What Are You Giving?

Last weekend’s adventure took me to the small town of Pinedale, Wyoming. I say small, because the actual population is only around two thousand, but the number is greatly increased in the summertime when tourists flood the area to visit the Wind River Mountain Range and Fremont Lake. The mountains that rise above this glistening lake, are devoured in a fairytale-esque forest which makes for the most magnificent backdrop for the town of Pinedale. 

For those of us that live in Wyoming, we are pretty lucky to have all of these amazing habitats right out our back door. Truly Wyoming is the wild west so many people desire. But it’s not just the natural territory that out-of-towners enjoy, I was told multiple times while on this trip that the people of Wyoming are so kind and caring. I would have to agree. Every church I’ve visited, every town I’ve stayed at, my fellow Wyominites have been cheerful, chatty and companionable. 

The church itself lives up to its name. It is housed in a large shop/garage just down the street from Veteran’s Memorial Park, where the coppery Pine Creek meanders through and follows a small trail which loops through a forested area right there in town. The church’s interior is also reminiscent of a wilderness with beautiful hand-painted forested scenes on burlap canvases. And of course, the theme wouldn’t be complete without a couple of taxidermy mounted deer and antelope heads. Pinedale is at the base of the Wind River Mountain Range after all.

This particular Sunday was Wilderness Church’s Fourth Sunday, in which they have started the tradition of having a potluck and rearranging their sanctuary to act as a dining room so that congregation members can get to know one another better and the Pastor can ask discussion questions during his sermon. I loved this innovative idea and enjoyed the lively conversation from my table mates. 

This Sunday’s message was about Giving. Pastor Duke Edwards began our discussion with a question about what you’d do with a billion dollars. At my table we spoke about paying off debt, taking vacations, building dream houses, and giving to those in need. Pastor Edwards informed us that most of the time, we as humans, are only willing to give when it doesn’t erode what we already have or bring down the level at which we’re already living at. 

When we decide to follow Jesus, he calls us to be radically different. How do we be radically different when thinking about giving? Pastor Edwards reminded us about the early church in Acts 4:32-35 “Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common…There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.” That is definitely a radical way to live. More often than not, humans tend to be instinctively self-serving and understandably so. If we don’t pay our bills then who will? If we don’t feed our children who will? We tend to look out for ourselves first, before we decide if we have enough resources to give.

As I took time to reflect on this, Pastor Edwards asked us another discussion question. He wanted to know what prevents us from giving. My table gave answers of suspicion of corruption and whether or not the gift was deserved. I’m not sure about you, but I’ve been burned before when I thought I was helping someone only to realize that I was actually being taken advantage of. Or when you hear about some of these big charity organizations funneling the donated money into the pockets of the administrators. It is disheartening to say the least.

Pastor Edwards again reminded us of that early church in Acts. “Barnabas…sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles feet.” Acts 4:36-37 ESV. Pastor Edwards pointed out that this is where the chapter ends. Barnabas gave freely, no strings attached. He didn’t ask what the money was going to be used for, he didn’t ask if a certain amount could go to one person over another. It was a real act of generosity. Pastor Edwards said that generosity is risking what you have to build others up, and faith is taking risk with Jesus. We need to bring our generosity, whatever it is, maybe money, maybe our time, maybe our talents, maybe just a shoulder to cry on, and give it freely, no strings attached. When you listen to God’s voice when he tells you to give, he is going to be pleased with your obedience regardless of what happens with the gift. He can take care of what happens next.  Our job is to be obedient when he asks, even if that means risking what we think is our only resource to be stable in that moment. Maybe it’s your last twenty-dollar bill, or maybe it’s your time after a hard day’s work.

‘Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink…Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?’
Matthew 6:25-27 ESV

What we forget sometimes is that God will always meet our needs. “ ‘Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink…Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?’ ” Matthew 6:25-27 ESV

Jesus calls us to be radically different in all areas of our lives, including being obedient when God asks us to give. When we give freely, with no strings attached and aren’t worried about the outcome since we know that our Father will take care of it, we need not be anxious about anything. Obedient giving adds value to the lives of the ones we give to, as well as our own. It makes the church better, and it glorifies God. 

So, like the congregation at Wilderness Church, and just the people of Wyoming in general, give of yourself kindly. Give to others genuinely. Don’t be afraid to give a stranger a warm hello. Giving freely and with no strings attached can mean all the difference to someone in need. You’ll bless others and God will bless you.

 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?
Matthew 16:26

6 thoughts on “Pinedale, WY”

  1. Donna Schiltz

    Love your blog. Your faith adventure is uplifting and reflects your love for the Lord. Be blessed.

  2. Priscilla stringari

    I think that one was one of the best I have read. Please continue with this journey and your writing.

  3. Solid write up and stoked to run into you at the lake. Happy travels and keep in touch!

    1. Thanks so much! It can be such a small world sometimes lol! So happy to have gotten to see you in Pinedale!

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