E and I have been given some pretty sweet breaks in our young marriage. I could fill a book with the blessings of the past five years, but right now I’m focusing on the financial category. We have prayerfully and carefully put our financial gifts to good use, paying off student loans, establishing an emergency fund, and purchasing a reliable newer-used minivan for our growing family. We have become more generous and are thankful for the opportunities to help others. Now we are presented with a huge gift and I am baffled at how best to use it for God’s glory.
Luke 12:48b “From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.”
We (my family and my dad) are moving into my childhood home, a half-hour’s drive from town. It is a huge farmhouse on 26 acres in the country. It has an inground pool and a pecan orchard. It’s beautiful and I love it.
It’s also 3/4 paid off. And by combining finances with my dad, we will have much more income and drastically fewer expenses. According to my rough calculations, we will have 2/3 of E’s paycheck free each month. This boggles my mind: a much bigger, much nicer house and lots more discretionary funds.
I can think of many, many ways to use the cash. Liquid assets are much easier to use to God’s purposes, in my opinion, because they’re so flexible. We could save some, give some to charity, use some for needs we see around us (we’ve been wanting to buy a car for a newly-single mom we know, for instance). I could go on and on if I got specific.
But the house is what I really want help with. Even with the modest home we have now, E and I have spent much time brainstorming how we could use it well. We’ve talked about converting the garage to a bedroom and hosting single or couple missionaries home on furlough. We’ve offered to host small groups. We’ve discussed subsidizing rent for a disadvantaged college student. We’ve had lots of friends over for meals and babysat kids for moms. We’ve been foster parents. I’ve tried to remain open and available for any opportunities God would present. Now that we will have a much bigger home, it seems the possibilities would expand, but because of the distance from town I’m not sure they will. Many folks don’t want to drive an hour round-trip to attend their weekly small group. And we’re not at all convenient for moms to drop kids off while they go run errands. I deeply desire to use our home to God’s glory, to be hospitable and open with the house, but my creative juices are running low on how to do that.
Any suggestions? How do you use your home to God’s glory? Please share any ideas, or parts of ideas!
Posted on October 4th, 2007 by Dove
Filed under: Learning
I’ve always loved the idea of opening my home to those girls who have nowhere to go upon finding out they are pregnant. So many are abandoned by their own families or given ultimatums. Our house is too cram-jammed full o’ kids right now to accomodate that, but someday…
one never knows. I think it is simply wonderful that you’re being so blessed with space, and love to fill it with!
Oh, and it does sound as though the property is absolutely lovely! The sort of place that would be good for folks who are wrung out and need a little time away from the hustle-bustle (like, as you said, missionaries on furlough). I know that if you put this before the Lord He will send the right needy folks to you!
Hospitality! When we built an addition to our house we made a large room so that we could have gatherings with lots of people. We have put the room to good use!
Thanks for your comments on sewchic!
blessings,
Ruth
That’s easy… you invite recent college grads over for dinner and let them play with your kids! To the glory of God, of course!
On a (slightly) more serious note, it’s awesome and encouraging to hear the excitement of being blessed with monetary gain in order to put to a selfless use in glorifying God’s name. Thanks for sharing!
Hey Ray, if you guys are willing to make the drive, we’ll have ya! My worry has been that folks wouldn’t be willing to make the drive, but I suppose if we make the package attractive enough — delicious home-cooked food, cute kids to play with, fabulous company in me and E
— the drive won’t be too much of a deterrent! We’ve been wanting to see you guys again anyway, but living in a mostly-empty house until we’re done moving somewhat precludes entertaining. As soon as we’re done moving though, we want to see you!
Aw.. As much as I love hanging out with you guys, I understand how busy life can be at times. Whenever you get the chance is awesome! Please let us know how we can help you move!