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Contribution vs. Attendance



   In almost every church I've been in there is a board up front that lists some statistics for the church.  Now the way they are organized and what they are called varies but normally it falls into two categories:  Contribution and Attendance.  Attendance is the number of people who show up to any given service, a head count.  Contribution refers to what people gave during that time, usually a dollar figure.  Let me tell you something, the contribution is the more important part of worship than the attendance.

   Now before you dismiss me as a money grubbing preacher let me clarify something.  When I say contribution, I'm not meaning just the offering that is collected on the first day of the week.  I mean what we contribute to the worship.  Did we sing and make melody with our heart? Did we pray along in prayer?  Did we consider the word of God being taught and apply it to ourselves?  Did we examine ourselves before we remember the Lord’s death with the communion?  And yes, did we purpose in our heart to lay by and store for the Lord's work?  Did we participate and contribute to the worship or did we just show up?

   You can’t contribute if you don’t attend but don’t think that just attending is what worship is all about.  Hebrews 10:24-25 tells us;
And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

   In worship we not only praise God but also teach and admonish one another (Colossians 3:16). To do that it takes more than just being at a place, it takes an active mind engaging in the process.

   We not only have a service to attend but we must also attend to service. What is your contribution to worship?


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