Mark 12:38-44;
Commerce Presbyterian Church
Nov. 8, 2015
On Nov 22 we are going to have fun. Pizza and other good food will be served.
We’ll give thanks for all our many blessings;
We’re going to hang the greens. Donna and Eddie, I warned you not to do it!
And most fun of all, we are going to turn in our pledge cards.
That’s fun right?
Of course it is!
Turning in pledge cards is one of the most significant acts of faith that we do in our lives...
we give on faith.
And research that I’ll share with you more in upcoming weeks, confirms what the bible has already said, it is more fun – that’s right—fun, to give than to receive.
Yes, that is my translation of the greek word, Makarios--usually translated blessed...but I’m translating fun.
We are in a seasons of thanksgiving. A season of "stewardship." Giving thanks for what we have received and we are ensuring the care of these gifts as good stewards.
Good stewards taking care of what’s been entrusted to us—
through the offering of our time, our talent, and our treasure, we take care of the church and live out its mission;
And when we talk about stewardship, honestly, honestly, it means money…
it means we fill out a slip and try to make a go out of church and ministry for another year.
We can dream big and set a big budget and think of all the wonderful ways we can be church and dream about fixing leaky roofs and broken HVAC systems.
This is coming Nov 22,
Today is Nov 8.
So we have a few weeks to start thinking and praying about what kind of commitment each of us might be able to make.
The two stories we have from scripture speak to this topic of giving.
These two widows may teach us a little about stewardship this morning.
The first widow we find in 1st kings. The Widow of Zarephath.
She’s faced with a dilemma.
A crazy person[1]—the prophet Elijah—is challenging her code of hospitality--which in that culture, similar to ours, when someone comes asking for food and drink we are obliged to provide.
First he requests a little water. "Okay, sure."
Then, then he requests a little food, just a small morsel of bread…but it’s the last of what she has. She gives in to the cultural custom to oblige even if it may mean the end of her. But she let’s him know what’s up, “ I'm gonna cook what I’ve got for me and my son, so we can eat it and die”....uff., Gloomy situation.
But, real life. Just as she faced this difficult dilemma back then, too many mothers face this reality of not enough food for themselves or their children today.
What would you do when the cupboard is bare...there is nothing to eat!? nothing left?
What would be your response to God? Or to a stranger who comes asking for food in GOd’s name? God will give you a blessing if you give, says this person claiming they are from God.
Would you Give away? Give up?
Elijah assures, Trust me, dear. your jar will be filled….
He trusts. She trusts, gives Elijah some bread,
And the promise is fulfilled.
While less people are giving to church, the church as an institution still has tremendous success in raising funds, getting into our pockets. The majority of the giving goes to religious institutions. The message is still quite compelling, Give when God is demanding it from us :).
The cool thing this story seems to illustrate is that this was something God wanted. The widow and Elijah were blessed through the exchange.
But this is an act we shouldn’t just do blindly, when we are down to our last morsel of bread. And the church comes a knockin’
Mark’s story about Jesus paints a different picture about giving.
And suggests we need to be careful as a religious institution if we are going to be asking for gifts from the goodwill of the people.
