I have rarely spoken on giving money at this church, but now is the time.  With such a need as we have, now is not the time to remain silent.  In my 7½ years as pastor here, I cannot recall a single sermon on giving, so that will be my topic for today and the next three Sundays.  A few weeks ago I taught our Confirmation students the Sixth Commandment, about sexuality and our need to control ourselves.  Even though there was some snickering and occasional rolling of eyes, I had their attention!  Accurate information is necessary for making good decisions.

          Sermons on giving spark controversy and perhaps even resentment.  There is a tight line between our purses and our hearts and we don't like people tugging on that line.  We want what we want when we want it, so work to get it and keep it.  And when someone comes asking, we tend to dig in our heels, shut our ears or sometimes even walk out the door.

          Sermons for these four Sundays will be called "ABCs of Giving."  I am not going to talk much about the building program.  There is ample information for us all about that.  I just want to share with you from God's Word, and also from God's people in history, what it means to give, as well as what it does not mean.

          Let me begin by saying our Lord Jesus wants us to enjoy and use what we have.  He gives us great treasures in life for our enjoyment.  But He also wants us to give some of it away.  Not a great deal of it, mind you, but a share.  It's human trait to grab and keep.  We learn it when we're babies.  We see a colorful toy and reach to get it.  Those who try to take it from us will pay a penalty of our tears and tantrums.  The older we get, the bigger our toys, and the more we want to keep them.  Unless you and I learn from God's Word what it means to give, we will remain selfish like children.

          "The ABCs of Giving" begin with Attitude.  Attitude means what's in our heart, how we value what we have, and that attitude is shown in the woman who anointed Jesus with perfume.  In today's scripture lesson, we see the excellent gift she gave.  We also see how those who saw it reacted.  Jesus complimented her for her extravagance, and pointed out correctly that she would be remembered for what she did.  The others became uneasy and complained.  They thought she was wrong.  I believe we can learn three things from this:

          1.  We need to give:  Jesus said in Luke 6:38, "Give and it shall be given to you, pressed down, shaken and running over."  People rarely want to give; we would rather keep.  Our human nature presses us to keep, to amass, to hoard.  "You never have enough," it tells us, "so get more and more."  But God and His Word tell us to give to the poor, give to those in need, give without measuring what you will get back.  Our Lord Jesus said, "Freely you have received, so freely give." (Matthew 10:8)   And we can always believe what Jesus tells us.  Peter Marshall, author and Chaplain to the United States Senate, once said, "Give according to your income, lest God make your income according to your giving."

          2.  We need to give to God:  Hudson Taylor was a missionary to China for 51 years.  He was the greatest single figure in Chinese history during the 19th century.  He baptized over 50,000 converts and has been described as a modern Apostle Paul.  Hudson Taylor's great faith in God is shown in his saying this: "When God's work is done in God's way for God's glory, it will never lack God's supply."  In a letter to his sister written in 1859, Taylor wrote, "If I had a thousand pounds ($5,000) China should have it.  If I had a thousand lives, China should have them.  No!  Not China, but Christ.  Can we do too much for Him?  Can we [ever] do too much for such a precious Savior?"

          Martin Luther was often criticized for giving away his income to strangers, and he once said, "I have tried to keep things in my hands and lost them all, but what I have given into God's hands I still possess."  J. L. Kraft, of the Kraft Cheese Corporation, who had given approximately 25% of his enormous income to Christian causes, said, "The only investment I ever made which has paid consistently increasing dividends is the money I have given to the Lord."

          3.  We need to give of what we need:  Mother Teresa once said, "If you give what you do not need, it isn't giving."  C. S. Lewis said, "The only safe rule [in deciding what to give] is to give more than you can spare."  There is an axiom, "Give until it hurts."  That means to give God more than you're comfortable giving.  Someone once told me we should "Give until it feels good."

          You see, giving isn't just for the receiver, it also helps the giver.  A gift given in love is twice blessed: it blesses the receiver, and it also blesses the giver.  Giving, whether to a church or to a poor man or to a missionary, feels good.  We know God blesses the cheerful giver.

          In today's text, Jesus was visiting Simon the Leper, a wealthy man.  Simon had been healed of his dreaded illness and wanted to know more about Rabbi Jesus of Nazareth.  But like most people, Simon had no idea how this would change his life.  He had invited Jesus to his home, together with other wealthy friends.  While there, a woman, whose identity is unknown, came into the room unannounced and knelt before Jesus.  She produced a lovely carved stone box filled with expensive perfume, broke it and poured it on Jesus' head.

          I think the impact of this gesture is lost on us today, but it was amazing nonetheless.  We, too, might see this as wasteful and extravagant.  We know now her act pointed towards His eventual death and burial, but at the time it stopped conversation and raised many objections. "What does she mean coming in like this?  Who invited her?  Why is she doing this?"  Then they tried to justify their indignation: "Why this waste of perfume?  It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor."  People don't always understand why others give.  Some give out of admiration or love, or to say thanks.  Those who see a large gift may get suspicious or judgmental.  Here Jesus told them they could help the poor anytime, but her gift was from her heart and would be remembered through the ages.

          Have you ever noticed that it's the women of the Bible who teach us love and faith?  And also giving!  This woman gave thousands, and the poor widow put in her last mite.  Some give out their poverty and others give out of their wealth, but still they gave to God.  By the way, the gift of perfume was worth $40,000 or $50,000 today.  I'm not sure they have perfume like that at Cherry Creek!

          And hers was a true gift.  She broke the jar and poured the perfume on Jesus.  No exchanging for a different size or fragrance.  No putting it in the hutch to look at or will to the kids.  It was for one purpose only - to bless Jesus.  She meant it for the Lord and there was no changing her mind.

          Her attitude was gratitude.  Her attitude was inspired by love and thanksgiving.  "The ABCs of Giving" begin with Attitude.  If our attitude is to bless God, our gift will be a blessing.  If our attitude is for any selfish purpose, our gift will not be the blessing it could be.

          On the cross of Calvary Jesus gave His life for us.  He didn't give it to show off, or to pay back, or to pay off, or to get others off His back.  Jesus wasn't giving to a worthy cause on Calvary, but to people, to pay the price for the sins of the world.  He gave His life because that's what we people need.  Our attitude can be gratitude or faith or humility, or even joy, as St. Paul once wrote, "The Lord loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7)

          I have found that I can never outgive the Lord.  No one gets poor by giving to God, for He always gives back more.  Captain John Levy, an 18th century believer from Philadelphia, was once asked how he could give so much to the Lord's work and still possess such great wealth.  The Captain replied, "As I shovel it out, He shovels it back in, and the Lord always has a bigger shovel."  Whatever we give Him, He will return back to us, both financially and spiritually - that's His promise!

          A sermon about giving tends to concentrate on the Law.  The Law of God makes demands on us and shows us our sins.  The Gospel, however, shows us our Savior Jesus.  Our Lord Jesus has given the best gift to each of us - Himself.  That's the Gospel.  His death on Calvary gives us eternal life.  There's no gift better than that.  Trust in Jesus Christ, my friends.  He is the Way, the Truth and the Life.  Because of what He has done, our attitude is gratitude.

          My prayer in all this is that in all this process of seeking to build larger facilities, that we will all grow stronger in our faith and closer to God in love.  God will supply our needs, personally and in Epiphany church.  God is faithful in all things.  If we worship Him and trust Him, our needs will be met.  He will answer all our prayers.  Thank You, Lord Jesus, for all You have done for us, amen!

Copyright © 2006 by Pastor Bob Tasler.  All rights reserved.