AfterWords: "A Church Strong: Talents"

 

1 Corinthians 12:1, 4-7

Just a few weeks ago, we began this journey of looking at the habits we vow to take up as members of the United Methodist Church: Prayer, Presence, Tithes, Talents, and Story.

As we engage in the habit of prayer, as we talk to God on behalf of our congregation, as we pray for one another, we are changed. Our relationship with God is changed, our relationships with each other are changed, we are changed.

As we become more and more present, whether in Sunday worship, Bible study classes, small groups or other gatherings, we are changed. We gather to give thanks to God, to receive mercy, and to encourage one another. When we do these things, we are changed.

As we develop a habit of generosity, our attitudes towards our money, our values, our reactions and responses to needs around us all change. As we give regularly and move slowly but surely towards the ‘tithe’ God dreams of from us, we are changed…and in turn begin to change the world through our giving.

Today, we look at using our talents, gifts, skills, and abilities. God is the Giver of our talents and abilities. Some of us are born with gifts and skills. Some of us work hard to develop skills and abilities. Some of us supernaturally blessed with gifts from God’s Spirit. No matter how they come to us, no matter when they come to us, the talents, skills, and abilities are gifts from God.

We need to remain aware of something that Paul impresses on the Corinthian church: “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good” (1 Cor. 12:7). “…For the common good”—we are gifted not to make us great or in order to just celebrate ourselves. We are gifted that we might contribute to the “common good.”

This flies in the face of our present culture, a culture that celebrates the great “I.” With the advent of the smartphone and its rear facing camera, we have become a world focused on ‘self.’ The implication is that we are the center of the universe…and we happily oblige to such a notion. Paul’s counter-cultural words remind us that we are gifted and equipped in order to work with if not serve others. We come together, bringing our gifts, talents, skills, and abilities together … for the common good.

Through the years, some congregations—by intention or by accident—have forbidden some people to exercise their gifts. “You want to sing? Well, we really have a tight group already, but if we need you, we’ll let you know….” Or “Oh, thank you for offering, but we’re good now. If need anyone else on the committee, we’ll let you know.” Everyone should be given the opportunity to use their gifts and talents. And for those who don’t know their gifts and abilities, the congregation must help people find and use them.

In the end, when everyone in a congregation lives out of their strengths, when all use their God-given talents, abilities, and skills, we see a “church strong”—a congregation that works together and that is better able to shine the light and love of God into the world.

Sunday, October 13, 2024
“A Church Strong: Talents”
Watch/Listen: HERE

AfterWords: "A Church Strong: Giving"

 

Malachi 3:6-10

Many of us are very familiar with Malachi’s words about giving: “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it” (Malachi 3:10). The call here—echoed through much of Scripture—is to give a tithe, a tenth, ten percent of our income, resources to God. Jesus echoes the same in Luke 6:38, and Paul calls for to give cheerfully in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7.

So, if Scripture is so clear on the issue—give a tithe to God, be generous towards God—why are we so reluctant to give? E. Peterson suggests, “Most people’s lack of generosity is due not to money problems but to greed problems…value problems” (from On Living Well). Could it be that the ancient, thoroughly human sin of greed holds us back from generosity? Are we afraid to give…afraid that we’ll run out of money if we give to God? Anne Frank, the voice of a child really, reminds us, “No one has ever become poor by giving.” So, why do we not give generously?

Perhaps it is because we do not really know or understand why we give. Yes, God has called us to be generous. Yes, we want to obey. But, we want to know, why? It is a fair question.

First of all, let’s answer this: Does God need our money? Does God really need your money or my money? Does God wait anxiously, hands wringing, every Sunday around 11am to see if enough will come in to make things happen in this world that He has created? The answer: God does not need your money nor mine. God is the Creator of the universe. God lacks nothing. Now, if that is the case—and I believe with all my mind and heart this is the case—then why does God ask us to give?

When we look back at what we’ve covered thus far in this series of sermons, we find that we’re called to prayer. Prayer changes everything…and it changes you and me. We are called to and invited to be a people of presence—present in worship, Bible studies, or small groups. Being present changes us…shapes us, molds us. And guess what—giving, being generous, changes us, shapes our attitudes, realigns our values. God calls us to give because we giving changes us.

When we reject lives of generosity, of giving, we struggle against the fabric and flow of the universe, for our God is a giving God. God has given us life, has given us everything. In fact, “God so loved the world that he gave….” He gave. And, as long as we reject giving and generosity, we struggle again the stream of this reality, against the flow of God’s creation.

If you have not been a giver by habit, your first step is to develop a habit of giving. If you have already developed the habit of giving, then it is time to move towards giving a tithe—make it a one-year or two-year goal. If you are already tithing, look for ways to go above-and-beyond. God invites us to be a people of generosity, of giving. When we embrace this holy habit, we align ourselves with God’s reality…and we open ourselves to being changed, transformed more and more into the best versions of ourselves. Decide today to embrace and embody the holy habits that make for a ‘church strong.’

Sunday, October 6, 2024
“A Church Strong: Presence”
Watch/Listen: HERE