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