Some years ago, our church hosted an International Mission Board speaker to speak to us about his work and the importance of giving to that year’s offering. As I introduced him, I challenged our church to erase whatever we thought we were going to give and be receptive to hearing from God.

At the very end of his talk, our missionary speaker made a startling statement that should cause all of us to rethink our giving. The missionary told about being in a meeting with about 220 other missionary families. In this gathering, the missionaries themselves were asked to make a sacrificial gift to the Lottie Moon offering. These 220 missionary families gave in excess of $300,000.

I did the math so you don’t have to yourself. That’s an average of $1,363.64 per missionary family.

Southern Baptists, how can we ask our missionaries who are already sacrificing so much to “out-sacrifice” the rest of us in this season of giving? Be as generous and sacrificial as you can be this year.

Again, let the words of Lottie Moon, herself, guide you.

Is not the festive season when families and friends exchange gifts in memory of The Gift laid on the altar of the world for the redemption of the human race, the most appropriate time to consecrate a portion from abounding riches and scant poverty to send forth the good tidings of great joy into all the earth?