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May 2007.On the front of our ROPE leaflet we proclaim that our mission is to inspire a deeper concern for the poor. Inspired I certainly was by ROPE Trustee Peter Green's talk at our recent 'Investing for a higher return' meeting. I only have space here to cherry-pick but if your church is interested in having Peter bring his excellent teaching on stewardship then please contact the ROPE office. In today's 'financial speak' we are 'co-investors' – agents of the Kingdom on God's behalf. Jesus sends us out in the spirit of Isaiah 61:1 or James 1:27.
I was aware that in having faith to give some of the more immediate benefits are changes of perspective, (call it a freedom from worry), and also joy in spirit. How about youthfulness? Scrap the focus on creams and diets etc. Consider this quote from Dennis Lennon:
'What is it about a life fashioned around personal generosity that keeps one climbing in spiritual youthfulness?
True generosity of spirit resonates with something at the heart of God.'An even better incentive to invest in the Kingdom however is the fact that we can't go wrong, unlike the small print advising the value of one's investment can go down as well as up. Peter brought us another excellent quote pointing to the eternal currency in which we deal and the long term returns (1 Timothy 6:17-19). 'Giving is the ultimate long-term investment, returns well above whatever can be found elsewhere, no risk of default, returns compounded forever, benefits to be enjoyed even more after this life.' (A Gotthardt)
ROPE has a vision for God's priorities regarding the poor.
Those most impoverished have a short life expectancy reducing the number of breaths they take. For us let's be sure to invest and give so that life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
Yours in fellowship
Andy Jong
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