A Small Plan

“For who has despised the day of small things?”  Zechariah 4.10 KJV

February 1, 2012

 About twenty-five years ago, the church I had pastored for six months was experiencing financial difficulties.  Each month, the church fell just short of its budget needs.  The people were concerned. In a board meeting, it all came to a head and some suggested we cut our giving to missions and benevolence.

That week, a thought came to me and I went to the pulpit on Sunday morning with a small plan.

“How many of us think we waste a dollar or two a week?  An extra soft drink or whatever?” I asked.

 They smiled, poked each other and most raised their hands.  It was, after all, just a buck or two.

“Look around and do a quick head count.  There are over seventy of us here. I’m not asking for sacrificial giving. What if we gave just one more dollar a week, the dollar we waste.  That would be over $3500 dollars a year.  We are only falling short $2000 a year.  What do you think?”

 We never had money trouble in that parish the rest of the time I was there.  It was a small plan, but sometimes to address a great need, a small plan is all it takes.  

Prayer: Lord, remind me that sometimes my small part makes all the difference.