This morning, we continue our series on being created to be generous. Last week, we explored how from the beginning, God created us in the very image of God, and that one of the overwhelming characteristics of God is God’s generosity. Last week, I gave you a challenge to ask God how God is inviting you to be more generous. This week, we turn to being openly generous.
Several years ago a woman and her friend and their 5 children, all under the age of 6, attempted to go to the zoo. The friend had season passes, making for a fun, inexpensive day out! However, it was obvious from the minute she got in the car, that the friend was having a bad day.
They arrived at the zoo and it was packed! They had to park in the farthest parking lot, the one that wasn’t even paved. Then they trekked to the front gate pushing strollers overflowing with kid-stuff. After waiting in line for nearly an hour, the friend realized that she’d lost her wallet. She started to panic so they pulled the caravan over to the side and started looking through everything. The backpack, the diaper bag, the under the stroller storage area… nothing. She ran back to the car while the other mom watched the kids. Nothing. She searched her bags again, no luck.
So they told the kids that they weren’t going to the zoo. The kids started crying. Then the mom’s started crying. They were all disappointed and frazzled. Then a lady came over and took the mom’s hand. She said, “Here, take your kids to the zoo.” When she walked away the mom saw a $100 bill in her hand. $100! She tried to give it back. She explained that her friend just lost her wallet, they’d changed their minds about the zoo, and they didn’t need any money. But the lady refused to take back the $100.
Eventually the moms and kids hiked back to their cars. While packing up the car the friend found her wallet in the trunk. With a sigh of relief, they decided to just go to the park and have a picnic lunch. As they were leaving the park one mom thought about breaking the $100 bill and handing out $20 to people. How fun would that have been?! But she actually felt embarrassed to do that. Who would think it would take courage to give away money?
The moms agreed that they would spend the money doing something fun for the kids, but they never spent it. For two or three years the money sat in a sock drawer in the home of one of the mom’s. And then a friend’s husband got laid off and after six months of looking was still unemployed. The women knew that their friend had 4 kids to get ready for school, and a very tight budget. So they decided to give this other friend the $100, including it in a bag of hand-me-down clothes. They typed up a letter explaining the history of the money, put it and the money in an envelope and dropped it off along with the bag of clothes. Later that day the friend called to thank them for the clothes and the money.
I wonder if the woman at the zoo, who gave the $100 bill in the first place, carries around a $100 bill so she can help people in need? Think about it. $100 is enough money to actually change someone’s situation if they are stuck. It will fill a tank of gas. It will get a room for the night. It will replace a flat tire. It will feed a family. It will take a couple of women and their kids to the zoo.
Being openly generous triggers recognition of where our resources come from and a necessary commitment to sharing; openness to giving to others. In the book of Proverbs, the collected wisdom is gathered. In fact, often through the book, Wisdom is personified as a Woman going the streets providing wisdom and being ignored. In chapter 9, we hear the generosity is not just about preference, it is about life. The generous are enriched and given more of life. Whereas those who withhold their goods and gifts suffer. There are no maximums and minimums here. The Proverb does not say it is only generous if you income is in the 6 figure range, not does it say, generosity tops out at $35,000/year income.
For many of us, this bumps up against what we have been taught about money and resources. You work hard and earn a living. Take good care of what you have. And pray that others will do the same. Many of us were taught that money was never something that comes to the light of day. We were taught that money is the root of all evil, instead of the biblical verse, the love of money is the root of all evil. Did you know that there are 2350 verses in the Bible reflecting on money? We were taught it was better to suffer in silence, under a load of debt, than ever to ask for help about how to get out from underneath of it. That keeping our composure was more important than long-term health as a follower of Jesus.
We were mis-taught. We mistook cultural values for biblical ones. We are told again and again in the Bible that God gives generously and encourages us to do likewise. It is all rooted in the truth that were created to be generous. To live in such a way that others might know God through us. Answering the question “who is Jesus” is living out loud our faith.
There is something absolutely radical and counter-cultural about being a follower of Jesus. In baptism, we mark each one with the outward sign of an inward grace that says I am beloved child of God, and renounce all that says else wise. At the 11 o’clock service, we will baptize Ainsley Kate DiRamio. Her parents and sponsors will renounce that which is not God, in order to teach her about a life of following God. There is a high cost to discipleship, is there not?
This is the cost that Jesus called disciples of yesteryear and today to, as well. As James and John in the gospel lesson were reminded, again, we renounce even wanting the flash and posture. They ask for the highest praise and best seats next to Jesus, missing all of Jesus’ teachings on the cost of discipleship and Jesus’ coming death. The first and the last are easily switched and ultimately the kingdom of God is brought into sight by those who seemingly least deserve it.
There is a story about a couple who was traveling. A husband and wife were traveling around the world saw a young boy pulling a plough and an older man directing the plow handles and directing it through the rice paddy. The husband was amused and took a picture.
A missionary was their guide and interpreter. The husband asked the missionary about the scene, presuming that the family was poor. The missionary began to explain. This family decided when the church was being built that they wanted to give. They had no money, so they determined to sell their ox and give the proceeds to the church. So, this spring, the plow the fields by themselves. The wife noted that this was a real sacrifice and found herself moved. The missionary shared that the family felt fortunate to have an ox to sell. The tourists did not say much.
When they returned home, took the photograph to their church and asked to see the pastor. They shared, we want to double our giving and give us some plow work to do. We did not understand how connected gratitude, joy and sacrifice were until we watched someone else give so openly.
We are moved by one another. We are moved by watching others give of themselves. Sometimes, we wonder how in the world they can do it. Other times, we realize that their step of faith is an invitation for us to take a step of faith, too.
The openly generous act of one might inspire the openly generous acts of others. This week, I challenge you to live openly generous. In some way, take a leap of faith and be openly generous. Perhaps for you, it will be to give to someone in need. Perhaps, it will be to help fund our upcoming Community Café that relies on your gifts. Perhaps, it will be to give away a possession to someone who needs it more than you do. Perhaps, it will be increasing your giving to the church, where impacts in our community are made day after day. Perhaps, it will be begin saving for your child’s college fun. Perhaps, it will be to gift someone something they need, but can’t afford.
How is God calling you to be openly generous? How is God calling you to hard and vital work of discipleship?
This is the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, thanks be to God, Amen.
1 Story adapted from Enemy of Debt
2 Schmemann, Alexander, For the Life of the World.
3 Speaking of Stewardship: Model Sermons on Money and Possessions, by William G, Carter, ed. Where is your sadness? By Susan R. Andrews, p80
Old Testament Lesson: Proverbs11:23-30
The desire of the righteous ends only in good;
the expectation of the wicked in wrath.
Some give freely, yet grow all the richer;
others withhold what is due, and only suffer want.
A generous person will be enriched,
and one who gives water will get water.
The people curse those who hold back grain,
but a blessing is on the head of those who sell it.
Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,
but evil comes to the one who searches for it.
Those who trust in their riches will wither,
but the righteous will flourish like green leaves.
Those who trouble their households will inherit wind,
and the fool will be servant to the wise.
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
but violence takes lives away.
Gospel Lesson: Mark 10:35-45
The Request of James and John
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What is it you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They replied, “We are able.” Then Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”
When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. So Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
Meditations For Your Week
Sunday, October 18 ~ Saturday, October 24
Sunday: “Some give freely, yet grow all the richer; others withhold what is due, and only suffer want.” Proverbs 11:24. How can you offer your resources without hesitation to those who need them most?
Monday: “A generous person will be enriched, and one who gives water will get water.” Proverbs 11:25. Giving of ourselves is always feeds us and others. Prayerfully consider how you can serve the needs of others.
Tuesday: “Those who trust in their riches will wither, but the righteous will flourish like green leaves.” Proverbs 11: 28. Trusting in our riches leads us to scarcity thinking or entitlement. Where do you need to ask God to redirect your thinking?
Wednesday: “Those who trouble their households will inherit wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise.” Proverbs 11:29. Giving generously is ultimately the full work of the family, not just of one. Pray for your family to be of one accord.
Thursday: “James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, ‘Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.’” Mark 10:35. Often, we come to Jesus with our own agenda. Spend time in quiet today asking God what God’s agenda is.
Friday: “But Jesus said to them, ‘You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?’” Mark 10:38. If we imagine that we can accomplish all that Jesus has and be all that Jesus is, we might be falling into the trap that the sons of Zebedee did. Prayerfully examine how you understand Jesus.
Saturday: “For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.’” Mark 10:45. Give thanks to God for the generous life Jesus lived, so that we might know how to live.