“A Christian Gives: Why?”

Rev. Tom Harris

Luke 12:13-34

October 11, 2009

Today we begin a six part sermon series entitled "A Christian Gives: Why? To Whom? And What?" Today I will be reflecting on the "Why?".  Next Sunday, will be the "to whom?" in particular reflecting on whether we are called to give to the poor or give to the church. Then the last four Sundays of the series will be “what” a Christian is called to give with four different answers to that question.

Throughout the series I will be talking about "the Christian" or "a Christian". This is not intended to say that all Christians are supposed to think, talk and act the same way or that if you come to different conclusions than I do, you are not a Christian. I only use these phrases to express some ideals that we may or may not live up to at any given moment. At a recent Presbytery meeting we watched a video in which people on the street were asked to describe Jesus. Then the same people were asked to describe Christians. What do you think about Jesus? What do you think about Christians? Generally people described Jesus as loving, kind, accepting, wise. While the same people described Christians as narrow minded, hypocritical, judgmental and conservative. So, today, by talking about what "The Christians Gives" I hope to start recasting a vision of Christians that may not be exactly like Jesus but will at least be more in line with his teachings.

So in answer to the question of the day, "Why does a Christian give?" I offer the following answer: A Christian gives according to her faith in order to love. A Christian gives according to her faith in order to love.

          And actually the second part of that answer will be covered next week, so this week I just want to focus in on the first part. A Christian gives according to her faith.

Both sections of the reading today speak to this. In the first part we have a man who did not have faith that God would provide for him in the future. So he decided to provide for himself by building big barns where he could store all his  excess grain. This may not seem like such a bad thing. It sounds like he was just doing some careful retirement planning. But, the subtext of the story is that this man was thinking only of himself and his own pleasure and had no faith that God would provide for his future. He wanted to relax, eat, drink and be merry. He was willing to put that off so that he could have an entirely self indulgent future. His neighbor’s life did not matter to him. It did not matter to him if other people were suffering. And he certainly did not have faith that if he used his excess to help others God would provide for him as well. So he tore down the barns he already had and built larger barns to store his bumper crop. Then on the very night he put the last cart full of grain in the newly complete barns and his plan for self indulgence was ready to commence, he died. He did not have faith in God, he did not give to others and therefore did not have a community and so he died alone without ever enjoying his life or his loved ones.

From this parable Jesus moves into very clear teaching about the importance of faith. He tells us not to worry about what we will eat or what we will wear. He tells us not to worry about anything at all. Just have faith and work for the kingdom of God. Strive for a life filled with love for God and love from others. Strive for a love filled life instead of grain filled barns.

Jesus then closes with the well known teaching, "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." If your treasure is in a bank account there your heart will be also? Is your treasure is in a mortgaged house there your heart will be also. If you treasurer is in a fancy car, there your heart will be also. But, if your treasure is with your family, your friends and your community, there you heart will be also. If your treasure is in your relationship with God there your heart will be also. The opposite is probably also true. If your heart is with God and our community there our treasure will be also.

But, to put our treasure in our relationship with God or others requires us to let go of a selfish, fearful way of thinking. To put our treasurer with our faith community or with the less fortunate instead of in our bank accounts or material possessions requires us to let go of our selfish and fearful thinking. Giving requires faith and love. Faith in God. Faith that the real treasure in this world is not material but spiritual. The real treasure in this world is love and community and God-consciousness.

    A Christian gives according to her faith in order to love. As we move into our Stewardship Season we will be asking you to consider your giving. How much will you give by the end of the year? How much will you pledge to give in 2010? But, this year I'd like to set a different tone for that campaign. It would be easy for us to spend the next two months looking at our budget deficit and our endowment balances. It would be easy to spend the next two months wringing our hands and worrying about the future of the church. It would be easy to spend December and January worrying about which line items to cut or not to cut in the budget. But, worrying about the future is exactly what Jesus tells us not to do. Do not worry. Have faith. This Stewardship Season and in fact from now on, as a church let's not worry. Let's have faith. Let's strive first for the kingdom of God.

    In the same way, as individuals and families we could worry about how much we are going to give by the end of the year. We could fret about how much Christmas presents are going to cost. We could worry about the economy. We could wring our hands about whether to increase, decrease or keep our pledge the same for 2010. But, worrying about the future is exactly what Jesus tells us not to do. Do not worry. Have faith.

    This year let's begin talking about stewardship by talking about faith. Give according to your faith. If you want to give more than you do now, first ask for more faith. Don't give more without putting your faith behind it. Because if we give without faith we run the risk of being resentful at the church or God. If we give out of guilt or a sense of obligation we will have negative feelings about our giving. On the other hand if we are stingy with our giving but tell ourselves that we are faithful we might want to honestly re-evaluate, because as it says in the letter of James, “faith without works is dead.”

So let’s begin talking about giving by talking about faith. And here is the crucial point about faith whether we have a lot or a little: faith is a gift from God. We do not generate faith on our own. We do not will ourselves to have faith. We do not pull our faith up by our faith boot straps. If we want more faith we have to ask for it. “God give me more faith so that I may be more generous. God help me let go of my fist hold on my treasure so I can use those material resources to love others. God help me know that you are there and will provide for my future even if I don't know how.”

So this morning I want to offer to pray with you about increasing your faith. If you want to be more generous in your life let's start by asking for more faith. If you would like to start that prayer now, you are invited to come forward. I want to pray in groups of three or four and it will be a simple prayer: “God, help us not to worry about the future. Please grant us as individuals and as a church greater faith."