Yesterday, after announcements and during the announcements, I thought about the pay of coming to church. The old saying is that they
"pay" me to go to church but it "pays" you to come to the services. The wealth of church going can't be measured in dollars but can be in spiritual profit.
The first is the education of the Word. The training of the believer to be complete, furnished to good works, is the value of the preaching, teaching, and receiving of Biblical truth. Yesterday's messages were just that; for us to see the cross in the Old Testament and to understand the unity of the Trinity in the Scriptures, and to be reminded of the person of Christ in the Old Testament not only improves our witness to the Jews but enriches our lives as well.
The singing is a blessing as it expresses the grace of our heart and the merriment of our life. It also teaches us and encourages us in our walk with Jesus.
The giving allows us to express thanks to God for being a good provider and enables us to be a part of God's work. Remember Ezra 1?
The presence of those of like faith is an encouragement that God is at work in lives today. The smile, handshake, and conversation as we share things in common lifts our spirits.
Some riches money just can't buy but can be ours by a little effort. Sometimes I think we are like the child who chooses the nickle over the dime because it's bigger. When we choose to do something other than come to church; we may have something of value but loose out on the thing of greater value. It pays to come to church, even Sunday night!