extravagant love

Luke 12: 13-21/  Passionate Worship- Adapted from Robert Schnase’s “Five practices of Fruitful congregations” for sermon/Study series.

A wealthy business man was opening the door of his BMW when a car came along and hit the door, ripping it off completely. When the police arrived at the scene, the man complained bitterly about the damage to his car.
"Officer, look what they've done to my Beemer!"
"You are so materialistic, it's ridiculous" retorted the officer. "You're so worried about your stupid BMW, you didn't even notice that your left arm was ripped off."
"Oh, my gosh!" screamed the man, noticing the bloody stump where his arm used to be. "My Rolex!"  (jokes.com)

Now that joke, I realize is on the ridiculous side but many of us approach life this way. We place value on possessions, money, and status often over our own lives and relationships.  I can’t even count the number of people I know who have damaged family and friend relationships because of money and inheritance. 

Jesus, as radical as he is, challenges this part of our society.  Jesus wants us to know it is not about what we have it is about our relationship with the giver and it is about what we do with what we have been given that is important. 

As we examine the witness and example of Jesus Christ, his parables and his life itself teach us these lessons.  As we talked last week about balancing prayer and study with service.  The concept of balance applies to this scripture today too.  Money and possessions are not a bad thing in and of themselves.  They are a necessary part of this world we live in.  But we must learn to find balance and responsibly use the gifts we are given.  It is the effect these possessions have on us that matters. 

Each week in worship we are encouraged to share our praises, how God has been active in our lives, how we have experienced God’s provision and blessings.  We give thanks to God for these gifts and pray that we will use them for God’s glory.  This isn’t rhetoric and habit.  It is important to take time each week, each day as a matter of fact, to remember that everything we have is a gift from God.  Every gift, not just our money but our time, energy, health, our talents of creativity and passion for caring for others, our willingness to be there for others are gifts from God. 

It is important to recognize God as the giver.  These are not things we deserve.  What we have and what we are able to do to earn, live, and buy are gifts from God.  And, as God gives generously we are called to respond generously. 

Jesus Christ is the ultimate example for us.  His teaching in today’s scripture invites us to evaluate the importance we place on possessions. This theme is repeated and reflected in the call to the rich man to sell everything he had to follow Christ and the stressing of a person’s inability to serve two masters, as well as his desire for us to store up treasures in heaven not on earth. 

Jesus is teaching us that what we have in this life is not what is really important.  Jesus wants to turn over the tables in the temple of consumerism that we all too often worship. 

Jesus wants us to see that what is important is our relationship with God not stuff.  What is important is seeing and recognizing how generous God is with us not only providing for our physical needs but our spiritual needs.  Jesus shows us what it is like to give extravagantly and to love extravagantly. 

Each one of us is here because either we know or we want to know what it means to be loved by God.  We want to realize that God loved us so much that even though we don’t deserve it and can’t earn it God loves us anyway.  God’s love is so strong that no matter what we do, we can always find love in Christ and no matter what we do we can turn to Christ and see the extravagance of his love and sacrifice on the cross.  Jesus didn’t have to be crucified.  God could have found another way but this is the ultimate expression of love to lay down one’s life for another.  Jesus Christ was brought to life to give love and give it extravagantly.

Is that how you view your gifts, your resources, your possessions? As gifts given by God, the only purpose being to show the love of Christ to others? 

Having money and possessions is not a bad thing.  God wants us to have them but he also wants us to use them.  This desire to have more, keep what we have and save our pennies for a rainy day all too often prevents us from fulfilling the will of God and showing the love of Christ to others because we are more worried about our own needs than the needs of others. 

This week I have seen people give extravagantly to people and causes that truly share the love of Christ.  Yesterday we witnessed as people from Webster Methodist and church choirs from around the community came together to share their time, talent and love with the community- not to raise money for themselves but to help a family that many of them may never know.  Why, because they understand the love of Christ goes beyond the walls of their church sanctuary and church family.

Today, Love’s Chapel announced that they were willing to go above and beyond to show extravagant love and support of Linsey’s call to missionary service.  It is just money, but money combined with prayer and love will allow Linsey to touch the lives of people around the world sharing the hope and love of Christ with those who may never know it otherwise. 

Giving is good.  It feels good to give when it is given out of the love and abundance of Christ.  Often when people are facing difficult times you might hear someone say- God won’t give you any more than you can handle.  And with God’s help we can face any trail.  But, on the same token, if you are serving out of love and leaning on God for strength and provision God will supply what you need.  There is never a reason to serve out of a place of deficiency.  God will provide and provide abundantly giving extravagantly to us so that we may respond by sharing extravagantly with others.

How does your attitude toward giving of your gifts, time and talents reflect your relationship with God? How does it reflect your experience of the love of Christ?  Are you using your gifts responsibly and productively to be a witness to the love and grace of Christ in this world?