Rich has been my buddy for almost forty
years, even though he lives in Wisconsin and I only get a call from him every
now and then. I have to say he has always been a rather frugal individual. He cuts coupons, shops at discount stores, likes
“one-price-all-you-can-eat” restaurants, and—at least when he and I hung out
together—would pinch a penny so hard Abe Lincoln would beg for mercy. Several years ago he was fortunate to
find a young woman brave enough to marry him. I, knowing him as I do, was quite
astonished when he announced his plans for a rather luxurious honeymoon. He and
his lovely bride would travel to California and from there on to a tour of
Australia and New Zealand. Rich described the adventure with great detail, but
ended the narrative by plaintively moaning, “But it’s gunna cost me eight thousand dollars, Griff, and…well…you
know me and money.”
I reassured him, “Dude, this will be the
best eight grand you’ll ever spend.”
Boy howdy, do we ever hate to part with
cash! I’m sure your parents always told you to have something put by for a
rainy day. Save for your retirement. Save for your children’s college
education. Save to buy a house. Save for an emergency. Save to have something for
the kids when your time’s up. Save for the grandkids. Save for your funeral. Saving
is prudent and wise.
But. Did you ever know anyone who saved
all their life and forgot to live
their life? Someone who wanted to have their cake but never eat it? That rather
defeats the purpose of cake, don’t you think?
Face it, a lot of folks are like the man
in the parable Jesus tells in Luke’s gospel appointed for Pentecost 8 in the
RCL (Luke 12:13-21). We think if we build bigger barns and store up more wealth
we’ll be able to live in comfort and security—as if comfort and security are
the purposes of our lives.
Too often, I suspect, we as individuals
and as the Church aim for comfort and security but miss out on our real
purpose. That purpose is to learn and grow and be the healing presence of Christ
in a hurting world. We do this both as individuals and as part of the Christian
community. We’re called to trust that God, who has given us this opportunity,
will provide us with resources both spiritual and physical. Money is nothing
but a tool to accomplish our purpose. It’s not the purpose in and of itself.
It seems, however, that we never believe
that our resources are enough. What I’ve seen in congregations (and I’ve seen
three parishes in my conference go face down in the dust within the last nine
months!) is a greater belief in scarcity than a trust in God’s abundance. They’ve
circled the wagons, cut the costs, and figured out how long they can survive on
dwindling savings and income. Now, call me reckless, but I just can’t see spending
down endowment funds or savings just to put off an inevitable death of a community that wasn’t producing fruit for the Kingdom in
the first place. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather go out in a blaze of
glory than wither away whimpering.
God provides us with abundance to use for
God’s glory. As families of faith we’re called to invest in meaningful and
vibrant worship and in compassionate care and love for our communities. We are
to be alive while we are alive, not
sit quietly waiting for death. The challenge is first to realize that reliance
on our own resources is an insult to God. Why? Because it denies God’s
willingness to bless us. Second, we should
recognize that our wealth is not just in bucks in the plate or butts in the
pews. God may have gifted us in ways of which we are not aware: talented
people, visions for ministry, ability to serve children, space for community
needs, or neighbors who would welcome a partnership. Additionally, we have to remember
that we are called to be givers and not hoarders. If our fists are closed,
nothing else can come into them.
I’m not suggesting that you or your
congregation should go out and start spending hell bent for leather, but I
would ask you to consider: What are you saving for? What kind of abundance do
you already possess? To what purpose are you called? How are you investing in
the things of God? By living in faith? By believing in God’s providence? By
your generosity to others?
Rich and his wife had a great time on
their honeymoon, and began their life together with a shared adventure which
drew them even closer than they’d been before. I’m sure my friend has long
forgotten the cost of his trip, but he’ll never forget having taken it.
Enjoy God’s abundance today, my friend,
and thanks for looking in this week.
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