Seeking to Respond to God's Grace, With Faithful Generosity of my PFD

On September 20 Alaskan residents will start receiving their Permanent Fund Dividends. Perhaps you know that this ‘unique to Alaska dividend’ follows the Alaska constitution, which states that “the resources of Alaska belong to the people of Alaska.” So, with the flow of oil from the north slope, after a number of court hearings, Alaska decided to set aside the oil taxes for state use, and about half are designated for payments to each Alaska citizen. My family and I have lived in Alaska since May 4, 1991. Since 1993 we also have received these dividends.

If you are an Alaskan resident you also know about all the recommendations or requests you receive on how to spend or use your dividend. Auto dealerships, furniture businesses, bicycle stores, and many more ask you to consider spending your dividend with them. The state even sponsors a “Pic, Click, Give” opportunity to donate some, or all, of your dividend to help a charitable organization.

PFD time brings a name to my mind – June Liebing. June was born in Sitka, Alaska, in August of 1921. Her family later moved to the state of Washington. But, in 1932 they returned to Alaska, to the Matanuska-Susitna Valley. June’s dad, Clyde King, came to serve in Federal law enforcement, and the family settled on land bordering what is now King Lake, where the Salvation Army Camp is located. June passed away on her 95th birthday in 2016, but before entering the Pioneer Home, she was an every Sunday attender of early worship at St. John.

June served as a registered nurse during her adult life, and among other things she volunteered as a Stephen Minister at St. John for about 20 years. In many ways, June was a quiet person. However, when Permanent Fund Time arrived, at the end of worship, during announcements, June would stand up every year and make pretty much the same announcement. She would say, “God made our earth. God made the oil in the earth. The checks you are about to receive do not come from the state. They come from God! I encourage all of you to return to God from what He is giving you.” June often encouraged people to consider tithing (giving 10%) from their permanent funds to God’s work at St. John.

In his second letter to the Corinthians, inspired by God, St. Paul encourages the Corinthian Christians with the reason they should consider giving for the Lord’s work. “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9) In other words, Jesus gave up the riches of heaven, so that we in turn might receive these riches in eternity. That is why Paul encourages, “see that you also excel in this grace of giving.” (2 Corinthians 8:7)

Since our family started receiving our Permanent Funds Dividends, these gifts from the Lord, we have tried to be wise in our spending. When our children were young and at home, 90% of their money went into Educational IRA’s, and these funds helped pay for at least one full year of their college education. Kathy and I used 90% of our funds to pay off bills, or to travel. But, we always gave 10% of the money from our family’s Permanent Funds to the work of the Lord at St. John. Some years that donation was a pretty good sum!

I encourage fellow Alaskans to consider the faithful wisdom of June. “God made our earth. God made the oil in the earth. The checks you are about to receive do not come from the state. They come from God! I encourage all of you to return to God from what He is giving you.” Perhaps you will want to give to God’s work in your congregation. St. John has been greatly blessed, especially in earlier years, through such donations. Perhaps there is a charity you can support. Or, how neat would it be if you anonymously gave to someone in need?!

Remember, “. . . you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”