Luke 17:11 - 19
Saying thank you is something that we need to learn from a young age, it doens't come naturally, and we need to practice it repeatedly for it to become an ingrained habit. But all too often, we find that people don't take time to say thank you. One of the reasons I think this is the case is that they believe they have a right or entitlement to something, and therefore that avoids the need to be grateful. Is one of the reasons why the nine lepers didn't return, because they believed they had a right to health? The tenth leper though was different. He returned to give thanks. But he just didn't give thanks, his relationship with Jesus changed. Prior to his healing he stood at a distance, after his healing he lay at Jesus' feet. The leper who had been an outcast from society and God, is now brought near into intimate, close relationship.
The Samaritan leper turned back from going his own way, from self-justification, from the protection of distance, and lay at Jesus' feet. And there he proclaimed his ultimate dependence on God. In the end, gratitude is an expression of our need for others, of our need for God.
When we have an attitude of gratitude we will recognise that we are connected to God and each other. This is expressed through our willingness to give thanks and through our giving of our offerings.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
Giving what is not ours
Deuteronomy 26:1 - 11
In an episode of MASH, Hawkeye allows Radar to borrow a record player that belongs to Charles, without Charles being aware that his property is being lent. Hawkeye makes the comment "gee it's easy being generous with other people's things." This is the sentiment that lies behind the first fruits offering that the Israelites were required to give. In a liturgical action, the ancient Israelites are combining an action that demonstrates their response to God's provision (the handing up of the first fruits) and remembering the provision of God throughout their history (reciting the litany). Combined, this action and words reinforce for the Israelites the relationship they have with God. This relationship is characterised by a proper recognition between the creator and the created, the relationship between the provider and the grateful recipient and the relationship of trust on the provision of God.
This reading adds to our understanding of the complexity of what is involved in giving our offering. In giving generously to the mission of God through Emmanuel Uniting Church, in part we are declaring that who we are and what we have is God's, to be used for his worship and mission. The idea of tithing (giving a fixed proportion of our income, in the Old Testament between 10% and 23%) provides an objective means of determining the level of returning to God what is ultimately his.
In an episode of MASH, Hawkeye allows Radar to borrow a record player that belongs to Charles, without Charles being aware that his property is being lent. Hawkeye makes the comment "gee it's easy being generous with other people's things." This is the sentiment that lies behind the first fruits offering that the Israelites were required to give. In a liturgical action, the ancient Israelites are combining an action that demonstrates their response to God's provision (the handing up of the first fruits) and remembering the provision of God throughout their history (reciting the litany). Combined, this action and words reinforce for the Israelites the relationship they have with God. This relationship is characterised by a proper recognition between the creator and the created, the relationship between the provider and the grateful recipient and the relationship of trust on the provision of God.
This reading adds to our understanding of the complexity of what is involved in giving our offering. In giving generously to the mission of God through Emmanuel Uniting Church, in part we are declaring that who we are and what we have is God's, to be used for his worship and mission. The idea of tithing (giving a fixed proportion of our income, in the Old Testament between 10% and 23%) provides an objective means of determining the level of returning to God what is ultimately his.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Live to give generously
2 Corinthians 9:6 - 15
One of the key spiritual disciplines is the discpline of giving our money to God. Paul encourages us to sow generously into the mission and work of God. In writing this part of his letter, he is seeking to give encouragement to the Corinthians to maintain their giving to the needs of the Christians in Jerusalem, after the impressive start they had had. However, he writes to encourage them to give from the basis of the grace and blessings given by God, not from the basis of guilt.
This should be the starting point for our giving too. The life we live is always a response to the life of Christ - we love because he first loved us, we forgive as we have been forgiven, we serve because Christ first served us.
The offering that we give builds into the ministry of Christ through this congregation. Our offering provides for ministry staff, building upkeep and funds for mission in our local area and across Australia and overseas. We give so that God's work may be carried out.
In the coming weeks, please ask yourself how your offering contributes to God's work through Emmanuel Uniting Church. Consider the ways that you are sowing generously so that there will be a generous reaping in God's kingdom.
One of the key spiritual disciplines is the discpline of giving our money to God. Paul encourages us to sow generously into the mission and work of God. In writing this part of his letter, he is seeking to give encouragement to the Corinthians to maintain their giving to the needs of the Christians in Jerusalem, after the impressive start they had had. However, he writes to encourage them to give from the basis of the grace and blessings given by God, not from the basis of guilt.
This should be the starting point for our giving too. The life we live is always a response to the life of Christ - we love because he first loved us, we forgive as we have been forgiven, we serve because Christ first served us.
The offering that we give builds into the ministry of Christ through this congregation. Our offering provides for ministry staff, building upkeep and funds for mission in our local area and across Australia and overseas. We give so that God's work may be carried out.
In the coming weeks, please ask yourself how your offering contributes to God's work through Emmanuel Uniting Church. Consider the ways that you are sowing generously so that there will be a generous reaping in God's kingdom.
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