Weird - 3

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Cash and Generosity

Weird 3 - today we’re going to go into a subject…concerning weirdness…that is talked about more than anything else other than God or sin in Scripture.

What is that thing? Hint…we know we need to talk about it, but we hate talking about it.

Yeah, I heard someone say it, money. Yes! We’re going full on into that dreaded subject of money…but for the sake of expanding it a bit…we’ll say cash and generosity.

So the last two weeks we’ve been talking about being weird. So I need to ask…have you gotten any weirder? We introduced the idea of being weird - different than the world (normal) - and looking at the bigger picture of life, of creation, of the world, ultimately of God. Asking the big questions and then going after answers as much as we can. Nicodemus.

Last week we applied that weirdness to the concept of Time. Do we take time do consider life, and who we are and who God is? Do we pack so much into our time that we barely have time to breath? Or do we consider that there’s always enough time to do just what God wants us to do…with peace and joy? Are we weird with our time? Do we allow God to guide us through our days? Weird right? Not filling our time with our stuff…which, again as we said…might be very good stuff…but not the best stuff. Mary and Martha.

This week we’re going to consider the ideas of money and possessions.

In just a little bit we’ll be looking a one main passage and then a few others that support the overarching principles in Scripture concerning money and possessions. Wealth and riches. The passage will be…if you’d like to look get it book-marked is Mark 12:41-44.

Money - Yes…the thing we love to have but hate to talk about. Why? I think deep down we know this becomes personal, doesn’t it? We love to have it, hate to depart with it. We love to buy stuff with it but hate to see the numbers in our bank account get smaller. It’s just that we can easily become attached and very emotional about money can’t we? Amen?

Let’s just cut to the chase here. Most of you know what I’m going to talk about. You know the big concepts…the big principles. So for most of you, this will be a reminder.

What I’m going to do is contrast between Normal and Weird. Between how the world sees money and what God thinks of it. And I think the contrast will be different. Then all we need to do is adjust where we are to what Jesus’ attitude is…right? That’s ALL we need to do right? Easy? Right? Yeah Right.

So …simple definitions.

Status and Stuff

Status=

The world - The world looks at money as a way of status…in a very real way. In the news today - if you watch it today - you’ll hear of a fight over money stuff. Lots of battles. When you watch the news…local or global, you’ll hear phrases such as upper, lower, middle class. You’ll hear phrases such as “the rich” or “the poor.” You’ll hear “the working class.” And this fight over money is as if it will either save people’s lives or horribly ruin people’s lives.

In some socialist or communist countries, wealth is defined by the government…by those in power. You’re right to have wealth or build your wealth is then determined by those in power.

Let’s just simplify all of this and say it this way. In this world, we find that money or wealth will often determine your worth…whether that be imposed on you by others…or maybe self-imposed by yourself. Both happen, doesn’t it? Let’s just be super stinking honest. Money is personal and emotional to us.

The idea that wealth or cash are status symbols is really a human construct. Meaning, we (as humans) have made it that way. God doesn’t look at our worth

Well, for us…sometimes we don’t want to admit this…but sometimes we have the wrong approach to money don’t we? I mean we see “status” as attached to what we may or may not have. Sometimes we see ourselves in a certain group of people. Or we wish were in a certain group of people. Maybe we play-up what we have so others will see us in a certain way. Maybe we play down for similar reasons. Money - it has a lot of power over us doesn’t? …or at times it really feels that way doesn’t it?

I remember talking to a couple…friends from this church. Jim and Shirley Green. This was at their home in another community …some years ago…before they lived here in the Canton south area. Jim and Shirley…Shirley lives just over the hill over here and Jim is in his forever home with the Lord. Jim and Shirley had new neighbors in their former community. They went over to visit and welcome them. Jim and Shirley, both very wise with the idea of money and wealth, went over to visit. A young couple. Recent graduates. Two brand new cars…probably 4,000 sq foot home. Inside the house…the old aluminum woven vinyl-plastic lawn folding chairs…a TV on a table…and not much else. And no plans of family because they couldn’t afford it. On the outside…they had the look. Inside of the house…something different.

Peach and I were involved in a ministry in college years ago where we would go to little burgs in the mountains and get the kids together to play games and talk about Jesus. These people…in some of the poorest areas of our country…Appalachia area. Some of theses people had nothing, but were the friendliest, least worried people, most generous people I’ve ever met.

Now…for sure I also met people who had very little who strained and struggled to get more because they thought more would make them better or happier. And on the other side…I’ve known very wealthy people who didn’t consider themselves better than anyone else at all…and who were very very generous with everything they had.

It all comes from having the correct principle of wealth in your heart. The right definition.

THE WRONG CAR

The story is told of a woman who had finished shopping and returned to her car. She found four men inside the car. She dropped her shopping bags, drew a handgun, and screamed, “I have a gun, and I know how to use it! Get out of the car.” Those men did not wait for a second invitation; they got out and ran like crazy. The woman, somewhat shaken, loaded her shopping bags and then got into the car. But no matter how she tried, she could not get her key into the ignition. Then it dawned on her: her car was parked four or five spaces away! She loaded her grocery bags into her own car and then drove to the police station to turn herself in. The desk sergeant to whom she told the story nearly fell off his chair laughing. He pointed to the other end of the counter, where four men were reporting a carjacking by an old woman with thick glasses and curly white hair, less than five feet tall, and carrying a large handgun. No charges were filed. You see, she thought it was her car, but it really belonged to someone else. We think our lives and our finances are our own, but they really belong to God.

When we begin with this principle…that everything belongs to God …and that he supplies us with all we need… then we’ll be in a much better situation to see life as it was intended in the first place…before sin entered and confused humanity as to what is and is not true.

( You might have picked up two ‘Widow’s Mites’ when you came in today)

Mark 12:41-44 says this...

The Widow’s Offering

41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. (widow’s mite)

43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

At the outset, it might look to you like this is a passage about tithing. It’s not. It is about giving to God…but not about doing something out of being compelled to give as through a command. Jesus is noting the lady’s perspective on life and her understanding of who God really is.

…if this lady is truly who Jesus claims…a poorer widow…would she put these coins if....if she was worried about possible costs she might incur the next week and if she distrusted God? Would she put those coins in?

What would normal say...”Put in only what you can afford to...” “Maybe give next week if you have any more or if you have extra…or....” That would be normal. Weird is this…giving to God because you know He loves you and you can trust Him.

That would be weird. Jesus is recognizing someone who understands life and lives according to the truth about God.

This lady is truly weird.

Jesus said, “...she put in everything…all she had to live on.” What is her perspective? God supplies. Life is not about what I have…it is all about God and how much He loves me and cares for me and supplies my needs.

For the foundation of this truth we have to go all the way back to Genesis. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again…most of the basic truths of life can be found through the book of Genesis…especially the first few chapters. When we weren’t in a fallen world…humanity was near God…near each other, everything was perfect. No jealousy, no greed, no need for worry or anxiety. Everything needed for life was supplied by God. Humanity simply enjoyed God’s presence. Adam and Eve enjoyed each other’s company. They all enjoyed being in creation.

Then the “Father of all lies” crept in and gave us what we know today as an alternate reality. A false reality. The lie that there is no God. The lie that you supply your own needs…and that joy and peace and satisfaction comes from gathering more stuff.

This lady at the offering box, looked only to God. The other people were doing a good thing…giving back to God out of their wealth…but Jesus was noting her foundation of life…her philosophy of life. God is in control and He supplies all I need, even peace and joy and love. Again, this lady is not thinking as the world “normally” thinks. She’s being very weird.

There was a study done years ago on the concept of wealth. The results of the study showed this…that no matter your “financial status,” “rich” was always someone who had more than you. They asked people who were poor what they thought rich was. Making 60-70K. They asked 60-70k earners what rich was and it became 100-120K. Then 1/2 million. Then it became millionaires. Then millionaires pointed to multimillionaires…etc. The idea of being rich is a moving target when looked at normally…through the world’s eyes.

Enough

Joseph Heller, the author of Catch-22, once was at a party in the Hamptons. A guy came over to him and pointed at a young, 25-year-old standing in the party who worked for a big hedge fund. Heller’s “friend” said to him, “see that guy over there? He made more money last year than you will ever make with all of your books combined.”

Joseph Heller said, “Maybe so. But I have one thing that man will never have.”

His friend was skeptical. “Oh yeah, what?”

Heller said, “Enough.”

So how do we get to this mindset?

How do we stay out of that trap…that lie that Satan might set in our heart and brain that our worth is attached to our wealth and possessions as “normal” defines wealth?

Paul writes in 1 Timothy 6:6-8 to have a mindset of contentedness. 1 Timothy 6:6-8 “But godliness with contentment is a great means of gain. For we have brought nothing into the world, so that neither can we bring anything out. But if we have food and clothing, with these things we will be content.”

It seems as though there’s more to life than accumulation of wealth as the world defines wealth. This is not to say that it is sinful to be wealthy. Abraham was noted for being a very very wealthy man. Jacob as well. King David…his son King Solomon. Nicodemus was probably a wealthy man. Matthew the tax collector....wealthy people.

I think it comes down to this. Satan would have us believe that wealth brings true power and worth. God would say…trust in me and you’ll have true riches and wealth…the wealth of this world will not bring you to forgiveness of sins and eternity with God.

Normal says money and wealth are super important.

Weird says, trust God, the creator of Heaven and Earth. The one who can supply all we need.

And if we can trust God with our lives…can we trust God to work through us as we live to bless other people?

This is where the idea of generosity comes into play. Generosity as the world sees it is a kind and noble thing. But generosity began with God. He freely gives and blesses so we can freely give and bless others.

If we, in our heart, give to God first…and with cheer…not reluctance…then we will be blessed. Now this is not the prosperity Gospel that says the more you give the more you will get. A majority of the prosperity Gospel is focused on the self…what will God give me if I do A, B, or C?

The widow gave because she simply loved and trusted God.

I love this idea that I read this week....

“Giving is not something we do as followers of Jesus. Generous is who we are.”

We can give because God gives freely to us. We can plan to give…strategically (some of you plan your weekly or monthly giving). Sometimes you give sacrificially knowing that there is a need you see and you know that when you give to that need it will dig into what you’ve “planned”....but you’ll trust God anyway. We, as children of God, can give both ways because we trust God.

Regular and strategic planning, according to the world, is weird...

Sacrificial giving is downright crazy in the world’s eyes. But God sacrificed for us…we can serve those around us sacrificially as well.

Let’s just look at where trust has us as a church family. This past year plus has simply been crazy. Church income has been up and down. Bills have been up and down. Surprise gifts have also been a part of that whole equation. And guess what…we’re in the black by 1800 dollars…and we’ve paid for …Paid for… parking lot repairs, a new sign…and paid down 16000 plus on the restroom renovations…which is double what was planned.

You know it’s nice when we don’t have to worry about stuff like that isn’t it. Trusting God is weird. Anxiety is normal…believe me I’m well acquainted with anxiety and it is not fun. Peace from God is always better Amen?

Ok. Coming up is a Harvest Offering…November…and I know some of you are “planning” a gift over and above your regular giving. This sermon is not about that ...

This sermon is completely about daily life…trusting in God’s definition of true wealth rather than the world’s “normal” definitions.

But the Harvest Offering is something fun to think about. What can we give, to replenish some of the savings we used for the parking lot and sign…in order to be ready to maintain what we have and give in big ways in the future…and…and…remember part of this offering is going to serve our neighbors…somehow.

Mike Leghart and Lisa Mann and Jeff are organizing a group of people who will look at ideas…that come from you…concerning where we might share…be generous with…blessing that we have received and now want to “sow” into the community. Please, if you’ve been contacted by them in some way or if you have an idea for serving our neighbors…please let one of them know. Some ideas have already come in and it is so exciting to think about how we can bless others with God’s love.

God’s economy is sooooo different than the world’s economy isn’t it. And we’re glad for that aren’t we? Now, we know we live in a fallen world, and God told Adam and Eve that living in a broken world, broken through sin, would be different. Work and pain would be a part of this world. We know that work is now part of this life…struggle might be felt in this life. Pain might be felt in this life.

But thank goodness, thank God, that Jesus came to fix what was broken!

And now, Jesus invites us to participate in His Kingdom…as He is in process of reclaiming lost things…us. He invites us to participate in the process of loving the world…showing the world that His plan is to recreate everything. Our generous nature might very well help someone see God in a way they’ve never seen Him before.

God asks us to participate in His economy as He’s defined it…being weird in the world’s eyes…so He can bless us and love us…and so we can share His love and blessing with others.

How will you be like the poor widow this week? What can you do to begin to tweak your understanding of wealth? I invite you to be weird and simply ask God for wisdom.

Spiritual wisdom …allowing God to guide your financial decisions and your generosity will help you see with different eyes. It will mean letting go of life in a way…allowing God to take control. Right? That might be tough. But if God is the creator of the universe, and if Jesus came to save us and give us life as He intended us to have…I think we can trust Him. Let’s do things that show that trust.