Pastor's Article 04-26-26

It's wonderful to be back home—there truly is no place like it. Our mission trip to Peru was memorable, and I'm looking forward to some of you joining in sharing the gospel with the Peruvian people. I discovered a city full of individuals eager to hear the word of God and reflect on their lives through biblical teachings. Last week, more than 50 people accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior, and many others engaged in meaningful conversations with us. Most of the people of Peru seem to be very down-to-earth people who have not been overtaken in the sin of materialism due to the impoverished lifestyle they have become accustomed to. This leads us to wonder whether our abundance is truly a blessing or has become the central purpose of our lives. We are called to live for something greater than material possessions that merely catch our attention in this world. If Christ is not at the heart of your life, consider taking a moment to reflect on your priorities with eternity in mind.  Life is more than material possessions; learning contentment helps prevent greed. Real satisfaction and peace come from the Lord, who calls us to love Him fully.  Look at this passage of Scripture, 1 Timothy 6:6-10, “6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”                                
Would you feel content if all you had were food and clothing? Most people would find it difficult, unless they had experienced true deprivation. Because we don't experience significant hardships, we often forget that hardship is possible. As a result, we may shift from worrying about meeting our basic needs to never being satisfied with what we do have. Let us recognize how fortunate we are, so that we can live our lives in gratitude.
Pastor,
Rev. Wayne Marcus