"Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine."   - Proverbs 3:9-10

Oh, where did the summer go? With Labor Day behind us, the mornings are getting cooler, the days shorter, and the crisp smell of autumn is in the air. The kids strap on their backpacks and sullenly return to school while parents rejoice. Trips to the beach and campgrounds are replaced with apple picking and hayrides. And pumpkin spice everything! The transition to the fall season represents not only a change in the weather and the sights, but also a return to our normal routines of work, school, sports, and other activities.

In order to balance the many demands for our time, we find ourselves prioritizing what’s most important and dedicating our attention to those things. We focus on what needs to be done, who needs to be where, and when does it all need to happen. As we rank our priorities, are we making sure that our priorities reflect God’s will for our life?

In our recent sermon series, Elijah: Just Like Us, we learned that much of Elijah’s life was centered around answering the question “which god is the real God?” While the Lord may not be competing for our attention with ancient idols like Baal, he certainly competes with modern idols.  If someone looked at our daily planner or our checkbooks, would it be apparent our relationship with Jesus Christ is our highest priority?

We all experience the “summer slide” in a number of ways, and our time and our wallets are no exception. If this summer saw you getting off track a bit, consider all the ways you can get your priorities back in order:
  • In need of deeper relationships and Christian fellowship? Consider joining a community group while the kids are at KiC@Nite.
  • Can’t make it to Sunday church because of travel or illness? Livestream the service or subscribe to the MCC podcast to listen during your commute.
  •  No time to stop at the ATM or write a check to put in the basket? Automate your giving through online or text giving.

As we return to the hustle and bustle of our normal routines, let’s make sure we place God first in every part of our lives.

Your brother in Christ,
Dave Ferraro
For the MCC Stewardship Team