This morning as we gather for worship, our youth are in Germantown at the Philadelphia Project putting their hands and backs to the work of repairing homes and rebuilding lives. As we gather to worship, I remember two things. These youth came to these understandings of lived faith here in this place – for which we should be proud. And our youth are leading us in generous good works this morning!
This week, we continue in our series Created to be Generous. God created us not to be carriers of possessions, but rather to be generous in all ways. We first learned that we are created in the image of God as one who reflects God’s generosity. Last week, we explored being openly generous, despite the taboos of society. Today, we embrace that God has called us to be generous in good works.
Good works have often gotten a bad rap in Christian history. We have imagined that one could be either faithful or full of good works. We could not imagine that they lived together in the same individual. However, we have been mistaken. John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, spoke of our need for both, “Our gospel, as it knows no other foundation of good works than faith, or of faith than Christ, so it clearly informs us, we are not his disciples while we either deny him to be the Author, or his Spirit to be the Inspirer an Perfecter, both of our faith and works.” 1 Good works are the fruits of our faith. The manifestations visible to others as well as serving the needs of others. Good works are generous and necessary to the whole salvation of people. Good works are letting God work through us to serve others.
Our generosity is a string of good works. Generosity is more than a nice idea made popular by Facebook. Generosity is our need to serve God and others. We were indeed created to be generosity. Each time, we veer from the need we have to be generous, we are malcontent. Paul’s first letter to Timothy begins by reminding us that our contentment is what is at stake. When we place our stock in the accumulation of wealth for the sake of security or luxury, comfort or adoration, we miss all of the purpose and fall short. The letter goes on to advise this community of believers, instead to be rich in good works and generous to those in need.
We have a need to be generous, to serve one another. It is how we have been created, created in the image of God. There is movement of mothers called Momastery. Individually, this group could affect a bit of change here and bit of change over there. I can imagine their good works could offer everyday solace and encouragement to those who have need. Collaboratively, the effect is breath-taking. This week, there was a determination that this movement would seek to raise funds for maternity midwife centers in Germany (who are assisting Syrian refugees) and in Haiti. Both areas in need of infrastructure support for the routine event of giving birth of sustaining life. The effect in 24 hours was nothing short of stunning. In 24 hours, 475,141 dollars were raised with the average donation being $22. 21,598 givers.
I can hardly imagine that these individuals anticipated this need, saved up, and then expended. I can imagine that their resources were already available, and their hearts were moved to equip others to do good works in places of deep need. This is exactly what we the church are called to do as well. Our good works and our generosity are partners in living out our faith. Our purpose of giving of our time, talents, and financial gifts are not the abundance and overflow of a bank account with too many zeros and a calendar with too much white space. Our purpose of giving is our very discipleship. We are generous in times of struggle and in times of abundance. We are serving others when we have needs ourselves as well as when we feel like the storm has passed us by.
In the Psalm, we hear of David’s struggle as he struggled with Abimelech. In the midst of struggle, we hear David’s words of pain and reliance on God. The need to be dependent on God and acting out of who God called him to be. Our reading of the psalm, ends with verse 8, that reminds us, “Happy are those who take refuge in God.” Other translations, list the verb as content. Content are those who know God’s presence and can be wrapped up in the arms of God.
The beginning of that verse invites us to “Taste and See that the Lord is Good!” If we translate the term taste, more fully from the Hebrew, we would understand that it means, “to try something by experiencing it.”2 This is the same kind of language used when one is encouraged to try a new food. Scientifically, we have learned that our perceptions of food are just as powerful as the actual experience of eating the food. Experiments have been conducted using food color to alter the appearance of lemon Jello without affecting the taste. Few will discern the lemon taste without the yellow color.
“Our tendency to dislike and often hate things that extend beyond our perceptual comfort zones is explored in Malcolm Gladwell’s book, Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking. He argues that we make snap judgments about everything we encounter based on prior experience. And while this ability can sometimes help us make wise decisions, it can also explain why pilot testing can’t predict the success of new concept T.V. shows like Seinfeld. In other words, sometimes our first impressions are wrong.”3
Taste and see that the Lord is good is an invitation, an enticement, a hypothesis, a potential experiment. The psalmist proclaims in the midst of my hardest times, I found God was good and a refuge, a hiding place, when I needed it most. It is our discipleship to serve; we were created in the very image of God. Try something by experiencing it. Commit to giving of your very self to someone else.
Now, I realize that it is easy to say, I have no time. It is easy to say, I already do enough. It is easy to say I do not know what or how to do. It is easy to say, I have enough to do in my own life. And you might be right. And yet, you and I are called to abundant life. We are called to fight the good fight and hold onto life eternal.
This week’s challenge is to a new and different activity of good work. What could you do? You could come this afternoon to Trunk or Treat and stand by the door welcoming each one of our guests. You could offer your neighbor a cup of coffee in the morning and ask how they really are. You could join us for our Community Café to serve or to sit with our guests and love on them. You could plan to give a weekend to repairing someone else’s home. You could spend an evening at the church during Family Promise as a host to families who are currently without a home. You could fill shoeboxes of hope for children through our Samaritan’s Purse shoebox initiative to be debuted next week. You could grocery shop for our emergency food needs. You could help at the Bridge, organizing and handing our food and supplies to those in need.
The list is endless. The needs are seemingly endless. And we need to be generous, just as the needs must be filled. This is what purpose is, Frederick Buechner said, the place where your deep gladness meets the world’s great needs.4
This is the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, thanks be to God, Amen.
1 John Wesley, “Circumcision of the Heart”
2 http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=361
3 http://summertomato.com/learning-to-love-foods-you-dont-like/
4 Frederick Buechner, Wishful Thinking: A Theological ABC
Old Testament Lesson: Psalm 34:1-8
Praise for Deliverance from Trouble
Of David, when he feigned madness before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away.
I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
let the humble hear and be glad.
O magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt his name together.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me,
and delivered me from all my fears.
Look to him, and be radiant;
so your[a] faces shall never be ashamed.
This poor soul cried, and was heard by the Lord,
and was saved from every trouble.
The angel of the Lord encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
O taste and see that the Lord is good;
happy are those who take refuge in him.
New Testament Lesson: 1 Timothy 6: 6-12, 17-19
Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it; but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.
The Good Fight of Faith
But as for you, child of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.
Meditations For Your Week
Sunday, October 25 ~ Saturday, October 31
Sunday: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.” 1 Timothy 6:10. How are money and the worries of money taking you away from the faith?
Monday: “Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:12. Acting generously is commitment again and again to the works of God. Ask God to help you to fight the good fight today.
Tuesday: “They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share,” 1 Timothy 6:18. Take time today to an random act of generosity or kindness.
Wednesday: “Thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.” 1 Timothy 6:19. Contemplate the fullness of life as you hold onto that which is really life and let the rest go.
Thursday: “I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Psalm 34:1. What praises have you shared today?
Friday: “I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4. God has been faithful to us. Out of gratitude, share that story with others.
Saturday: “O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in him.” Psalm 34:8. How will you bask in God’s gifts today?