Empty

The wise writer of Proverbs reminds us that "empty talk will make you poor." (Proverbs 14:23, CEV) He writes in the context of faithful effort, doing one's best in direct contrast to simply offering empty words. That is good advice for one who seeks to be responsible in whatever he or she does.

I suppose those words might also speak to Christian stewardship, particularly pertaining to how a community of faith is challenged to grow in committed giving. It could be said of Westwood today, "empty envelopes will make you poor." Of course, one might understand this in the context of offering envelopes not used, gifts not given. However, today, there is a different context which some of you have already been made aware of. Due to an unintentional error in the office, empty envelopes were mailed yesterday and began showing up in your mailboxes today. I suppose we should be encouraged that the U. S. Post Office delivers the mail so quickly and efficiently, considering these envelopes were just mailed yesterday afternoon. But that is little consolation for the work some of our folks have done in preparing to send a stewardship letter in that envelope next week. I assure you, Charlie Shuman has written a wonderful letter of encouragement and appreciation for the ministry of Westwood, calling for all of us to share in stewardship that honors the Lord and empowers the work of His church. But, unless the letter makes it into the envelope, there's little that can be done to communicate that message.

I am a bit surprised that these unsealed, empty envelopes were processed and mailed by the Post Office, but that probably speaks more to the automated way the mail is handled today than anything else...perhaps a reminder that the human touch is still important in an increasingly automated, cloud-filled world.

So, watch for another envelope next week that I promise will be filled with something very important, and in the meantime, perhaps we all are being reminded of that great lesson of life and faith, that what is on the inside is often more important than what is on the outside.

I close with the wonderful words of the Psalmist who writes, "You are my hiding place. You protect me from my troubles and fill me with songs of salvation." (Psalm 32:7, NCV) May the ever-present Creator of all, fill you this night with songs of salvation that overcome whatever emptiness comes your way.

Jim Abernathy