New Life Christian Church

We all know this wonderful story from the Bible and have been challenged by its very direct call to give all to the Kingdom. Jesus makes it clear. Acts 2:41-47 also makes this very clear. It is our call to give up all for the sake of the Kingdom. But how often have you actually witnessed someone live this life and how often have we seen this kind of sacrificial giving? I have to tell you two life changing events in my life that greatly moved me and caused me to really understand this story. Some years ago I was teaching a class in Guatemala. There were many students and many pastors during this conference and the presence of the Lord had moved very dramatically during the time of teaching - I was greatly blessed. Upon leaving the head of the fellowship handed me an envelope with a very significant amount of money for the teaching, flight and expenses. So, here I was with a pocket full of cash when up comes one of the students asking to speak to me as I was about to close the door of the car for my trip to the airport. I had known this student as a former doctor who had left his practice to pursue God’s direction for his life which in his case was outside of being a doctor. I now knew that because of his decision he had very little money and was living by faith. He walked up to be and said "Pastor Kirk, the Bible says a workman is worthy of his wages and to buy the truth and sell it not. I must give you money for the truth we have heard this week. I was so deeply touched and changed about how we are to love the brethren." I, of course, seeing that I had a pocket full of cash and knowing his poverty level refused to take his money. At that he said, "Brother, you must take this money. The Lord has told me that I’m to buy this truth and if I dont give it to you I will be walking in disobedience. I have saved these Amercan nickels for all my life. Every time I see an American coin I buy it, save it, and have put it in this small bag. You must take it. God has spoken." Of course, I had only one choice - I had to take his bag and allow him to be obedient to the Lord. I hugged him, loved on him, and left for the airport with tears streaming down my face at what I had just witnessed and seen. The Widow giving her two mites. Think about it - in comparison which amount meant more to me - the pocket full of cash or his bag of nickels. There was no comparison to me, nor do I believe to the Lord. His nickels far exceeded the millionaires bank account in heavens view. This past week I had another such occasion. As you know we are in a building project fundraising time and the Lord has been doing incredible work in regards to people just walking up and handing me money for this endeavor. As I was walking to my office between services, up walks Paul Fairchild. For those of you who don’t know Paul - he is 6 years old. Anyway, Paul walks up to me and says, "Pastor Kirk, I want to give you something for the building." I said, "ok". He then reaches into his wallet and pulls out every bill he has - which amounted to $2.00 - and gives me everything he had. He then said with those big tender eyes looking at me, "This is for the church". To say I was humbled and moved is an understatement. You see, we still have those that give their all in our midst. They are all around us. We just need to open our hearts to see them and understand what the Lord is doing through them. And secondly, we need to become them. What a testimony the widow was. What a testimony those like her still are! God bless you Paul!

Love,

Pastor Kirk