Not many people showed up last Wednesday night at Church. For me it would have been easy to make excuses and stay home, if it weren’t for the faithful ones. I knew Pastor Moore would be there, even if nobody else showed up. Sister Moore would be there with him if at all possible. At 89 years of age, anyone would have excused them for not getting out on that cold and rainy night. Besides his other duties, Pastor Moore is the full-time caregiver for Sister Moore and she had just spent two days in the hospital. When I arrived he was praying with Sister Moore for her healing.
Pastor and Sister Moore had always worked hard and that didn’t stop when they got saved. When Pastor Moore talks about what GOD has done for Him, whether its how GOD saved him while driving to work or when He removed a malignant tumor without an operation, you can feel his gratitude. Getting so much from GOD, gave them a passion for giving back. After GOD filled them with the HOLY GHOST, they had even more to give. They begin holding services in their garage and Pastor Moore’s own healing was the beginning of a miracle healing ministry. They eventually started a Church and a Christian school.
I knew several faithful families weren’t at Church that night because they were dealing with family emergencies. One lady had the flu, but her husband came to help. With schools on Holiday break, some may have been on vacation. One elderly couple came, though they had recently buried two of their sons. Our Assistant Pastors and their wives were there and filled multiple roles, though some of them weren’t feeling well.
While Pastor Moore was preaching, I sat at the back of the sanctuary with Sister Moore. I could tell she was a bit down about the attendance. She said people didn’t mind showing up when they had a need, be she didn’t understand why they don’t support the Church. I tried to reassure her by pointing out the reasons for some absences and the faithfulness of those who came. The truth is the majority of people come to Church to get, not to give.
The Church is seen as a place where people go to be saved, taught the Bible, and to have their needs met. As long as they can get what they want and how they want it, they will show up, unless something important comes up. With few exceptions, they don’t come to Church to give back. Some figure they pay for what they get and shouldn’t have to give more.
GOD has a different plan for the Church. The Bible says, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers…For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry” (Eph 4:11-12 KJV). We attend Church to be perfected, so we can then do the work of the ministry. It’s not limited to Church services, but it clearly says we must give after we get. GOD set the example when He “so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son” (John 3:16 KJV). With GOD you get so much, maybe you can give a little more of yourself back to Him?
Wayne Lance (2019)