.
I continue to make sacrifices not only to the offerings of church, but to special projects and also with time to other ministries, touching lives, loving and encouraging others in their struggles with life.
Several years ago, a dear friend, Mary Helen Dixon gave me some nasturtium seeds which I believe her grandmother called “nasties.” I prepared a new flower bed on the side yard in Roebuck and also in pots at the river. I dug the rocky, clay soil, planted the nasturtium seeds, watered and waited for them to germinate and the seedlings to pop out of the soil. As the weather started to warm and with regular watering, careful weeding and tending the garden, finally by mid-Summer the nasturtiums began to bloom beautiful shades of yellowy-red burnt orange color and were about 2 ½ feet tall. I enjoyed them so much and thought of Mary Helen and the great memories of her family passed down from generations past. Now, it’s become a tradition each year to receive a packet or two of seeds from Mary Helen and her dear sister, Sarah Jackson Shelton.
Isn’t this a picture of the church? God provides the seeds (our jobs, money and material possessions); we give cheerfully of our money, time and love; together our gifts are multiplied, and we see the miracle of how God gives the increase.
As we consider our gifts and the opportunities to serve at church, let us together give cheerfully from our hearts, our time, talents and money.
I believe that we will watch in amazement at how God multiplies our gifts and that He will generously pour out His richest blessings on our congregation and families as we see the miraculous increase!
Dear Lord, thank you for the opportunity to give cheerfully. Thank you for giving the greatest sacrifice of all, Your Son, Our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
As we serve along-side each other, I am your friend,
Mark David Jackson
