Investment with a Future

Good News—there's Hope!

November 9, 1997

Mark 12:38-44

A farmer went out walking early one morning, so the old story goes, and on his way to the barn passed a hen and a pig. He said right out loud so the animals could hear him, "I think I'd like some ham and eggs for breakfast."

"That sounds all right by me," said the hen. "No problem."

"Easy for you to say," said the pig. "For you his breakfast is a contribution. For me it is a total commitment."

Our gospel lesson this morning sorts out the difference between a donation and a commitment, which might just be one way to define the difference between faith and mental assent. The account Mark gives tells us that

JESUS OBSERVED THE WAY RELIGIOUS LEADERS MISUSED THEIR OFFICE

Some religious leaders 'just make a donation' of going through the motions, rather than give themselves wholly to God's service. The offenses of the religious leaders are listed:

  1. they love attention in the marketplaces

    when religious draws attention to itself it is always out of order religious people, or better, people of real faith, are God-centered, not self-centered we wouldn't wear pulpit robes down to Friendly's— but that probably isn't what Jesus is condemning; that is too obvious we can/and sometimes DO wear our 'holiness' on our sleeve

  2. They assume the best seats in the synagogue and celebrations

    when our relationship to God and the church makes us feel superior and self-righteous it is not from God.

  3. they devour widow's houses

    it is right and proper for temple workers to be supported by the temple. but temple money is sacred money. it never belongs to the temple workers. this is not "my" property. nor yours, either. it is sacred to God.

  4. they for pretense make long prayers

    worship can never be pretence. there is a kinship in play-acting and dramatic presentation of the Word. (Donny Woodbridge demonstrated that just this past week) but when we say one thing with our mouth and believe another with our hearts— when the impact of what we say is coolly calculated for the benefit it will bring to us it is very dangerous. [a young preacher needs to settle it that he/she will never say something just to enhance his/her won reputation. there is always the temptation to add something that will "impress" others how smart/ pious/ religious we are. Runaway from that! ]

JESUS SAT AND WATCHED THE WAY PEOPLE REALLY WERE AS THEY GAVE

Jesus observed giving styles:

Ted Turner, it is reported, has said he will donate $1 b (1 followed by 9 zeroes!) to a charity of his choice across ten years: 100 million a year! That may not be impressive to you. But then, too, Ted Turner is reported to have said that he wouldn't miss a "b" or two. A donation? or a commitment??

Jesus observed amounts given, some with a flair, some to be seen. But the only made comments on one gift.

JESUS SEEMED TO SAY THE SMALLEST OFFERING COULD ALSO BE THE LARGEST

It reflected a commitment, not just a donation:

It was a gift of faith in God, beyond the human machinery of the temple

It was an act of worship that symbolized the gift of all her very life.

Was Jesus saying large gifts are not important or necessary? Or was he saying that any time any person gives "self" away to God it is a gift larger than the world can understand?

It was a widow— 'whose houses are devoured by the corrupt religious leaders' So why would a poor widow cast in all she had?

Didn't she know about the corruption in the temple?

Didn't she hate the changes being made it the worship services?

Didn't she know the next generation was missing it?

Why did Jesus make comment? ... didn't the woman know her commitment wouldn't make a difference? ... maybe the giving was doing something for HER

William Willimon told about a man in his early seventies who found himself in a nursing home under supervised care. Rev. Willimon couldn't tell there was anything wrong with him— but then he found out the man had begun working in soup kitchens after his retirement— helping the poor. I suppose that was fine with his family. But then one day he wrote out a check for $100,000 and gave it to the soup kitchen. Right out of his savings. He couldn't be in his right mind!

Signe Porter's tithes and offerings. In a nursing home 120 miles removed from her church family— pleasant enough— but remote— I would make the trip just to see her. She would give me an envelope for the offering— just a few dollars. And I would take it. It wouldn't come near to covering the cost of the fuel to drive, nor the time it took. But every time I placed that money on the offering plates the next Sunday I had the sense of taking part in something wonderful and holy. It was something, I believe, of the same spirit of this poor widow woman Jesus was watching. She was where we all are, except she knew it— and she dared to give her all.

Whether in ministry— the ministry of our time and live, ordained or lay— or whether with our time and money— Jesus knows the difference between giving for lesser reasons and giving out of faith and love. I want to give God all that I am, and all that I have! How about you?

Prayer

Father in Heaven, You have given us your Son. You have given us Life. Thank you. Please give us grace to be like You, we ask in Jesus' name. Amen.

Hymn - 463 More Love to Thee, O Christ