If you're newer to LCBC, you might wonder what Be Rich is, what it means, and why we do it.
We hold a high value of being a part of our communities and making a difference locally and globally. Each November, we set a goal across all locations to unleash a wave of generosity in our communities by giving and serving our local nonprofit partners and sponsoring children.
Year after year, our people show up to make an incredible impact. The question is, why?
1. Loved people are called to love people
As followers of Jesus, we have been forgiven of an unimaginable debt. On the cross, Jesus exchanged our sins and shortcomings for his perfection. (2 Corinthians 5:21). There is an account recorded in Luke 7 about a woman who showed outrageous love towards Jesus. When questioned about her actions, Jesus says this. "I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only a little love."
As a life changed by Christ, our natural posture should be to love others radically because that's how we are loved. Be Rich challenges us to love others freely because we have experienced God's love.
2. We want our love to be easy to see
In Jesus' most famous Sermon, the Sermon on the Mount, he instructs us, "Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14. Jesus tells us that the way we live will point others to God. As a church, we want our communities to know we are for them because God is for them. The best way we can do that is to put our love on display.
People may disagree with what we believe, but they shouldn't be able to argue with how we behave through our giving, serving, and loving of others. We don't love others to feel good about ourselves or make our Church look good; we do it to introduce people to Jesus.
3. It's what the first followers of Jesus did
As a church, we take our cues to live out our faith from the first followers of Jesus. The Church grew from a handful of followers to the predominant religion and worldview that shaped western civilization because of how the early Church behaved. So what did these first followers of Jesus do to capture the world's attention?
In Acts 4:32-35 we get a snapshot. They created a world without needs because they met them personally. They didn't lean on someone else to show up to fix what was broken. Instead, they rolled up their sleeves and did the work. As they did, they made the lives of others better while turning people to Jesus.
1 Timothy 6:18 says, “Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.”
If you have more questions, check out 5 Reasons We’re Called to Be Rich to find five more in-depth reasons why Jesus calls us as his followers to be rich in good works in our communities locally and globally.
If you’re ready to get involved and serve, check out 3 Easy Steps to Find Your Be Rich Opportunity or click on our website page here to sign up for a serve opportunity at the LCBC location closest to you.
LCBC stands for Lives Changed By Christ. We are one church in multiple locations across Pennsylvania. Find the location closest to you or join us for Church Online. We can’t wait to connect with you!