Samaritan Benevolence
The first time I recall seeing Van Gogh’s “The Good Samaritan” was in a pastor-friend’s office. He cared deeply and practically for those around him. It was fitting that this print was hanging in his office. He had been gripped by Jesus’ compassion for the poor, helpless souls who were destitute, destined to die, apart from the intervention of an unanticipated Savior.
When Jesus told that parable, he concluded with a pressing question to the self-justifying man who would excuse away compassion through a legal technicality on the definition of “neighbor.” Jesus—as he is so keen to do—flipped the question around to, “Who proved to be a neighbor?” The neighborly one was the one who showed mercy (Luke 10:25-37).
In Galatians 6:10, Paul adds to this summons to do mercifully by exhorting the church to “do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” We ought to be on the lookout to be neighborly, to show mercy, because of the great mercy we have been shown in Christ. And we ought especially be keen to do such things for our brothers and sisters in the Lord.
When Jesus told that parable, he concluded with a pressing question to the self-justifying man who would excuse away compassion through a legal technicality on the definition of “neighbor.” Jesus—as he is so keen to do—flipped the question around to, “Who proved to be a neighbor?” The neighborly one was the one who showed mercy (Luke 10:25-37).
In Galatians 6:10, Paul adds to this summons to do mercifully by exhorting the church to “do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” We ought to be on the lookout to be neighborly, to show mercy, because of the great mercy we have been shown in Christ. And we ought especially be keen to do such things for our brothers and sisters in the Lord.
The Benevolence Fund
These passages (among others) inform one church-wide effort to do mercifully to the household of faith: our Benevolence Fund. We started this fund a few years ago to have financial resources set aside to do acts of mercy. It is a separate fund from our regular, operating expenses so that such resources are kept for such purposes. The oversight and administration of this fund has markedly increased since we appointed Eric Simpson as the deacon for mercy and care.
The Benevolence Fund has been funded through two means. First, when our annual expenses are exceeded by your giving, we have allocated some of that surplus to the Benevolence Fund. The other means is through your designated giving. There is an option when giving online to contribute directly to that fund as opposed to the general budget. Contributing to this fund is one way we work together to be a Good-Samaritan-neighbor to one another. The fund has been used to help meet tangible needs within our church.
The Benevolence Fund has been funded through two means. First, when our annual expenses are exceeded by your giving, we have allocated some of that surplus to the Benevolence Fund. The other means is through your designated giving. There is an option when giving online to contribute directly to that fund as opposed to the general budget. Contributing to this fund is one way we work together to be a Good-Samaritan-neighbor to one another. The fund has been used to help meet tangible needs within our church.
Go, and Do Likewise
I share all of this for two reasons. First, I want you to be aware of this ministry of the church to make use of and pray for. O that God would be pleased to encourage and sustain our brothers and sisters in the hope of the gospel through such tangible expressions of care and support by the Body to its members. If you know of a need or have an idea that would better care for the Body, reach out to Eric or fill out this form.
Second, we have been able to address a few substantial needs recently, and the fund has been depleted. If the Lord has entrusted the resources to you, and you would gladly give beyond your normal gifts to the ministry of the church, I would encourage you to do so.
There are more things we would like to do and support than what the Lord has presently provided for. As we shared at our July members meeting, our regular expenses are still tracking about $20,000 above what has been given for the year. The Benevolence Fund is lower and needs are greater than what we presently have. Yet none of this is a surprise to the Lord. He still owns all and deploys all as he deems best. Perhaps one purpose in this is that he would have us pray more and more earnestly for all the means necessary for us to be following Christ in all of life, so that we would, collectively, be abiding in him more and more.
We are—all of us—like that man on the road to Jericho. We are poor, helpless souls who were destitute, destined to die, apart from the intervention of an unanticipated Savior. What mercy, what benevolence, we have been shown in Christ. May we go, and do likewise.
Second, we have been able to address a few substantial needs recently, and the fund has been depleted. If the Lord has entrusted the resources to you, and you would gladly give beyond your normal gifts to the ministry of the church, I would encourage you to do so.
There are more things we would like to do and support than what the Lord has presently provided for. As we shared at our July members meeting, our regular expenses are still tracking about $20,000 above what has been given for the year. The Benevolence Fund is lower and needs are greater than what we presently have. Yet none of this is a surprise to the Lord. He still owns all and deploys all as he deems best. Perhaps one purpose in this is that he would have us pray more and more earnestly for all the means necessary for us to be following Christ in all of life, so that we would, collectively, be abiding in him more and more.
We are—all of us—like that man on the road to Jericho. We are poor, helpless souls who were destitute, destined to die, apart from the intervention of an unanticipated Savior. What mercy, what benevolence, we have been shown in Christ. May we go, and do likewise.