Bulletin Statement
The Need to Share
September 2, 2001
We have been invited to center our worship thoughts today on
the need to share. In most instances, sharing means giving--either
giving of ourselves or giving what we have--for the sake of someone else.
The obvious question that rational people will ask, of course, is "Why
should we do that? Why should we take something that is ours, that we
have earned or otherwise acquired, and give it to someone else?"
People of faith find answers in the scriptures: "Sell that ye have
and give alms," Jesus said, "...for where your treasure is, there
will your heart be also" (Luke 12:36-37 IV).
But what is the motivation for us to actually do what we know
we should? Is it not gratitude? We have been given so much out of
God's goodness: all the blessings of life, the air we breathe, the
senses by which we enjoy the gifts God has given us.
Helen Keller once wrote, "I have often thought it would
be a blessing if each human being were stricken blind and deaf for a few days
during early adult life. Darkness would make everyone more appreciative
of sight; silence would teach the joys of sound." She then went on
to describe what she would do if she had the gift of sight for just three
days: how grateful she would be and how much she would want to share
with others what she had seen.
So it should be with all the gifts we have been given.
The appreciation of them should make us more willing to share them with those
who are not so fortunate. Today is World Hunger Fund Day throughout the
church. It is a day for sharing with those in need the gifts with which
we have been so abundantly blessed. Let us be generous in our giving.
Wallace B. Smith, chair
World Hunger Committee
