Reflections on "Celebrating Stewardship" 2 Corinthians 9: 6-15; Matthew 25: 14-30

I thought the sermon went well, although we had a great Minute for Mission, and it probably was a better stewardship message than this sermon was.

The first story went over well at both services.  I had originally included it in the body of the sermon, but decided to put it in the introduction so we could have a little fun to start the sermon and because the theology in the story probably is not the best.  I think it worked as an icebreaker for the stewardship topic just fine.

I also love the story I used in the conclusion at the Chapel service (in italics), but it didn't really fit the sermon (I didn't figure that out until I preached it in the Chapel service).  Consequently, I left it out of the Sanctuary sermon.  I will probably used it another year.  I really like the image it gives us of choosing what we want to value in life.

Both texts were referenced in the sermon. In both cases, a full sermon (or sermons) could be devoted tot he text, but I think I also used them well in this sermon. 

After two weeks of just jumping into the sermon, I had a more formal introduction.  Not sure if it mattered, but I thought that was necessary for the final sermon of the stewardship series so we could all be reminded of what we have done in this series.

"Celebrating Stewardship" 2 Corinthians 9: 6-15; Matthew 25: 14-30; Stewardship series 2013; FPC, Troy;

 Introduction:  We finish the sermon series on stewardship this morning.  As you may recall, we began by reflecting on how we teach stewardship; then how we live stewardship; last week we thought a bit about how we can continue our stewardship even after our deaths; and we finish this morning by celebrating stewardship.

When we take up the offering, we will all be invited to put in our pledge cards and then share in a responsive litany as we commit these gifts to God.

Surely, a good reason for celebrating. 

I am reminded of the story of two men who crashed in their private plane on a South Pacific Island. Both survived. One of the men brushed himself off and then proceeded to run all over the island to see if they had any chance of survival When he returned, he rushed up to the other man and screamed, "This island is uninhabited, there is no food, there is no water. We! Are going to die!"

His friend, who happened to be a Presbyterian, leaned back against the fuselage of the wrecked plane, folded his arms and responded, "No we're not. I’m a Presbyterian, and I make over $250,000 a week."

The first man grabbed his friend and shook him. "Listen, we are on an uninhabited island. There is no food, no water. We are going to die!"

The other man,  unruffled, again responded. "No, I make over $250,000 a week." Mystified, the first man, taken aback with such an answer again repeated, "For the last time, I'm telling you we ARE doomed. There is NO one else on this island. There is NO food. There is NO water. We are, I repeat, we are going to die a  slow death."

Still unfazed, the first man looked the other in the eyes and said, Do not make me say this again. I am a Presbyterian. I make over $250,000 per week........I tithe.  I promise you, the Session is already looking for us.

Okay, a silly story, but I hope as you make your pledges this morning you see it as a reason to celebrate.

Two thoughts:

Move 1: We celebrate when our stewardship challenges us to live in ways that make a difference, that matter to God.

a.           Miller describe an interview he heard of Bill Gates.  Gates noted that he was so rich that there nothing he could not buy.  He went on to note that Microsoft saved him because “he was really more interested in what he was doing than how much money he had.” (my editorial note – now he finds that satisfaction in working with his foundation)

Lots of rich people aren’t happy, Gates said.  Miller’s minister says that “money should be your tool and that you should control it, it shouldn’t control you Blue Like Jazz,  Donald Miller, 192

b.    We know the Matthew passage as the parable of the talents.  

1.    I don’t think Jesus tells us this story to give us investment advice, at least not in the sense that a stock broker might.

2.    Jesus tells this story to emphasize how he calls us to live our lives.

3.     What are called to compare how the one who is given five talents uses his gifts with how the one who is given one talent uses his gift.

 4.    What is the difference?

5.    The one who Christ commends sees the talents he is given as a tool to be used. 

6.    For the other person, the talents are a burden.

7.    it’s almost as if he is afraid of them.

8.      The question “What should I do?” paralyzes him for fear that he might make the wrong choice

c.    When we make our commitment to God, we are choosing to utilize the many blessings God has given to us. 

1.    that means that those pledge cards we give back today are not only important for the pledge you make, but they are important because of the message they send.

2.    They remind the giver and announce to the world that we choose to use the gifts, both our monetary gifts and our others gifts that God has given us to do God’s work in the world.

 Surely, that is cause for celebration.

Move 2: Second thought:  When we get stewardship right, it calls us to be a cheerful giver.

a.    I know I’ve shared this story with you before, but I cannot read Paul’s call to be a cheerful giver without thinking about this story.

1. I have a friend who called me one Sunday afternoon (you may not get these kind of calls, but I do – occupational hazard, I guess) and said, “guess what happened at church today on Commitment Sunday?”

“What?”

“I went to church with a pledge in mind, but then I filled out the pledge card for a lesser amount.  You want to know why?”

“why?”

“Because the minister preached on being a cheerful giver.  He said to only give an amount that would make us cheerful.  I decided that the original amount I was going to pledge did not make me cheerful, so I lowered the amount to what made me cheerful.”

“Really?”  That led to a rather interesting conversation on stewardship.

b.  I've been thinking about what makes us laugh or smile.

 1.     Not giddy laughter or that burst of laughter when we hear the punch line to a joke.

2.    Not the huge smile because we've just won something, or because we are forcing ourselves to look happy for the world.

 3.    That knowing chuckle or smile of deep satisfaction that points to our happiness with what we have done.

 

4.    When Paul calls us to be cheerful givers, I think that’s what he’s talking about – giving that makes us feel satisfied.

 b.    Consider the context in which Paul calls the Corinthians to be cheerful givers.

1.    They are struggling.

2.    Struggling to figure out what it means to be followers of the resurrected Christ.

 3.    Struggling to figure out how to leave as this minority group in the world.

 
4.     Struggling to figure out how they live their daily lives following the one who is no longer in their midst, but has ascended to heaven.

c.  Paul has lots of different ideas, and among those is his call for the Corinthians to be cheerful givers.

1.    Theological reason – God has blessed you abundantly.

2.    Call to discipleship – if you sow sparingly, you reap sparingly; if you sow bountifully, you will reap bountifully;

3.    an agricultural illustration that basically says, if you give just a little, you will receive just  a little return;  if you give away generously, you will get abundance in return.  WE now recognize, of course, that we are back to Jesus’ parable of the talents.

4.    Community – offering of the persecuted Jews in Jerusalem – show your bond of unity by giving to help them.

c.    Paul’s rationale to be cheerful givers in the Corinthians’ context, applies in our context as well.

1.    the basis for our giving is theological – God has blessed us; we return that gift.

2.    Pattern of discipleship – giving ourselves to others; stewardship gives us a concrete response to set the standard for how we live our lives as disciples.

3.    Unity in Christ – these gifts will be used to connect us to support ministries that connect us with each other and connect us with those in our world with whom we minister.

Conclusion: When we put our pledge cards in the offering plate today, we should celebrate.  Not because the stewardship campaign is done, but because we have chosen to give back to God.    Amen.

 

** The following italicized text was the conclusion used during the Chapel service. When Pompeii was being excavated one woman was discovered with her feet headed in the direction of the city gates and escape from the hot, flowing lava, but her face and hands were frozen in place looking and reaching for a bag of pearls.

 

She was stuck in place showing us the choice we make – do we find our reason to celebrate in those possessions that we have; or do we escape from that mindset and discover what it means to be a cheerful giver.