A Sermon Honestly Talking about Financial Stewardship

Giving Meaningfully: Living a Life that Values Sharing

Matthew 6:19-24

Conventional wisdom has it that in polite company one should never discuss politics or religion.  Why?  Because there’re bound to be disagreements and somebody’s going to be offended, which will just make everyone uncomfortable and likely ruin the party.  Similarly, what’s the one thing we simply should never discuss in church?  Human sexuality?  We’ve been doing that quite openly since ’88.  Environmentalism?  Talk concerning “going green” is becoming increasingly commonplace.  Christian evangelism?  It may be troubling but not taboo.  No, of all the subjects that could make us feel uncomfortable in church, money-talk is still probably #1.  But I wonder why?  What is it about discussing our faith and our finances that puts us on edge?

                Here at OUC we have several different daily devotional resources available.  The November 2010 edition of Today is entitled “God and Money.”  Now that sounds like a big seller, doesn’t it?  The first story in the booklet is about a grandmother who came home from church thrilled with their new, young minister.  “He preached such a beautiful and meaningful sermon on grace today,” she told her adult children at Sunday dinner.  The next week she was even more impressed.  “Today he preached a powerful and encouraging sermon on hope,” she explained.  But the following week at dinner she was outraged; there was more steam coming from her than from the mashed potatoes.  Her children asked what happened.  With a scowl on her face she barked, “Today he quit preaching and started meddling.”  How so? they questioned.  “Today he talked about my money.”

Today he quit preaching and started meddling.  Perhaps that’s it.  Perhaps how we spend our money is really nobody’s business but our own.  Still in seminary they remind preachers that of all the things Jesus talked about in the Gospels, money and wealth is right up there near the top.  And if it’s important enough for Jesus, maybe it should be important enough for us, regardless of how uncomfortable it could make us feel.  So out of respect for Jesus and for each of you, this not so young, not so new preacher invites you to some honest talk about your money and God’s mission through our church here at OUC.

                This morning we heard Matthew’s version of one of Jesus’ teachings about possessions and wealth, which hinges on an ancient proverb that Jesus focuses for us: “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  What I find so compelling about this bit of folk wisdom is how honest and revealing it can be, if we can linger on it long enough.  “Where your possessions are, where your resources accumulate, that’s what really matters to you in your heart and soul.”  If we can hold onto and not give up on this truth, Jesus seems to encourage us to take a closer look with healthy eyes of faith at how we spend our financial resources.  Jesus wants us to be full of God’s light so that we can see how closely connected are the spiritual and financial realities of our lives.  In fact some interpreters suggest that Jesus’ proverb is not intended to condemn us or make us feel guilty at all.  Instead, if we really do spend our money on what we truly value, then could investing more into our spirituality actually enhance and deepen our faith?

                So often we encounter Jesus’ teaching style, and jump to conclusions about his tone and intent.  I’m not sure why, but we have a tendency to assume that Jesus sounds judgmental and condemning in trying to convince us to reassess our relationship with money.  We choose to hear Jesus telling us we’re wrong or bad or sinful or selfish, and we feel like a great guilt trip is being laid on us.  Perhaps that’s why money talk in church feels so upsetting.  Still, I’m not convinced that is Jesus’ tone or intent, even though I certainly do recognize it. 

If we’re honest, many of us would admit that we do see the church trying to make us feel guilty and manipulating us to give more money.  And that is as sad and it has been true.  The church has too often misrepresented Jesus throughout history on this and other subjects, but not always maliciously, vindictively or selfishly.  I certainly don’t believe that church is always wrong in asking for financial support of its ministries... but I’ve often wondered whether the “guilt trip” is more the church’s perspective than Jesus’ own.  And I keep returning to Jesus’ proverb here, because for me it holds the key.  “Where your treasure is, there is your heart.”  Or alternately, “what you treasure is your hearts true measure.”

                In a conversation here last Thursday morning, someone observed that what she treasures most is her grandchildren.  And we all smiled and nodded in appreciation.  Especially when we remembered that it’s the grandparent’s primary role to “spoil their grandchildren.”  And as we shared a good laugh, all of a sudden the grace-full-ness, the full-of-grace-ness of Jesus’ proverb came into focus.  If, like with our grandchildren, we are lavishly willing to spend our money and resources on them because we value them so dearly and love them so deeply, because they are grounded in our hearts, then what might that teach us about our other valuables? 

In addition to the essentials of shelter, food, clothing, health care and transportation for ourselves and our families, into which we invest most of our resources for obviously good reasons, there are the many recreations that keep us healthy and happy as human beings – investing meaningfully into all these is certainly life-affirming.  And, we are also aware of how valuable a choice it is to try to save a portion of our treasure in some intentional way, if at all possible.  But the piece that so often gets overlooked, because it’s at the end of a long list of other financial requirements, is the Christian value of sharing with others.  Yet it’s this quality of faith, perhaps more than any other, which has the capacity to transform the way we embrace our lives and celebrate our faith. 

As followers of Jesus’ way, we are invited to live a life that values sharing, just as he lived.  Like Jesus, we too are encouraged to share a meaningful portion of ourselves, and of our resources, with others so that the love of God can continue to move outward among us all.  We are more than the recipients of God’s goodness, more than just share-holders of the faith; we are partners with God - the agents of God’s goodness, the bearers of God’s grace, the sharers of Jesus’ loving-kindness through our church, in our neighbourhood and around the world.  Sharing is our Christian inheritance ... it’s who we are as believers ... and when we choose to share our resources, financial and otherwise, we boldly proclaim in whom we believe. 

I believe this is what’s at the heart of Jesus’ proverb that we’ve been reflecting on.  When we locate that place in our hearts which values sharing, then we can begin again to consider what a meaningful financial gift toward the many life-giving ministries of our church might look like for us.  And even though it’s different for each of us, it’s important that each of us prayerfully considers it.  Because that’s how God made us; and that’s what Jesus hopes for us – that sharing not be an imposition, but rather a natural, heart-centred response to God’s love and an investment into our own spiritual integrity.

After worship today, I encourage you to stop by the welcome table in the narthex and pick up a letter addressed to you which will further describe this invitation to share meaningfully in God’s ministries here at Orleans United.  In it you will find a form on which you can make your financial promise to the church for 2011 – not out of obligation or guilt, but from a heart full of blessing. 

And if you have any concerns or questions about the request, if you wish some guidance or prayer in reaching your decision, or if you would like to discuss this scripture reading further, Molly and I encourage you to call the office and make an appointment to visit with one of us.  We do believe that it’s good to pray about money; it’s important to reflect faithfully on how we spend it; and it’s healthy to have honest conversation about it in church.  And we trust you will too.  Blessings in your deliberations and decisions.

Glen Stoudt

Orleans United Church

October 24, 2010