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Stewardship Generosity
SERMON - 10.15am, Emmanuel Church, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
Sunday 28th September 2005
Revd. Matthew Vernon
2 Cor 9. 6-15 Matt 20.1-16.
In this Ashes cricket series there have been two wonderful examples of generosity.
The first was during the second match.
England won,
• but only just.
Australia needed just 2 more runs.
Which means just one more clean strike of the ball.
But they didn't manage that
• and they were devastated.
One England player, Andrew Flintoff, immediately consoled the Australian player, Brett Lee.
It was a powerful gesture of sportsmanship, compassion and generosity.
The second example of generosity was similar.
It was during the final game, on Monday.
The English player, Kevin Pieterson, had scored 158 –
• a big score which ensured England won the Ashes.
The Australians knew they had lost,
• but their master bowler, Shane Warne, congratulated Kevin Pieterson with a genuine, affectionate hug.
Another powerful gesture of friendship and generosity despite his own pain.
We're focusing on stewardship for the next couple of weeks.
And the take home thought today is generosity,
• cheerful giving.
Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, "it is more blessed to give than to receive". (Acts 20.35)
Teaching children to give and share is a fascinating process.
Samuel continues to struggle with the "share" concept.
And I don't mean the Hang Seng Index.
"Share" for him means "let me have it".
But, at the same time, one of his favourite stories is Lotsa de Casha.
Lotsa de Casha is very rich, but deeply unhappy.
He goes off to find the secret of happiness.
He's told, "If you share what you have and put others before you, you will find happiness".
At first he rejects this advice.
But then gradually learns, with the help of his new friend Mr Forfilla, that the advice is true.
He finds happiness through giving rather than accumulating wealth.
Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, "it is more blessed to give than to receive".
It's a good story because it rings true.
You know from your own experience the deep fulfilment that comes from being generous.
Whether it's offering hospitality,
• or giving time to a good cause.
• or supporting a charity with money.
• or helping a friend in need.
• or pausing to help a tourist with directions.
Whether it's leading Sunday School,
• or making music in church,
• or preparing intercessions,
• or welcoming newcomers
• or bringing refreshments
You know from your own experience.
You know too that being generous is not always easy.
Dare I presume that you too find it easier to be generous with some people than others?
And often it's more about our own mood than some else, anyway.
We aren't saints all the time,
• and we often don't feel like being saintly!
But when we are generous,
• when we give of ourselves,
• when we serve other people,
• we find happiness,
• or as Christ said, we find life...
We've heard this morning the wonderful parable of the vineyard.
As soon as Jesus says, "the kingdom of heaven is like" we know we're in for a surprise.
Imagine if you'd been one of the workers who'd laboured through the day,
• only to find when evening comes that your pay is the same as the workers who'd started at 5 o'clock in the evening.
In Matthew's Gospel, lots of the parables begin "the kingdom of heaven is like".
And usually the kingdom of heaven turns out to be rather different to the kingdom of humanity,
• different to human ways and expectations.
The kingdom of heaven is a place of generosity rather than acquisition.
The kingdom of heaven is a place where a person's value is not measured by their salary.
In the kingdom of heaven what's important is helping other people,
• rather than looking after yours truly.
The parable reminds me of picking strawberries.
When I was 8 years old my brothers, Mark and Simon and I picked strawberries on a farm in England.
When we'd finished, Mark, the eldest, said we should divide the money up according to how much we'd picked.
We hadn't measured that, but Mark thought he'd probably picked the most, followed by me and then Simon.
Hah! If only I had remembered the parable of the vineyard then!
"The last will be first and the first will be last" is not often observed by young siblings!
At the end of the parable, the landowner delivers the punch line:
• "or are you envious because I am generous?"
He cuts to the heart of the workers complaint.
They are indeed jealous of the generosity the other workers received.
It's another thing we know from our own experience.
In the reading from 1 Corinthians we've heard, Paul talks about generosity.
What's the context for the reading?
The Corinthian Christians have promised to give to another Christian community.
Paul is reminding them of that promise, when he says the beautiful phrase:
"each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
"Not under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver"
True generosity doesn't stem from compulsion.
There's always a temptation for faith to slip into compulsion or threat or guilt.
How we humans are prone to those things!
Faith, that is, based on compulsion or guilt
• rather than love
• rather than generosity of spirit.
Faith based on compulsion or guilt is an immature faith.
It's like children sharing or giving because of the threat hanging over their heads if they don't.
"Samuel if you don't share your toys, I'll take them away."
Mature faith on the other hand knows that giving is the secret of happiness,
• rather than a way of avoiding punishment.
Mature faith knows deep down that it is more blessed to give than to receive.
Mature faith acknowledges that God is generous to us is beyond measure.
It knows how much it has received
• and it responds in kind.
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