What are you invested in?

Sorry that the blog is late today.  I have been in a presbytery meeting all day (I still am, don't tell anyone!)
So, that means no lectionary blog.  But below you will find yesterday's message that I shared with Good Shepherd.  It was our 'Stewardship Sunday' and I asked the question, 'are you invested?'
I would love to hear what you think:

Malachi 3:6-12

 ⁶ "I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. ⁷ Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you," says the LORD Almighty.
      "But you ask, 'How are we to return?'

 ⁸ "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me.
      "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?'
      "In tithes and offerings. ⁹ You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me.¹⁰ Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. ¹¹ I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty. ¹² "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty.

Matthew 6:19-34

¹⁹ "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

    ²² "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, ^[c] your whole body will be full of light. ²³But if your eyes are unhealthy, ^[d] your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

    ²⁴ "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

 ²⁵ "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life ^[e]?

    ²⁸ "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ³¹ So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Prayer: God, open our eyes that we might see you.  Open our ears that we might clearly hear your Word calling us.  Open our hearts so they might be tuned to yours.  And I ask that you would hide me behind your cross, so you are what’s seen and speak through me, so you are what’s heard.  Amen.

Several years ago, I was part of a group of St. Tim’s leaders going to get a $150,000 donation from Mrs. DuPont.  A leader said, it really shouldn’t be that hard, after all she could really pay for the whole thing and not even miss the money.  ‘She won’t even miss it’ – maybe hard for us to comprehend, but that was the reality of her situation.

But then Father Tom, the priest, said something profound that I will never forget - If she doesn’t miss it, then we will never get it.

The point he was making is about the nature of giving in the church and it is one that I think we all too often miss.

You see, I don’t think giving from a Christian perspective is about generosity or helping out those in need around us, or even helping to ensure that the doors of the church stay open.  These are all good and important things, and the money given to the church is certainly used for them – as it should be

But that is not the point or the purpose behind giving back to God through our tithes and offerings.  The point is that we are to be fully invested in what God is doing in and around us – that we are to actively participate in the mission and work of God in this world.

It is a point clearly illustrated in the story of the widows’ offering :

From Luke 21:1-4 (The Message)

^1-4Just then he looked up and saw the rich people dropping offerings in the collection plate. Then he saw a poor widow put in two pennies. He said, "The plain truth is that this widow has given by far the largest offering today. All these others made offerings that they'll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn't afford—she gave her all!"

Many of you may be familiar with that story and it is yet another one of the stories of Jesus that gets trotted out around stewardship time, but I think by looking closely at this passage – along with the others we read this morning  can give us an important understanding of God’s call to invest in His mission in this world.

I think we are to draw two things out of Jesus’ description of the widow’s offering.  The first is about priorities and the second is about control.  The issue of what are priorities are in relation to God is simple

God calls us to put him first in our life, this may be hard to hear or difficult to think about implementing, but if you listen to the words of Jesus – this isn’t really a negotiable point

The thing is it’s easy to talk about making God a priority in our lives and there are many ways to do that:

Daily study and devotion

Involvement in the life of the church and regular worship

Engagement in service to and for others

But really, for most of us it is when we reach for our wallets that we get the truest picture of where God really stands as a priority in our lives.  We can take solace in remembering that of all the people Jesus encountered, only one did he call to sell everything and follow him.

For most of us God simply requires that we put him first.  Our money is so interconnected with the rest of our lives that when we shut God out of that area, it quickly becomes difficult to truly make God a priority in any other area of our lives

The hard truth is that in our world our ‘spiritual lives’ are directly connected to our pocketbooks and our wallets.  This is exactly what Jesus is talking about in the Gospel passage from Matthew that we heard a few minutes ago: ‘Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also’

To put it more bluntly, Jesus is saying that our Hearts follow our dollars.  And that our Dollars lead our Hearts.  I think we assume that the heart – our hearts – work in the opposite direction: that we care first and then we share.

We think that someday, sometime down the road we will be spiritually mature enough that we will trust God to provide enough so that we can share with others.

We allow ourselves to believe that someday – but not now – when we have all we need, we will practice generosity. 

But Jesus says that isn’t the way it works.  First we must become invested in God’s work and mission in this world and in and through our lives.  Jesus says that if we want to trust that God will provide, we begin that process by  trusting that God has already provided. 

Treasure first, says Jesus.  Our hearts will follow. 

First we share – of our time, our talents and yes, our money – we invest who we are and what we have in God’s mission and in so doing we grow to care.  Trusting in God – which is a crucial part of what is needed to take the first step in investing yourself in God’s will for your life and in God’s work in and around you is not easy. 

It isn’t easy and it hinges on the second issue.  Jesus is getting at in the story of the widow’s offering– control.  If you were here last week, we talked a little about this then too – because I really believe it is right at the heart of stewardship.

We all want to be able to control as much as we can about our lives, and thanks to technology, wealth and knowledge for the first time in human history we can at least perceive to have some level of control over all or almost all of our lives

But if you have lived long enough, studied enough history or listened closely enough to the Word of God you know that our ability to control – well, much of anything really – is nothing more than an illusion.  And this is, again, directly tied to how we handle our money

Do we see ourselves as children of God, trusting in our creator and savior for all that we need – as we are told in Matt 6 –

'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' ³²For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Or do we ignore those words and hold on as tightly as we can to all that we have been given, operating under the illusion not just of control but of responsibility – that we are in this life alone and it is our responsibility (and ours alone) to provide for our families; to care for ourselves; etc.

If we let go of this illusion, if we truly make God a priority in our lives – in every area of our lives and we recognize that God is in control and accept his responsibility for us than I believe, It will mean that sometimes we are asked to give so much that we can’t help but notice it

But I also believe that whether we have less or more; plenty or want; whether we are the rich giving our offerings or the poor widow among them when we trust in God and invest what God has given us in the mission and work of God we will experience grace, peace and providence as the first dividends of an amazing investment

Let me briefly share three steps to beginning to invest in God’s mission in and around you

Step One – Make a promise.  The spiritual practice of generosity begins with a promise – the promise to share.  It is a promise to ourselves and to God.  In this church we have the opportunity to record our promise through a pledge card – which I once heard described as a promissory prayer.

Step Two – Share in proportion to your resources.  Our Hebrew ancestors gave us an example of proportional giving, setting aside the first ten percent of their harvests or herds to God in what was called ‘the tithe’.  Ten percent is a good goal or bench mark, but it isn’t a magic number – especially if you are just beginning the spiritual discipline of generosity.   Starting where you are is a great goal – beginning with 1 or 2 percent of your resources.  Much more important than the amount is that we promise a proportion of what God has shared with us.

Step Three – Be persistent in giving.  Generosity, like all disciplines is self-confirming.  What I mean by that is that it is only by practicing it that we are able to learn and understand its value.  This is true of prayer, worship, Bible study and it is true too of generosity.  Simply put to see the benefits of generosity for ourselves and the world around us we must keep at it. 

Persistence pays off as disciplines become habits and Godly habits become sources of joy and energy for our life and the lives around us.

Are you invested?

Hey, I know . . . lets talk about money . . .sounds fun, right?

Sorry, I have been absent from the blog - I know you have all been really missing me and it.  Anyway, crazy day today, but I thought I could share with you the sermon that I shared on Sunday.  It was a 'stewardship' message, but I think there is something there for all of us.  I have also included the scripture passage and the prayer I opened with.  I hope you can hear God speaking through these words.

Luke 6:27-38 (NIV)

 ²⁷"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, ²⁸bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. ²⁹If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. ³⁰Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. ³¹Do to others as you would have them do to you.

 ³²"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them.³³And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. ³⁴And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. ³⁵But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. ³⁶Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

 ³⁷"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. ³⁸Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

Prayer: God, we are gathered together this morning to worship you.  As you draw us into your presence, help us to hear and understand your will.  Give us wisdom to know what is right and courage to do what is right.  And now I pray that you would hide me behind your cross, so you are what’s seen and speak through me, so you are what’s heard.  Amen

So, today we begin a season that many people in churches across America dread – Stewardship season.  Many people simply can’t stand to hear people in church – especially pastors – talk about money.  And the truth is many pastors can’t stand to talk about it either – some actually avoid the subject entirely.

It is a tempting thing to do.  But I think it is a dangerous thing to try and keep God out of any part of your life – even the financial part.  But more than that, I think if we allow ourselves to think about stewardship simply as a discussion of money – or if we frame it as a way of paying the churches bills – we really are missing the point.

Stewardship is a part – a central part – of discipleship and giving (of your time, your talents and yes your money) is a spiritual discipline – one that leads to a stronger relationship with God and a more powerful witness to those around you.

The goal of our stewardship ministry is not to raise enough money to pay the bills next year – we certainly hope to do that, but the goal of our stewardship ministry is: To help God’s people (you and I) grow in our relationship with Jesus through the use of the time, talents and finances God has entrusted to us.

Simply put Stewardship is about you and I working to grow closer and more faithful to Jesus Christ.  So let’s get right down to it . . . In the words of Jesus from our Luke passage this morning we have a pretty incredible list of instructions.  Jesus tells us to: give to others whatever the ask,

allow people to steal from you, treat others how you want to be treated, love those that don’t love you – even your enemies, do good to those  who have done nothing for you – or even those that have done harm to you,

and finally lend out money without expecting repayment. 

This is a pretty long, detailed and serious list.  I don’t know about the rest of you, but for me none of the things on that list are exactly easy to live up to.  Not only that, but just about all of the items on Jesus’ list seem at the very least counter-cultural if not completely illogical. 

I guess that isn’t entirely surprising, by this time we all know that Jesus sort of does this.  His instructions and directions are often the opposite of what one might expect or instinctively do.  Even so, this list is particularly troubling because not only does it live up to the unexpected nature of many of Jesus’ sayings, at no point does Jesus give any insight as to how one might actually live like this.

So not only does Jesus give us this seemingly unrealistic set of instructions, he expects us to just know how to go about following them.

With almost no explanation to look too, living up to or applying this list seems close to impossible.  I mean, honestly, look at that list, someone living up to the requirements of that list would most likely be identified as a sucker before they were labeled a Christian. 

We all know that it is good and maybe even important to care for and look after others, especially those that can’t take care of themselves, but we also have to look out for ourselves.  If you don’t look after yourself, who will – right?

Give your money away to people that aren’t going to repay you?  Sounds like a good way to end up broke and friendless. 

Give people whatever they ask of you?  Sounds like a good way to make sure that you get taken advantage of.

 Love those that don’t love you? All that would accomplish is opening yourself up for more people to hurt or take advantage of you. 

We can probably all admit that we could work on not judging and not condemning people or what they do, But isn’t that the point – even if we don’t judge others – we are likely to be judged by those around usbe that kind to me. 

So, should I be the only one that lives like that? It just doesn’t make sense. 

We don’t know if those hearing Jesus’ words initially had the same thoughts as I did when I heard His list of instructions for us, but if they kept listening to him they would have heard what God has in store for those that follow his instructions. 

The amazing promise of God that Jesus was sharing with them is this: if you love the unlovable, give freely, give generously, and reach out to others without judgment or condemnation you will be rewarded beyond your comprehension.  Jesus was telling them that God would bless them from His blessings according to the measure that they had blessed others from theirs.

But the question still lingers:  but how are we supposed to do all of this?  The answer to that question lies at the heart of our topic for the day, Stewardship.  Some of you may know that we use the term Stewardship to remind ourselves that all that we have comes from and even know belongs to God - we are simply stewards, or caretakers, of what God has given us.

All that we daily call ‘ours’ and ‘mine’ are really not ours at all but God’s. 

This is a subtle change of perspective, but it is a change that makes all the difference, and it is a change that makes Jesus instruction sheet not only possible but logical.  God is longing to care for us, keep us safe and bless us and this is exactly what He will do if we relinquish the illusion of control over our lives and acknowledge His power and providence in our lives and indeed over the entire world. 

What this means is that stewardship is a choice, it is a choice between holding on to everything that we can grab, as tightly as we can – even as it slips through our fingers or living a life of trust and faith in the God that loves and cares for us and has already provided for everything that we have ever had and that has promised to continue to care for us.

We live in a fast paced, crazy, isolated and sometimes cruel world.  All of us get caught up in taking care of ourselves because of this reality.  It is often said that you can’t make it alone in a place like this. 

It is into this crazy, fast moving, isolated and cruel world of ours that God enters into and offers a promise.  The almighty creator and Lord over all the universe, the one that has already given His very life for you, Jesus Christ is longing to be your guide, your shield and your provider. 

Jesus Christ challenges us to trust him:  Give freely, even to those that maybe taking advantage of you and watch God provide for you.  Refrain from judgment and condemnation and watch God open up a world of new opportunities and relationships to you. 

All you need to survive and thrive in this cutthroat, dog eat dog world where everyone is only looking out for themselves – is start looking out for someone else and let God take care of you.

As I was preparing this sermon I made every effort to stay away from talking about what we get out of giving, about the benefits that come from admitting that God is in control and all that we have is God’s.

I really didn’t want to give you story after story about what happened to people when they choose to give sacrificially.  I didn’t want to share the amazing stories that start with people deciding to put God first, even when the bills were due.  I don’t know why but it just seemed like the wrong message for church – do this because of what you will get out of it – isn’t it supposed to be about sacrifice? 

The problem was that Scripture, my own personal experience and the Living God would not let me get away from the message that giving to others ensures God giving to you and God giving to you in abundance. 

Listen to Luke 12:31-33:

 ‘But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.  “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.  Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.’

So I invite you to accept the challenge of Jesus – and begin to life into the promise of God, and along the way give up the illusion that you are in control, that you are the only one that can ensure that you are taken care of. 

Instead begin taking care of others, go ahead and test God.  Go ahead in spite of the logic of this world, the lack of space in your calendar and the arithmetic of your checkbook and give freely, give boldly and see if what is returned to you . . . ‘a full measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over.  Because whatever measure you use in giving –large or small- it will be used to measure what is given back to you. 

Because in God’s economy it is in giving that you receive, in blessing that you are blessed and in giving and living generously that you are showered with the full generosity of God.

Amen.