Dear Christian friends:

Today our church with all the other churches of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod are thanking God for the Ebenezer year. Our Synod has planned and worked hard to bring a 40 million thank offering to God for buildings needed in many places. We want to thank God for what He has done through us during the past year. While we did not reach our goal we did accomplish some of it and will thank Him for that and seek His blessing in spending it.

The text that I have chosen for today is a question all of us should have asked on our birthday in 1967 before we decided about our Ebenezer offering. It is a question that we should ask today as we close the Ebenezer year. It is A Good Question. What is the good question? "What shall I give unto the Lord?"

Many, many people fail to ask that question. They do not believe in God. Only a person who believes in God thinks of asking that question. These are humble kind and generous people. They are not proud or self-righteous.

Thank God if you have asked that question this year. It shows you believe in Him. If you did not ask that question, now is the time to wake up and ask yourself, "Do I really believe in God, the Lord Jesus?"

Also notice that David asks: "What shall I give unto the Lord?" When David made his offering he knew that it was to God, not to the church or to men. So you when you make your Ebenezer offering you should remember that it is an offering unto the Lord. Often church members think and say, "I don't want to give to Synod or to Prince of Peace or to Hauptman." That is a big mistake. When we make our offerings we should offer them to the Lord God. The Synod, Prince of Peace, the pastor are only God's agents. Jesus says, "When you help the poor and needy you help Me; when you give the pastor a drink of water you serve Me."

So this is a very good question: "What shall I give unto the Lord?" When a man asks that question often, daily, he is beginning to live right. He shows that He knows the purpose of life. Man who does not ask that question is worse than an animal. The animals by instinct and nature serve God and make their offerings to God daily as do also the plants and trees. The cow gives milk and beef and leather; the lamb gives wool and beef and leather; the birds offer songs to serve and praise God; the trees and plants offer their flowers and fruits.

But many men are blind and selfish and greedy. They never stop to ask this good question. They don't care to give to God for His praise and glory and purpose. But if you are a Christian you will be very glad to ask this good question also for Ebenezer.

A Christian believes in God and trusts him for his life and all that he has. That is why David here adds to the question: "What shall I give unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me." David knew that all blessings come from the Lord God. So also every Christian knows that all His life and blessings are from God. He will on his birthday or on New Year's Day stop and remember how God has blessed him in the past.

God said to Israel: "Thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee." We should remember the happy times that God gave to us: good friends, trips, vacations, graduation confirmation, our wedding, our first baby etc. Remember also the sad times God gave you and thank Him for those too: A terrible accident; a severe illness; the loss of a loved one. Through these God tested us and strengthened us, as the Bible says, "My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of His correction: for whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth and scourges every son whom He receives. We sing:

Nearer my God to thee
Nearer to thee;
Even tho it be a cross that leadeth me
Still all my song shall be,
Nearer my God to thee

Even when a dear one died and left an empty chair in your home, remember how comforting and near he was in that dark hour, and thank Him.

Remember also your sins; your stubbornness and rebellion against His Commandments; how patient He was that He did not give up on you, but continued to call you to sorry and change and forgiveness of sins. Thank Him for He is good and His mercy endures forever.

Remember all your Thanksgiving Days and Christmas Days and Easter Days which He gave you to enjoy. The word Ebenezer is quoted from 1 Samuel 7:12 "Ebenezer, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us." Today let us all say Ebenzer again. God's many benefits to us should urge us to say it.

Also our church is asking us to say it to ask this good question, "What shall I give unto the Lord for all of His benefits to me?" So far this year about one-third of our three million members have asked this good question. Here at Prince of Peace, twenty-six of our members have made their Ebenezer offering. Many more need to do it.

The directors of our Ebenezer Offering are extending the time two months. During January and February we are asked to encourage one another to make our offering. On the large bulletin board downstairs you can see who has made their offerings. Some say, "I don't want my name on the honor roll or on the calendar." Why? Are you ashamed of that good work? You should be glad to let all the congregation see your offering. Here David says: "I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows unto to the Lord now in the presence of all His people."

David wanted all of God's people to see him pray and make his offering. That's how he witnessed. So you and I should not be ashamed of serving Jesus and giving praise to His name. You do that when you come to the Lord's Supper. You take the cup of salvation and drink it before the whole church and by doing that you witness to all of God's people.

So also when you make your offering you should not be ashamed or afraid to let all of God's people see you do that. By that you will tempt others and pull others to come and give glory to God also.

So now let us during January and February talk to one another and encourage those who have not made their offering to do it. All of us should ask this good question. All of us should say Ebenezer.

Amen.