MARCH 27, 2011

Sermon by Pastor MaAn

Matthew 6: 1-4, 16-18

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Every time Vern comes in from picking up mail, I typically expect one or two that will ask us or me to give to something. I get the same appeals online, on TV and radio, and in messages left on our phone as well.

Everyone seems to expect us to give, which makes me wonder – why. Why is it that everyone expects us to give? If I ask you to give answers to that question, I am sure I will get many answers that may range from the not so noble intent of the solicitor to scam or deceive (and heaven knows there is plenty of that going on these days) to answers implying that the solicitor is banking on our altruistic and philanthropic inclinations to give to different causes.

Whether we actually respond by giving or not giving is another interesting matter. Again, the answers vary. But as believers, especially as followers of Jesus, we give primarily to express, in tangible ways, our gratitude to God for loving us in spite of ourselves.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. - John 3:16, TNIV

We also give to empower the faith community, especially our faith community here at Eastport to continue the mission that Jesus set out to do, a mission he has entrusted to us. And this mission is to proclaim the kingdom of God, an alternative world order for which he lived, suffered and died. The kingdom of God calls us to a different way to live. We accepted this call at our baptism; as Nikki, Lindsey and Riley will do when they are baptized in a little while. We give to follow the example of the one who gave himself up for us and for our salvation.

Many of us give generously to worthwhile undertakings. But sometimes, it is not always clear to us how we ought to give. This question was dealt with by our denomination’s founding father, John Wesley, a long time ago. I firmly believe that what he had to say then in his time still applies to us today. Through preaching and personal example, John Wesley says to his followers then and now –

"Gain all you can,

save all you can,

give all you can." – John Wesley in “The Use of Money” sermon

Just what did Wesley mean by this? In gaining all we can, Wesley was very clear that we ought not to gain money at the expense of our life, our health and our soul. He was also just as clear that we ought not to gain money at the expense of our neighbors.

“Gain all you can, but not at the expense your life, your health, your body, your soul nor at the expense of your neighbor’s body and soul.” – John Wesley

In our very competitive, consumer oriented society, we need to be constantly reminded of this truth.

Having gained all we can, he then admonishes us to save all we can. By this he meant, that we are to use wisely what we have gained. We are to avoid wasteful use of the resources that God has entrusted to us. Buy life’s necessities, yes, but no more. To spend on what is not necessary to live is not responsible stewardship.

Gaining all one can and saving all one can, makes giving all one can possible. Wesley was clear though that giving all one should be done only after one has provided for the needs of dependents and the self. When there is more to give, the needs of the faith community has to be taken into consideration. When after this, there is still more, then give also to others, especially those in need. By giving all we can, Wesley says, we actually give to God.

Giving is good for our overall wellbeing, especially when done with the right intention and with the right attitude.As St. Paul said to the faith community in Corinth and he says to us today as well –

“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

But now what has giving got to do with fasting, referred to also in the Bible text this morning?

Like giving, fasting is a practice that is firmly grounded in the entire Bible. From Abraham to Jesus to the followers of Jesus in the early church, fasting was a practice people turned to regularly, according to John Wesley –

“... all the inspired writers, both in the Old Testament and the New, take the word to fast in one single sense, for not to eat, to abstain from food... to fast, is, not to eat for a time prescribed.” – John Wesley, “Sermon 27: Upon Our Lord's Sermon on the Mount, 7”

People fast for different reasons. Some fast to express sorrow for offending God. Others do so to correct excesses in food and drink and other pleasures indulged in at the expense of relationships or other aspects of their life, such as one’s health.

The prophet Isaiah indicated the kind of fasting God wanted Isaiah to take on. He said:

⁶ Thus says the Lord: “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
            to loose the chains of injustice
            and untie the cords of the yoke,
            to set the oppressed free
            and break every yoke?” - Isaiah 58:6, TNIV ©2005)

Mohandas Gandhi resorted to fasting to bring about social change in India at the age of 73. In our day, people fast not just from food. Consider for example this presentation that JoAnn shared with me titled “A Different Approach to Fasting.” The presentation offers some ways to practice fasting for our consideration –

[project powerpoint here]

But even with these creative approaches to fasting, the fact remains that as Christians we are encouraged to embrace fasting as a help to prayer as Wesley again points out.

“ ... a more weighty reason for fasting is, that it is an help to prayer...”

– John Wesley, Sermon 27, Upon Our Lord's Sermon on the Mount, 7

In the Bible, fasting and praying often go hand in hand. Believers fast to have more time with God. By giving up not just our sins but even good things as we fast, we can then share and give to others as God commanded us. Put differently, when we fast, the time used up for what we fasted from gives us more time to pray. So when we fast, we also save. What we save, we can then share with others. This is what we are called to do in the season of Lent and everyday of our lives. May we answer the call with passion and integrity. Amen.

Questions for reflection:

(1) What am I going to fast from during the remainder of this Lenten season?

(2) What am I willing to give up and to share/give to show gratitude for all that God has blessed me with?