Job 23:1-9, 16-17 James 1:17-18 Mark 10:17-31
“What Americans avoid facing is that while we are very generous in charitable giving, much of that money is either wasted or actually harms the people it is targeted to help.” (1)
“When we do for those in need what they have the capacity to do for themselves, we disempower them.” (3)
“There is no simple or immediate way to discern the right response without a relationship.” (48)
“Authentic relationships with those in need have a way of correcting the we-will-rescue-you mind-set and replacing it with mutual admiration and respect…”(190)
These are all quotes from the book, Toxic Charity by Robert D. Lupton. I share them with you today as a way to begin talking about generosity. This congregation is a very generous congregation. In fact, our level of generosity and engagement with those in need is the reason that some of our newer families have joined. It was also one of the reasons I felt called to be your Pastor and remained called today.
A formative experience for my understanding of generosity happened on a youth mission trip to Belize. We had talked with the youth about the usual things: staying hydrated, staying together, be careful with your money and don’t keep it all in one place.
One night David and I were catching up with the group after dinner, and he was approached by someone begging. I made no eye contact but kept us moving. He quickly and discretely gave the man a Quetzal. I felt a little ashamed. I knew David had a few extra financial issues other participants didn’t have, so I said, “I really admire your generosity.” He quickly and dryly replied, “I’m pretty sure I just ended poverty in Belize.”
That’s kind of it in a nutshell, isn’t it? We know that poverty is systemic. We know that people end up in places of need for differing reasons. We know that there are people who are stuck in systems of poverty that overlap generations.
We know that being stuck in poverty for generations produces poor development of body, mind, and social capability. We know there are people that need help. We know that we can help them, but sometimes we just don’t know how.
In our town, we know that there are those that offer food in public spaces. There are those working to assist people experiencing homelessness, and there are some who feel threatened and argue against anything that could help the poor among us. In the midst of all of this sits a giant, magic box of yarn that is the church. [I read the story Extra Yarn during the time with Young Disciples].
It doesn’t always feel that way. When we think of the issues facing us – an older building and an aging congregation – then we tend to feel more like the Archduke, who expected money to solve the problem and found his box empty.
Empty is how Job felt as well. If you ever wonder why a story as miserable as Job’s is in the Bible, it is to recognize that there are times when we feel spent and feel like God is not around. There are calamities that befall us that have nothing to do with our integrity. There are times when we shake our heads and say, “Gee, God, it sure would be swell if you would show up right about now!”
Maybe you are there today. Maybe you aren’t. Maybe it’s someone down the street’s turn for that, and you’
re OK today. Wherever you are on your journey, the good news is that God has given us one another to share the journey together.
Today begins a time of celebration in the life of our shared journey as the church. Today begins a time of reflection of what it means to be the recipients of God’s generosity. Today begins a season of reflection and commitment, as we consider how our financial commitment to the church reflects what we truly believe about the church.
Hearing that may make you squirm a little. Money is a sensitive thing. Just ask the wealthy man in Mark’s gospel. He had great faith, as demonstrated by his adherence to the law. Some would have even said that his wealth was a testimony to his faith, but that’s not what Jesus had to say about it. Jesus wasn’t a “God helps those that help themselves” kinda guy. Jesus said, “Sell everything you have and give it to the poor, then come and follow me.”
The man went away very sad, as would you; as would I. This is hard stuff. I wish I could explain it away, but I can’t. The point of this passage is to shock and maybe even offend us. There is no command to tithe here. There is the recognition that a person has to choose between stuff and people. In that choice, we must choose between comfort – even between necessity – and God.
Jesus is, of course, once again speaking in hyperbole as he has been throughout Mark’s gospel. When the disciples see and hear him say how hard it is to inherit eternal life they say, “What about us? We’ve done that. What more must we give?”
Then Jesus tells them about a camel and a needle. By the way, an old myth was about that, was recently destroyed for me. You may have heard that there was a “needle’s eye shaped” gate in Jerusalem that a camel could be unloaded and go through kneeling. There’s no evidence of that. This isn’t a story about penitent camels. The point of Jesus’ illustration is that our works do not earn God’s favor.
James confirms this in saying that everything is at the hand of God. Every generous act is a reflection of the generosity of God – the one who created us in the same image, in the image of a generous creator. Through the generosity of God, we become children of God. We become aware of God’s active presence moving in and through you and me and even more so through our work together as the church!
This church, in particular, remains a nexus point for community ministry. We have, over time, given birth to many community ministries such as the United Christian Outreach and Communities Uniting in Prayer and Service. We collect things for these ministries because it connects us like so many colorful strands of yarn to the lives of others.
Sure there are times when we take up special offerings and we send money through our Presbytery out into the world. Sure, we might be able to help our local partners in different ways through cash donations. That’s why a portion of our budget is given away to C.U.P.S. and Family Promise (a local effort to re-establish housing for families experiencing homelessness).
Of course, we also have a habit of taking on things that require partnership, like meals on wheels, and Living Waters in Cuba, and the Wesley Campus ministry. Why?
We do all these things and more because we know that through Christ we have become the generosity of God. We do it because we know that all we do is a reflection of God’s grace, and we do it because we want others to taste and see the fruit we have been given – the fruit we have become. All of this is impossible for us to do, but all of it has already been done by the one who calls us “little children.”
Beloved, the curse is still out there. The curse of those that do not want to believe that God’s love can be shared freely is out there. Yet the love of God comes back to us again and again and again. It is our response to that love that we will all consider over the next two weeks before making a covenant with God over our intentions for generosity in the coming year.
Next week we will celebrate the unique gifts of the congregation in our annual laity Sunday. The following week we will celebrate the opportunity to support one another in ministry through financial commitments. Let all of this be a joy to you! Let the generosity of God’s abundant love flow in and through us all, such that the Kingdom of God might be seen and known – even here, even now. Amen!
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