Daily Devotion for Lent 2021 - Day 36

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 9

There is a fundamental joy
in sharing with others.

We are continuing in Paul's laying out the Christian responsibility for financially supporting the mission.  As we look at this particular part of his letter, we can see that not everyone was likely on board for sharing in this gift to be delivered to Jerusalem.  Anytime, you feel the need to remind the hearers that this is a "voluntary gift" rather than "extortion" is a good litmus test that not everyone is on board!

Pastors may have overused this text for stewardship sermons and emphasized the phrase, "God loves a cheerful giver."  Of course, it is equally valid theologically to say that God loves a grouchy miser but this may not open the checkbooks quite as effectively!

As I think about my own stance, I am what you would call fiscally conservative.  I don't like to spend money frivolously and there are lots of stories about me being cheap.

Once when Sheryl and I were dating, we were at a cheap theater with some of her family members.  They were looking at getting some snacks and I noticed that they had free refills on the large popcorn bucket and Coke.  I showed them the seven straws I had procured and convinced them this would be the most economical deal.  I think Sheryl's younger cousin was unfortunately on the end and was the one we kept sending for refills.

Somehow, I managed to convince Sheryl to marry me anyway!

While I do like to be thrifty in how I spend my money, I have always cheerfully written my check to the church for our tithe.  Because we are a two-income household that tithes, we have always been one of the larger giving units in the congregation.  I do not begrudge this giving because I see it as a part of our mission to fund God's work in the world.  Just as the mission needed funding at Jerusalem, I have been happy to support works both near and far through the church.

If I think about spending that money on myself, I doubt if my lifestyle would have changed all that much.  I can honestly attest that "the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully."  I don't use this as a prosperity gospel where our gifts become an investment.  Rather, I believe that as I sow good cheer in my life through my giving or through other endeavors, I reap the harvest of that same good cheer.  

And I think the world could use some more cheerfulness, don't you?

Prayer for the day:

Blessed God, we give thanks for all of the gifts we have received in this life.  As we examine our lives, we find that blessings abound.  May we trust in this promise.  And help us to sow goodness and generosity and kindness.  Grant us the foresight to look forward to this harvest!  In Christ's name we pray.  Amen.

Photo by hasib via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons license.

All scripture quoted is from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Daily Devotion for Lent 2021 - Day 35

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 8

If this is what the preacher starts to 
look like to the parishioners, the
effectiveness starts to really drop!

Here we can see one of the earliest stewardship drives in the church.  Paul seems to be indicating that the church at Corinth may be better off financially than some of the other churches in the Mediterranean.  Corinth, as an important port, may have been a wealthier city and the church there may have had wealthier members.

There may have been questions about why Corinth had already given more than these other places and Paul is trying to show them that it was balanced with their ability.  As we look at percentage giving, if a person making six figures gives 10%, they would out-give in sheer volume someone making five figures who also donated 10%.  However, the person making five figures would likely find it impacting their lifestyle more.

Paul utilizes the idea of Jesus Christ becoming poor for our sakes.  We see here the concept of the eternal nature of Christ which stretches both ways in time.  The idea that he was at first rich indicates his heavenly glory prior to becoming mortal.  John's Gospel will later expound on this theology in the beginning of his telling.  But Paul relates to us how Jesus was willing to give up all for our sakes and how we should then be willing to provide the same for others.

This may have been as difficult in Paul's day as it is in ours.  If a person feels a disconnect with the ministry, it is much more likely that this person's support will wane.  But if they hear the story from the visiting missionaries from time to time, they are more likely to feel engaged.  Titus and other "brothers" are regularly making the rounds to the churches to keep them engaged in the mission.

As we think about this, would we even have the faith that comforts us today if they had not made these journeys and asked for support to expand the mission?

Today, we have some of the same difficulties.  Churches everywhere are trying to stay engaged with congregants during a pandemic.  We try to communicate the message in different formats and reach those who are unable to join us physically with varying results.  What might be effective for some - where they feel connected - may feel distant for others.  Fortunately, we are hopefully seeing the light at the end of this tunnel!

As things continue to change, how will we fund the ministries that will reach the generations to come?

Prayer for the day:

Generous God, we do understand that riches come in a variety of ways.  Some people who have great financial wealth may be impoverished spiritually.  Connect us with your mission once more so that our sense of purpose gives us greater peace.  May we see where our own generosity is connected with transformation.  We pray these things in Jesus' name.  Amen.

Photo by Mike Mozart via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons license.

All scripture quoted is from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

 

Daily Devotion for Lent 2020 - Fourth Sunday in Lent

Scripture Reading: Acts 16:1-15 (NRSV)

Here we have the first appearance in Acts of Timothy who accompanies Paul on his journeys.  It may seem a bit like a double-standard when Luke mentions that Paul had Timothy circumcised.  This comes right after the Council of Jerusalem stated that Gentiles need not be circumcised.  Paul writes a pretty clear statement about it to the church at Corinth in 1 Corinthians 7:17-20:

However that may be, let each of you lead the life that the Lord has assigned, to which God called you. This is my rule in all the churches. Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision.  Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but obeying the commandments of God is everything.  Let each of you remain in the condition in which you were called.

It could be that because Timothy's mother was Jewish, other Jewish people they encountered would not be able to hear the message because of their preoccupation with Timothy's status.  Paul does later state in the same letter in 1 Corinthians 9:20:

To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) so that I might win those under the law. 

This reminds us of how contextual the gospel message can be.  We have already seen James the son of Zebedee and Stephen killed and so we also recognize that this is a dangerous business.   This is likely why Luke records in verse six that the Holy Spirit forbid them to speak the word in Asia.

They cross into Europe coming to Philippi.  We have Paul's letter to the Philippians in which he includes Timothy in his by-line in the first verse.  While they are there to find a man from a vision, they encounter women down by the river on the sabbath.  Paul seems ready to preach the word as opportunity provides.  Lydia is a business woman who is the head of her household.  Paul and Timothy indulge in her hospitality.

Luke reminds us that women play an important role in the church leadership including financial assistance beginning in the ministry of Jesus.  Luke 8:1-3 records:

Soon afterwards he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their resources.

Brooke Williams and Jana Green at church camp
when in high school in 2002.  They led Bible study
together in their youth group.  Both are in ministry today -
Brooke in lay ministry in Kingfisher and Jana in
ordained ministry in Little Rock.

The fact that Luke lifts up women in multiple places may have been needed at the time for while it would have been more acceptable in some of the Gentile cultures the church was moving into, the Jewish patriarchy would still have been resistant.  Today women in ministry within United Methodism serve in all areas of leadership.  We don't differentiate how the Spirit calls us by gender.  But there are also encounters that our clergy and lay female leaders still have today that are hostile.  We are not yet where we need to be as far as our overall acceptance within our local churches but we have made great strides toward this. 

As you think about your own attitudes concerning female spiritual leadership, do you ever find yourself hesitant or dismissive of women in ministry?  If so, does this align with how the Holy Spirit was moving in the beginnings of the church in tearing down barriers?  And if you don't have issues around God and gender, what female pastor has shaped you that might appreciate a cheerful word of encouragement as she ministers today?

For today's prayer, I really liked this poem by Teresa of Avila and thought we could meditate on it in prayer.

Prayer for the day:

Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing away:
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things
Whoever has God lacks nothing;
God alone suffices.

Prayer by Teresa of Avila, 16th Century

All scripture quoted is from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Daily Devotion for Lent 2020 - Day 7

Scripture Reading: Acts 5:1-16 (NRSV)

Today's passage continues where chapter four left off concerning how people gave all of their resources to God through the oversight of the apostles.

Two of the converts to the faith, Ananias and Sapphira are married and sell a piece of property but do not give all of the proceeds to the apostles.  Rather than admit that they were not donating the entirety of the sale, they cover up the actual profit margin.  Peter seems to know Ananias is lying and we infer that this discernment is from the Holy Spirit.

After he accuses Ananias of trying to deceive God, Ananias dies.

Peter then sets up his wife Sapphira by asking her if the price Ananias quoted was the actual sale price.  When she agrees, he tells her what happened to her husband and that the same fate will befall her.  She dies as well.

While I've been aware of this story for a long time, I've never utilized this text for a stewardship sermon!

I'm uncomfortable with this story.  It seems as if God has struck them dead for their deceit.  If this were God's regular practice, the church would either be very empty (everyone would be dead) or very full (everyone would be terrified).

The death penalty seems a big much for deceit.  People that commit perjury today don't get this kind of sentencing.

It reminds me of the story of Uzzah and the Ark of the Covenant from 2 Samuel 6:6-7:

When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen shook it.  The anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; and God struck him there because he reached out his hand to the ark; and he died there beside the ark of God.  (NRSV)

This seems even more unjust because it appears that Uzzah was trying to stabilize the ark so that it didn't fall.

My interpretation is that we don't approach God with the same kind of fear and awe that they did in ancient times.  It could have been that each of these died of shock because they believed that God would kill them. 

In Uzzah's sake, he may have deeply believed the teachings of Numbers 4:15 which stated,

When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, as the camp sets out, after that the Kohathites shall come to carry these, but they must not touch the holy things, or they will die.  (NRSV)

As modern science continues to unravel the mysteries of the brain, we are finding out how powerful belief can be.

As an alternate to the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira, we see that the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits were being healed.  The power of their faith was so great that they would seek for Peter's shadow to fall upon the ill as if one could receive healing by association!

One of the story's juxtapositions of popular belief in that day was that you had people of wealth (property owners) fall out of God's favor while the poor (those considered unclean) were being blessed.  This story seems to be a fulfillment of the words of Jesus from Luke 16:13:

No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.  (NRSV)

Today, we don't have the same kind of fear of God - in part due to the Christian interpretation of God being loving and graceful.  I believe that while this is helpful for us in that we don't die of shock when we sin, it also may prevent us from having the same kind of adoration of God that allows healing to take place.

What does it mean for me to hold God in awe?  What if I refused to shape God in my image but rather allowed God to shape me to become someone who is more Christlike?

Prayer for the Day:

We humbly beseech thee, O Father, mercifully to look upon our infirmities; and for the glory of thy name turn from us all those evils that we most righteously have deserved; and grant that in all our troubles we may put our whole trust and confidence in thy mercy, and evermore serve thee in holiness and pureness of living, to thy honor and glory; through our only Mediator and Advocate, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Prayer from the Church of England, Book of Common Prayer

Photo by Quinn Dombrowski via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons license

Daily Devotion for Lent 2020 - Day 6

Scripture Reading: Acts 4:23-37 (NRSV)

The apostles have had enough of hiding and are now moving forward to proclaim their message with boldness.  They reference the second Psalm which would have originally been applied to King David.  Verse seven reads, "I will tell of the decree of the Lord: He said to me, “You are my son; today I have begotten you."  We can see how a Christian reading would re-apply this to Jesus.

The Psalm was "us against the world" prose and the apostles are certainly identifying with it after they had been told by the authorities to keep silent.

We see the Holy Spirit come upon the apostles once more and the place where they gathered was shaken.  This may be reminiscent of Isaiah 13 that speaks of God's wrath against those who are in opposition.  Verse thirteen especially stands out as it reads:

Therefore I will make the heavens tremble,
    and the earth will be shaken out of its place,
at the wrath of the Lord of hosts
    in the day of his fierce anger.    (NRSV)

The shaking of their gathering place acts as a sign to show us that God is with them as they settle into their roles as witnesses to all the earth even when there are road blocks.

And as we look to see how they will retaliate with the wrath of God, we see that they took care of those in need among them.

Huh?  Luke would never write for Hollywood with this kind of response!

As the apostles were led by the Holy Spirit, their actions speak louder than their words.  Those who were part of the fellowship were willing to fund this new movement with all they had.  Would Christianity have been able to get off the ground without this kind of faithful witness?

This kind of behavior shows that they took the words of Jesus seriously as Luke records him saying from Luke 12:32-34:

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.  Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."   (NRSV)

What little birds do you often encounter that need your help?

The church today in North America has more access to resources than ever before.  Yet, the church often struggles financially.  I've read that the average percentage of giving to the church per family is 2.5% today while during the Great Depression, it was 3.3%.  If people increased their giving even by a percentage point, what would our witness look like?

Prayer for the day:

Make us worthy, Lord, to serve our fellows throughout the world
who live and die in poverty and hunger.
Give them, through our hands, this day their daily bread,
and by our understanding love, give peace and joy.  Amen.


Prayer by Mother Teresa of Calcutta, 20th Century

Photo by Markus Goller via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons license.