Generosity isn’t always as generous as it might seem. There is a story out of Miami, Florida about six Royal Palm trees that had been vandalized and cut down along Miami’s Flager Street. Due to the expense involved in re-placing them Dade County wasn’t how soon if ever they would be replaced. Along came a generous donation of six new trees. Not only were the trees paid for but they were even planted by the donor.
The former trees had been 15 feet tall and formed a beautiful foreground for a “Fly Delta” billboard. The new trees were 35 feet tall and now hid the billboard completely. The donor of the trees was Eastern Airlines.
We can smile at the foresight of Easter. In one step they beautify their city, removes the eyesore of a billboard and undercuts the visibility of their competition. Yet as we look at Israel brining their gifts to the construction of the tabernacle—the dwelling place of God—we see genuine love poured out as an extravagant gift to their Lord.
Moses had told the people what God intended to do and gave them the “part” list that was needed. As we read last week the people responded and brought the things that were needed. They had listened to God and followed Him in faith. God not only gave Moses the “parts list” but He also told him who the lead craftsmen and teachers would be for the building.
As we read last week the people were willing to bring their gifts to God and God had moved their hearts do just that. Their gifts were brought to a personal God whom they had experienced in their own lives. They weren’t giving to a noble cause, a great project, a program or even just a good idea. They were bringing an offering to God and what they brought astounded the workers and even Moses. So great was their offering Moses actually had to tell the people NOT to bring any more gifts. It wasn’t a “pew tax”; “dues”, or even “their Fair Share” they were brining. Their giving even went beyond what we’d call generous. It was truly extravagant, hilarious giving. Here’s something you might find interesting. The only characteristic that the Bible says God Loves is cheerful giving. He loves the world, he loves Israel, but it is the cheerfulness, the hilarity of one’s giving, that God loves. Being touched by God and seeing the power of God made these people of God into the hilarious givers they were.
I would agree that the world we live in is far different than that of Israel as they left Egypt. The idea of wealth and monetary exchange differs greatly in the urban 21st century from the agrarian culture of the Ancient Middle East. Compare today with the turn of the century and you see the same differences. It wasn’t unusual in rural America to find gifts of livestock and crops given to God’s work as a regular part of worship. In light of the way we live, the current debt load so many of us carry, and the insecurities of our modern life it’s no wonder so many people feel that stories like this have no really meaning for us today.
I would agree with that but I would quickly point out that the underlying principles of giving haven’t changed at all. They are just as key for us as they were for Israel—maybe more so simply because of the way our lives have evolved.
Giving is first of all God’s work. It was God who moved the hearts of those Israelites in the desert. It was the Holy Spirit that resided in and challenged the artisans to do the work God had ordained for His tabernacle.
It is still God’s work today. We can be motivated by guilt, a sense of obligation, doing one’s part and the like but the type of giving that produces a deep sense of joy is that which comes from being moved by God to give what God asks. It the Holy Spirit that prompts us and speaks to us. Isn’t that great news on Pentecost of all days? The Spirit is in charge of moving our hearts to give.
Did you notice what the other verses I read today said about the Spirit? The Church has received ALL spiritual blessings. All, not most, many, average, some or a few but ALL spiritual blessings have been given to us by God’s Spirit. What’s more even in a church like Corinth that was being torn apart by factions who couldn’t agree on church leadership Paul is quick to remind them that the Spirit is the one who has blessed them. Later in chapter 12 we discover even spiritual gifts are given to unite us together, as a sign of how interdependent we really are on one another within God’s body.
God moves us but only if we’re willing to be moved. There are stories in the Bible where those who are willing to be used by God see great things happen. We’ve been looking at one example the last two weeks at Israel responds to the challenge of building the tabernacle. Other stories like those of Joseph who was willing to work for God in a foreign nation in order to preserve his people, Gideon who lays his life of the line to fight an opposing army, and Daniel who stays true to God in spite of the pressure of the world around him. There are also stories of failures like the ruler who comes to Jesus and goes away broken hearted because he can’t bring himself to do what Jesus says.
The work of giving is first and always God’s work. But it is also liturgy. We don’t use the word much in Presbyterian churches and it’s a shame because it’s a rich word. We usually think of a dialogue between a priest or pastor and the people. “The word of the Lord”; “Thanks be to God” is one example as is the prayer around the Eucharist, the mass the Lord’s Table. The Latin entomology comes from two words laos=people and ergo=work. Liturgy is “the work of the people” and from this it became associated with public works and the like in ancient Greece.
I don’t want you to miss this because our liturgy is much more than just a responsive reading, a sung response to the word of God or the doxology. Living for Jesus is liturgy and this involves our stewardship as well as evangelism, meeting the needs of others and praying for our leaders.
God could have spoken and brought the tabernacle into being the same way he created our universe. But as Bill Cosby reminded us in his monologue about Noah “God doesn’t work that way.” He could have just done it but God doesn’t because he’s seen fit to use people—us to do bring about His plans. God could put the money needed for every Christian church to do marvelous things directly into the bank accounts but that’s not how he has chosen to work.
Our giving just like our spiritual gifts are God work but the use of those gifts, our giving and the like are also the work of the people—our liturgy of obedience. I ran across a story from John Lavender about a stewardship incident in which a pastor had made an appeal in church for a great and worthy cause. He writes, “a certain woman, a member of the church, came to him and handed him a check for $50, asking at the same time if her gift was satisfactory. The pastor immediately replied, "If it represents you."
There was a moment of soul-searching thought and she asked to have the check returned to her. She left with it and a day or two later she returned handing the pastor a check for $5,000 and again asked the same question, "Is my gift satisfactory?" The pastor gave the same answer as before, "If it represents you." As before, a truth seemed to be driving deeply. After a few moments of hesitation she took back the check and left.
Later in the week she came again with a check. That time it was for $50,000. As she placed it in the pastor’s hand, she said, "After earnest, prayerful thought, I have come to the conclusion that this gift does represent me and I am happy to give it." Her happiness, her joy, her satisfaction came only after hearing God and making it “her work” as well.
What we “hear” from God this morning and over the past week as we made the list of ways Jesus touched us depends on whether we recognize Jesus’ voice and whether we really are part of his flock. It is also a matter of how much control we are willing to give to God over our life. I am certain that there some of us here who mean well are saddled with areas of our lives in which we’d just as soon NOT have Jesus involved. We may have kept our social life and the things we like to do on the net or with our friends as our own personal things. Maybe we’ve kept our family away from God because we know what’s best. It can be a job or retirement plans that we refuse to let God have any say in. Yes, it can even be our money.
I believe that God today is able to speak to each of us about such things. He may be calling to you and asking to finally give in to Christ and let him take over your life. He might well be challenging an area of your life—people, grudges, situations, etc.—and telling you that he has the answer but you have to let go. He may be saying that sin that has held us so long doesn’t have to have the final word if we will look to him.
Pentecost is not just about strange languages and fiery visions from God. Pentecost is about the empowering of Jesus’ people to respond in overwhelming acts of hilarious gratitude for the love of Christ shown to us on the cross. And that’s what makes today a great day to take a new step of faith for Christ. We have great ways to demonstrate this as we pray, as we come to this table and as we bring to God our stewardship commitments. That’s why it’s so significant that today Pentecost, communion and our commitment to the work of Christ through this congregation. Even as we experience God’s work in our life may our work be an extravagant act of worship on our part.
