November 24, 2024 ~ Thanksgiving Sunday
Stewardship Worship Series: Releasing God’s Blessings
Rev. Beckie Sweet
Laura Numeroff is a prolific author of children’s literature. In one series, in which she partners with illustrator Felicia Bond, Numeroff playfully explores the unintended consequences of giving. Her titles, with which you may be familiar, include, “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie,” “If You Give a Pig a Pancake,” “If You Give a Dog a Donut,” “If You Give a Cat a Cupcake,” and my personal favorite, “If You Give a Moose a Muffin.”
In the opening pages of this book, a boy is looking out of his kitchen window and spots a moose at the edge of the woods. So, he motions for the moose to come on inside, and the adventure ensues. “If you give a moose a muffin, he’ll want jam to go with it. So, you’ll bring out some of your mother’s homemade blackberry jam.” And the story goes on. It is hard for me to do justice to the telling of this story without showing the wonderful illustrations of the encounter between the hungry moose and the giving boy. But it is all about the boy going out of his way to give generously to the moose, with whom the boy is developing a lovely relationship.
Let’s ask ourselves today, when have we generously given to another, without that other even making a request? That is one of the most joyous forms of giving you know! It’s like “paying it forward,” and then stepping back to watch the ripple effect initiated by one caring act. Imagine the goodwill generated when you anonymously pay for someone’s meal at the diner. Or generously over-tip the server and then escape from the restaurant before the server is even aware of what you have done.
What about when the stranger in front of you at the grocery check-out line doesn’t have enough money to pay for the cart of groceries, and you feel compelled to make up the difference, and give the person an extra $20 for gas?
What about when someone supporting the opposing basketball team comes in and is obviously weeping, so you move closer, offer a tissue, and take time to listen to their heartbreaking story?
When have we been recipients of that kind of generosity and thoughtfulness? How did that make us feel? And what did we do in response?
When we give to people, causes, organizations, it is tempting to just focus on the gift and forget about the ripple effects the act of generosity can have. Think of the last act of kindness or generosity that you quietly engaged in. What were the immediate benefits? For the recipient? For you? What do you imagine were the unintended or unanticipated consequences of that action – the ripple effects, if you will?
In today’s scripture text, the last in the series on 2 Corinthians, chapter 9, Paul is helping the people of Corinth find their motivation to create their own legacy of generosity for future generations. It’s not just about “paying the bills,” “making ends meet,” or “paying the taxes.” (Or as Paul puts it, “supplying the needs of the saints.”) It’s about an overflow into the world that speaks of our gratitude, our Thanksgiving, in our time of glorifying God. This generosity also creates a community (koinonia) of support between different groups that is indescribable – beyond our human understanding.
God’s revelation of love transforms the heart and propels us to authentically give of ourselves to impact the lives of others. The manifestation of God’s grace in our lives causes us to give with overflowing generosity. Notice how Paul describes the response of the Corinthians church when they are made aware of the need of the impoverished Christians in Jerusalem. They are living into the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul says they are putting their money and resources into action, just as they have professed their faith. Their words and action match up as they minister to strangers with love and generosity.
By grace, God gives a lens of faith – a different way of seeing and approaching the world that inspires generosity to transform lives. We are called to be active participants in God’s acts of grace in the world. Our acts of grace bring God glory and inspire others to reflect God’s light in the world.
A simple, recurring gift to God through the church, seems like so much more when you consider the message your generosity shares. Suddenly you’re giving so much more to the community, its people, and to the work of God’s salvation. As you think about the unintended and positive consequences of sharing God’s blessings with others, how does your perspective and motivation change? What is the message you are trying to share with the world about GOD’S generosity, provision, and grace? How might your generous act bring glory to God and be a messenger of God’s grace and love?
It was the worst of times. In the first half of the seventeenth century, Germany was in the midst of wars and famine and pestilence. In the city of Eilenburg lived a pastor by the name of Martin Rinkart.
During one especially oppressive period, Rinkart conducted up to 50 funerals a day as a plague swept through the town and as the Thirty Years’ War wreaked its own terror on the people. Among those whom Rinkart buried were members of his own family.
Yet during those years of darkness and despair, when death and destruction greeted each new day, Pastor Rinkart wrote 66 sacred songs and hymns. Among them was the song “Now Thank We All Our God.” As sorrow crouched all around him, Rinkart wrote:
Now thank we all our God With hearts and hands and voice,
Who wondrous things hath done, In whom His world rejoices;
Who, from our mothers’ arms, Hath blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, And still is ours today.
Rinkart demonstrated a valuable lesson for us all: Thankfulness does not have to wait for prosperity and peace. It’s always a good time to praise God for the “wondrous things” God has done. May the recognition of our Overflowing Blessings be the motivation for generous sharing this day!