LUKE 21:1-4 | UNEQUAL OPPORTUNITY GIVING

UNEQUAL OPPORTUNITY GIVING

LUKE 21:1-4

NOVEMBER 13, 2016

DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS IS?  NO, NOT THE OFFERING PLATE… THIS LITTLE THINGY INSIDE THE OFFERING PLATE…

IT’S CALLED A SILENCER… IT’S MEANT TO DAMPEN THE SOUND OF COINS CLANGING DOWN INTO THE OFFERING PLATE…

IT’S A THROWBACK TO AN EARLIER TIME.  TRUTH IS, WE DON’T GET MANY COINS IN THE OFFERING PLATE ANYMORE… NOT EVEN THE COINS THAT CHILDREN TRADITIONALLY PLACED INTO THE PLATE… WHICH IS KIND OF A SHAME…

YOU SEE, PARENTS USED TO TEACH THEIR CHILDREN ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF GIVING TO THE CHURCH BY HANDING A CHILD A DIME, OR A QUARTER, WHICH THEY WOULD HOLD TIGHTLY IN THEIR LITTLE FIST, UNTIL THE PLATE WAS PASSED TO THEM, AT WHICH POINT THEY WOULD GLEEFULLY DROP IT IN, JUST LIKE THE BIG PEOPLE DID.

IN MY FIRST CHURCH, BEFORE WE RENOVATED THE SANCTUARY, WE HAD A WOODEN FLOOR THAT SLOPED UP LIKE IN A MOVIE THEATRE; AND EVERY SO OFTEN, ONE OF THOSE COINS WOULD GET AWAY FROM A CHILD BEFORE THE OFFERING TIME, AND YOU’D HEAR IT ROLL ALL THE WAY FROM THE BACK TO THE FRONT!

SILENCERS WERE PROBABLY THE IDEA OF SOME WELL-INTENTIONED, BUT CRUSTY OLD ADULT, WHO THOUGHT THAT THE SOUNDS OF COINS CLINKING AND CLANKING AND SLIDING AROUND IN A METAL OFFERING PLATE TOOK AWAY SOME OF THE DIGNITY AND DECORUM OF SACRED WORSHIP.

MAYBE THEY WERE EVEN DESIGNED TO BE THE GREAT EQUALIZER, SO THAT IF THIS PERSON PUT IN A FEW NOISY COINS, AND THE NEXT PERSON PUT IN SOME QUIET PAPER DOLLARS, ONE PEW NEIGHBOR DIDN’T KNOW WHAT THE OTHER PEW NEIGHBOR HAD GIVEN.

BUT STILL, IT’S REALLY TOO BAD… (POUR COINS INTO THE PLATE AND RATTLE THEM AROUND!)  BECAUSE OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS OUGHT TO MAKE A LOT OF NOISE!

OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS SHOULD BE CELEBRATED AS “A JOYFUL NOISE UNTO THE LORD!”  (SHAKE IT AROUND SOME MORE!)

I THINK I MAY HAVE TOLD YOU THIS BEFORE, BUT I USED TO GUEST PREACH IN AN AFRICAN AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH SOME YEARS AGO, AND THE OFFERING TIME WAS SPECIAL.

INSTEAD OF THE PLATES BEING PASSED AMONG THE PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE WOULD COME TO THE FRONT AND PLACE THEIR OFFERINGS IN THE PLATE.

THERE WAS USUALLY SOME PRETTY RAUCOUS MUSIC PLAYING; PEOPLE WOULD PARADE FORWARD; SOME SINGING AND SOME SWINGING; SOME DANCING DOWN THE AISLE TO THE BEAT; THEIR FACES IN BROAD SMILES… HANDS LIFTED INTO THE AIR…

LITTLE CHILDREN WHO COULD BARELY REACH UP TO THE PLATE WOULD STAND TIPTOED JUST BARELY ABLE TO GET THEIR GIFT OVER THE LIP OF THE PLATE;

TEENAGERS WOULD SPRINT TO THE FRONT, AND SLAM DUNK THEIR OFFERING INTO THE PLATE;

IMPECCABLY DRESSED WOMEN, IN HATS, AND MEN IN DARK SUITS AND STARCHED WHITE SHIRTS, WITH HEADS HELD HIGH, WOULD DELIBERATELY, AND WITH GREAT DIGNITY AND REVERENCE, PLACE THEIR GIFTS IN THE PLATE.

THE OFFERING WAS SOMETHING TO BE CELEBRATED!  TO BE REVELED IN AND REVERED!  SOMETHING THE PEOPLE ENJOYED DOING IN THE SERVICE!

WITH THE COMING OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY, MANY OF US NOW HAVE OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS MAILED DIRECTLY TO THE CHURCH OFFICE.  OTHERS OF US USE OUR OFFERING ENVELOPES, OR THOSE IN THE PEW, TO SECRET OUR GIFTS AWAY.

WE DUTIFULLY DROP OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS INTO THE PLATE, WITHOUT LOOKING TO OUR LEFT OR OUR RIGHT, BEFORE PASSING THEM ON TO THE PERSON NEXT TO US.

IF THERE’S ANY JOY IN THIS, IT IS ONLY THE JOY WITHIN US, THANKFUL TO GOD THAT WE CAN GIVE, AND KNOWING THAT OUR GIVING IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE; AND PERHAPS, THAT’S ENOUGH.

BUT THIS MORNING – ON THIS STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY – I WANT US TO CELEBRATE OUR GIVING – AND NOT JUST THE GIVING OF OUR MONEY – BUT THE GIVING OF OURSELVES, OUR TIME, OUR TALENTS, AND ALL THE WAYS WE GIVE TO GOD’S CHURCH.

THAT DAY JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES WERE SITTING IN THE TEMPLE, WATCHING THE PEOPLE PUTTING THEIR GIFTS INTO THE TREASURY BOX, SOMETHING CATCHES JESUS’ EYE.

RICH PEOPLE WERE PUTTING THEIR GIFTS INTO THE TREASURY.

THEN A POOR WOMAN, A WIDOW, PUT TWO COPPER COINS INTO THE BOX.  PERHAPS THERE WAS NO SILENCER – AND HER COINS CLANGED TOGETHER, AND RATTLED AROUND IN THE BOX; MAYBE THAT’S WHAT CAUGHT JESUS’ ATTENTION IN THE FIRST PLACE; THE HOLLOW SOUND OF TWO COINS DROPPED INTO A BOX.

TURNING TO HIS DISCIPLES, JESUS SAID, “TRULY I TELL YOU, THIS POOR WIDOW HAS PUT IN MORE THAN ALL OF THEM; FOR ALL OF THEM HAVE CONTRIBUTED OUT OF THEIR ABUNDANCE, BUT SHE OUT OF HER POVERTY HAS PUT IN ALL SHE HAD TO LIVE ON.”

BUT BEFORE WE FOCUS ON WHAT THE WOMAN DID, WHAT SHE GAVE, LET’S LOOK AT THIS STORY FROM A BROADER VIEW.

ALL GAVE!  RICH PEOPLE GIVING; OTHER PEOPLE GIVING; THE POOR WIDOW GIVING; ALL GAVE SOMETHING!

SOME GAVE OUT OF THEIR ABUNDANCE.  OTHERS GAVE WHAT THEY COULD.  THE POOR WIDOW GAVE ALL SHE HAD.  THEIR GIVING IS UNEQUAL.

THE RICH, GIVING OUT OF THEIR ABUNDANCE, LIKELY GAVE FAR MORE, MONETARILY, THAN THE REST.  OTHERS GAVE SOMETHING – A LOT OR A LITTLE; AND THE POOR WIDOW GAVE, QUANTITATIVELY, QUALITATIVELY, MORE THAN ALL THE REST – BECAUSE SHE GAVE ALL SHE HAD.

IT IS UNEQUAL OPPORTUNITY GIVING.  EACH GAVE AS AN ACT OF FAITH.  EACH GAVE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.  EACH GAVE, PRESUMABLY, JOYFULLY AND WITHOUT COMPULSION.

THE POOR WIDOW IS SINGLED OUT BY JESUS, BECAUSE, 1. SHE GAVE ALL SHE HAD; 2. SHE GAVE SACRIFICIALLY; AND 3. SHE GAVE EVERYTHING, BELIEVING THAT GOD WOULD SOMEHOW STILL PROVIDE FOR HER, EVEN WHEN SHE HAD NOTHING LEFT.

THE POOR WIDOW’S GIVING, JESUS SEEMS TO BE SAYING, SHOULD NOT ONLY BE A MODEL FOR OUR OWN GIVING: TOTAL, COMPLETE, AND SACRIFICIAL;

BUT IT IS ALSO AN INSPIRATION TO US ABOUT OUR FAITH AND TRUST IN GOD IN PROVIDING FOR OUR EVERY NEED.

AS MANY OF YOU PROBABLY KNOW, IT WAS THE INSPIRATION OF THE WIDOW’S MITE; HER GIVING OF THE TWO COPPER COINS, THAT INSPIRED IN CHRISTIAN WOMEN’S ORGANIZATIONS WORLDWIDE, FOR MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED YEARS NOW, THE GIVING OF THE LEAST COIN.

CHRISTIAN WOMEN OFFERING TWO OF THE LEAST COINS OF THEIR COUNTRIES, WHENEVER THEY MET TOGETHER: CENTS, PESOS, FRANCS, LYRA, EUROS, WHATEVER, AT THEIR GATHERINGS;

AND OVER THE LAST TWO CENTURIES OR MORE, MILLIONS, BILLIONS OF DOLLARS HAVE BEEN RAISED FOR THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST THROUGH THE GIVING OF THE TWO LEAST COINS!

I WANT TO SUGGEST TO YOU THIS MORNING THAT OURS IS: UNEQUAL OPPORTUNITY GIVING.

WE KNOW THAT GIVING TO THE CHURCH CAN TAKE MANY MORE FORMS THAN JUST MONEY.

SOME PRAY, SOME WORK, SOME SERVE, SOME SING, SOME PLAY BELLS, SOME TEACH, SOME VISIT, SOME COOK, SOME DO COMMITTEE WORK, SOME SEND CARDS, SOME COUNT MONEY, SOME PREPARE COMMUNION, SOME USHER, SOME CLEAN UP THE SANCTUARY, SOME FIX STUFF AROUND HERE, SOME HELP US NETWORK WITH OTHER HELPING AGENCIES, SOME RAISE MONEY, SOME SERVE ON THE SESSION.

HOW MUCH IS EACH OF THESE THINGS WORTH?

WHAT WOULD BE THE DONATED WAGE OF SAY, WORKING HERE ON MAINTENANCE MONDAYS, THREE TO FOUR HOURS A WEEK?

WHAT WOULD IT COST US TO HIRE AN ELECTRICIAN?  A PLUMBER?  A PAINTER? AN AC REPAIRMAN?

WHAT DOES THE LOCAL MUSICIAN’S UNION SET AS SCALE IN THIS TOWN – HOW MUCH WOULD WE HAVE TO PAY OUR CHOIR MEMBERS AND BELL PLAYERS TO COME TO REHEARSALS AND SING/PLAY ON SUNDAY MORNINGS?

WHAT’S THE TOTAL COST OF FOOD AND DRINK DONATED BY OUR MEMBERS OVER THE PERIOD OF A YEAR FOR OUR PUNCHES AND OUR POTLUCKS, OUR COOKOUTS AND OUR TAILGATING PARTIES?

HOW MUCH IS A PRAYER WORTH?  A VISIT TO A HOMEBOUND MEMBER?  WHAT PRICE DO WE PUT ON A BIRTHDAY, GET-WELL-SOON, OR THINKING-ABOUT-YOU CARD?

CAN WE EVEN PUT A DOLLAR VALUE ON THESE THINGS OR ARE THEY TOO PRECIOUS TO THOSE WHO ARE THE RECIPIENTS TO SET A FIGURE?

THE POINT IS, AROUND CHURCHES, THERE’S PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY FOR GIVING… AND IT’S NOT ALWAYS EQUAL… BUT IT IS NECESSARY AND APPRECIATED!  EVERYBODY GIVING SOMETHING!

IF YOU’VE GOT MORE MONEY THAN TIME – GREAT – GIVE WHAT YOU CAN.

IF YOU’VE GOT MORE TIME THAN MONEY, WE’LL TAKE IT, AND WE’LL FIND YOU A PLACE AND A WAY YOU CAN ENJOY THE GIVING OF YOUR TIME AND TALENTS; THE GIVING OF YOURSELF.

IF COMMITTEE MEETINGS ARE NOT YOUR THING, THAT’S OKAY, WE CAN FIND OTHER WAYS FOR YOU TO SERVE AND SPEND YOUR TIME.

IF YOU LIKE ORGANIZING, WORKING TOGETHER, MAKING DECISIONS, DELEGATING RESPONSIBILITY, HAVE WE GOT A COMMITTEE FOR YOU!

I SHOULD PROBABLY STOP HERE AND SAY: IT’S NOT NECESSARILY AN EITHER/OR PROPOSITION AROUND THE CHURCH – ESPECIALLY IN A SMALL CHURCH;

THE FACT IS, MANY, MANY OF YOU WEAR LOTS AND LOTS OF DIFFERENT HATS.

YOU GIVE, YOU DO, YOU SERVE, YOU VISIT, YOU COOK, YOU CLEAN, YOU SING, YOU PLAY, YOU WORK, YOU ATTEND COMMITTEE MEETINGS, AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON;

AND THE COMBINATION OF THINGS SOME OF YOU DO IS SO EXPONENTIALLY LARGE THAT IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO MENTION IT ALL!

SCRIPTURE IS CLEAR:

“THERE ARE DIFFERENT GIFTS, BUT IT IS THE SAME SPIRIT THAT GIVES THEM.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS OF SERVING GOD, BUT IT IS THE SAME LORD WHO IS SERVED.

GOD WORKS THROUGH DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT WAYS, BUT IT IS THE SAME GOD WHO ACHIEVES HIS PURPOSE THROUGH THEM ALL.

EACH ONE IS GIVEN A GIFT BY THE SPIRIT, TO BE USED FOR THE COMMON GOOD.

TOGETHER WE ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST, AND INDIVIDUALLY MEMBERS OF HIM.

AND WHOEVER AMONG US WANTS TO BE GREAT MUST BECOME SERVANT OF ALL…

JUST AS THE SON OF MAN CAME NOT TO BE SERVED, BUT TO SERVE, AND TO GIVE HIS LIFE TO SET OTHERS FREE!”

EVERYBODY HAS SOMETHING TO GIVE!  AND EVERYBODY SHOULD BE GIVING SOMETHING!

SOME OF US WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE OUT OF OUR ABUNDANCE.  OTHERS WILL GIVE WHAT THEY CAN.  AND STILL OTHERS WILL GIVE OUT OF THEIR POVERTY;

AND WHO’S TO SAY WHO’S GIVING MORE, AND WHETHER THAT’S EVEN IMPORTANT?!

BUT WE CAN ALL GIVE AS WE KNOW GOD HAS GIVEN TO US.

AND IT SHOULD BE JOYFUL GIVING!  AND IT SHOULD BE NOISY GIVING!  AND WE SHOULD CELEBRATE IT!  AND REJOICE IN IT!  WITHOUT SILENCERS!

AND IT SHOULDN’T BE A SECRET – IT SHOULD BE ACCOMPANIED WITH MUSIC, AND DANCING, AND PRAISE!

AND WE OUGHT TO PARADE IT DOWN THE AISLE, AND OVER EVERY SQUARE INCH OF OUR CHURCH CAMPUS!

AND THE PARADE OUGHT TO SPILL OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY WE SERVE, AND TO THE PRESBYTERY AND DENOMINATION OF WHICH WE ARE A PART, AND INTO, AND AROUND THE WORLD TO ALL WHOM WE SERVE AND GIVE!

I KNOW IT’S SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT HEAVEN, BUT THE FOURTH VERSE OF FOR ALL THE SAINTS CAPTURES WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT:

FROM EARTH’S WIDE BOUNDS, FROM OCEAN’S FARTHEST COAST,

THROUGH GATES OF PEARL STREAMS IN THE COUNTLESS HOST,

SINGING TO FATHER, SON, AND HOLY GHOST,

ALLELUIA!  ALLELUIA!

THAT’S THE WAY WE SHOULD GO ABOUT OUR GIVING; OUR WORKING; OUR SERVING IN THE CHURCH!  IT SHOULD BE A GRAND PARADE!  IT SHOULD BE ACCOMPANIED BY ALLELUIAS!

IT SHOULD BE EACH OF US, AND ALL OF US, ALONG WITH THE COUNTLESS HOSTS OF OTHER CHURCHES WORLDWIDE; IT SHOULD BE THE GRAND PARADE THROUGH THIS LIFE RIGHT INTO THE NEXT!

AND WHETHER IT’S OUR TWO-CENTS WORTH, OR WHAT WE CAN AFFORD, OR OUT OF OUR ABUNDANCE, EVERY GIFT IS HONORED BY GOD, AND CHERISHED BY CHRIST’S CHURCH.

I INVITE YOU, DURING THE SINGING OF OUR HYMN OF DEDICATION, TO BRING YOUR PLEDGES FORWARD – SPRINT, DANCE, DUNK YOUR PLEDGE!  OR IF REFINED, REVERED, AND DIGNIFIED IS MORE YOUR STYLE, DO THAT!

LET US DEDICATE OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS OF TIME, TALENTS, AND TREASURES TO ALMIGHTY GOD, AND TO JESUS CHRIST HIS SON.