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We bury our dreams because we're afraid of failing. We bury our gifts because we don't think they're good enough. We bury opportunities because we're too busy or too comfortable. We hold tightly to our money, our time, and our sense of control because we're afraid of what might happen if we let go.
And all the while, life is passing us by.
What matters most is that we not miss life.
Jesus didn't come simply to make us better people, more religious people, or more financially responsible people. He came that we might have life—and have it abundantly! (John 10:10)
That's really what our November emphasis, A Life That Matters: Living for What Lasts, is all about.
By now, you should have received our stewardship materials in the mail, including an invitation to make a financial commitment to the ministry of Perry Methodist Church for 2027.
We'll have an opportunity to bring those commitments to worship on Sunday, November 22, when our youth lead us in worship.
I hope you'll take some time to read the materials, pray, and consider what God is calling you to give.
But I hope you'll hear something even more important: This isn't ultimately about the church getting more of your money. It's about God getting more of your life.
Because the same God who entrusts us with financial resources has also entrusted us with relationships, abilities, opportunities, influence, and days that we will never get back.
And He hasn't given us those things simply to bury them, protect them, or hold on to them until the end.
He's given them to us to use. To enjoy. To share. To invest in the things that last.
For 200 years, faithful people have invested their lives in the ministry of Perry Methodist Church. We're here today because they believed God could do something wonderful with what they had to offer.
And I believe God has MORE in store for us!
So as you think about your financial commitment for next year, I hope you'll also ask a much bigger question:
What have I been burying that God is inviting me to put to work?
Maybe it's a gift you've neglected. A relationship you've put off. A calling you've resisted. An opportunity to serve. Or perhaps it's simply the freedom to trust God with something you've been desperately trying to control.
Whatever it is, don't miss the life God is inviting you to live.
I look forward to seeing you Sunday as we explore Jesus' parable together in a message called “What Are You Burying?”
Grace and Peace,
Tom
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