The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work. All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing. Proverbs 21:25-26
“The ministers of Christ have led the great revivals of the past, but we verily believe that the next great revival is going to come from the pew, led and sustained by a devoted ministry in connection with the bringing in of our substance to God.”
John Wesley Duncan as quoted in the opening of “Study Seven” of The New Christian: Studies in Stewardship by Ralph S. Cushman (New York: Centenary Conservation Committee, Methodist Episcopal Church, 1919) 112.
God’s design for the redemption of the world is for people to work, give, and teach others how to live in the way of Jesus. God made us to work. The fruit we receive from it supplies us with resources to enjoy richly and share generously for making known God’s love to others.
How can work and giving contribute to a revival?
There are likely lots of reasons. Perhaps the biggest one is because when the people in the pews work hard and then go give without sparing, they show a watching world that they have taken hold of life. And that’s the one thing everyone’s looking for!
What can each of us do to encourage revival where we live?
It starts with each of us modeling the way and becomes a movement when we engage others. Another thing we can do is networking. I shot the new header photo yesterday outside Estes Park, Colorado, when I was privileged to spend the day with John Stanley, my friend and author of Connected for Good.
We talked about ways God is leading us to encourage revival from the pew. It starts with me and you.