What's new?
ECHO articles
Jesus and cussing
Lent
Lessons from Italy
Life's legacy
Want more out of life?
10/40 Window
Searching for God's will?
An African martyr's statement on commitment
Mission trip fund raising
10 ways to ruin a short-term mission trip
Nazarene Missions International resource pages
Tweet
Share on Facebook
by Howard Culbertson
I've known people who give up chocolate for Lent. I've known people who give up Starbucks for Lent. I've known people who give up cheese for Lent. I've known people who give up . . . . well, you get the idea.
People who "give up something for Lent" do so with the goal of being able to better reflect on the sufferings of Christ. I'm starting to wonder, however, if the "giving up something for Lent" is colored with tinges of selfishness (since it's aimed at bettering myself rather than serving others).
"Giving up a want to meet a need" was a phrase coined by Rev. Elizabeth Vennum some years ago. Her brainstorming around that phrase led to what Nazarene churches know today as the Alabaster offering. That Alabaster offering is the denomination's international building fund. [ Alabaster offering info ]
Elizabeth Vennum's phrase speaks to me during this Lenten season as people ask one another: "What are you giving up for Lent?" If you're giving up something during this Lenten season (the 7-week period prior to Easter Sunday), why don't you go the next step and "meet a need"?
Why not take that money you would have spent on chocolates or Starbucks or cheese and give it to "meet a need"? Let me suggest Love Link ministries as a worthy recipient of your giving. Love Link is an inner city ministry reaching out to families and individuals in the needy central core of Oklahoma City. [ more info on Love Link ministries ]
I'm on Love Link's governing board. In recent weeks we're feeding more families than ever, our addiction recovery houses are full and First Indian Church is bursting to the seams during services with people even sitting on the floor for the lack of seats.
Jesus said we should deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him. Let's not let Lent be simply a season of self-denial. Let's make it a season of following Christ in the example of servant-hood.
This Lenten season, why don't you meet a need? Don't allow "giving up something for Lent" to be just a selfish act aimed at improving yourself spiritually. Turn your giving up something into a chance to minister to others. Give up a want to meet a need. If you've given up something for Lent that has a monetary value attached, make a donation equivalent to that amount to Love Link today. Mail it to Love Link, 500 S. Western, Oklahoma City, OK 73109-1032. [ Easter Sunday devotional thoughts ]Article appeared in April 2, 2003 issue of SNU's student newspaper, The Echo.
| ||||||||||||||
Howard Culbertson, 5901 NW 81st, Oklahoma
City, OK 73132 | Phone: 405-740-4149 - Fax:
405-491-6658
Copyright © 2002 - Last Updated: January 22, 2015 | URL: http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/lent.htm
You have permission to reprint what you just read. Use it in your ezine, at your web site or in your newsletter. Please include the following footer:
Article by Howard Culbertson. For more original content like this, visit: http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert