Airdrie Flowerhill Parish Church of Scotland is a registered charity. Ref No. SC014555

Over the last months in our magazines, we have been looking at how members of the Church of Scotland have promised to live radical lives through reminding ourselves of the vows taken. This month we come to the fourth vow:

 Do you promise to give a fitting proportion of your time, talents and money for the church's work in the
   world?

Now on first reading that hardly seems like a radical life does it? But when you look at what it says we see that it involves some precious things for us. It starts with perhaps one of the most precious, our time, we promise to give a fitting proportion of our time. What does that mean, is it talking about Sundays, well the second vow was about that so probably not. So it is talking about us giving some of our other time to the work of the church other than a Sunday – now that‘s radical, that‘s hard isn‘t it, what God wants more than an hour or so on a Sunday, well yes, so are you keeping that promise?

What about talents? So is God running a Kingdoms got Talent competition? Well yes and no. Yes he has given us all talents, things that we are good at, doesn‘t have to be headlining acts but there will be things that you can do. But these talents are not so that we can serve ourselves rather so that we can serve Him. So what are you good at and are you using it for the Church and God‘s kingdom?

What about money? God wants us to give money to the church‘s work. What is a fitting proportion, well the bible gives us a clear example, tithing, 10% of what we have we give to God. Now that‘s radical isn‘t it? That is a sobering thought for us all and I include myself in that. I wonder how many of us give in that way? Maybe in these tough financial times jumping from what we give currently to that is too big a jump, but are we reviewing what we give to God to make sure it is a fitting proportion, where does God figure when we are tightening our belts is his portion the first to be affected or the last.

However you look at it this 4th vow is a radical promise to be made by radical people who are making decisions to put a radical trust in Jesus. Perhaps the question is how we define a fitting proportion? That is up to each of us or is it?

Calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat; I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to saving yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? What could you ever trade your soul for?
Mark 8v34-37 (The Message)

Your fellow radical,

Gary