Sunday's Message - Offering Our Gift of Treasures

During the season of Advent, we talked about how we might unwrap some of the gifts given to us by God through Jesus Christ. Well, now that Christmas is over, we're going to shift gears and consider the gifts we might offer God. Beginning on Sunday, December 28, we started to consider the following:

• December 28 - Offering Our Gift of Praise
• January 4 - Offering Our Gift of Attention
• January 11 - Offering Our Gift of Time
• January 18 - Offering Our Gift of Talents
• January 25 - Offering Our Gift of Treasures
• February 1 - Offering Our Gift of Energy
• February 8 - Offering Our Gift of Enthusiasm
• February 15 - Offering Our Gift of Love

On Sunday, we continued this series by looking at how we can offer our gift of treasures. Below is a presentation and the text of the sermon. You can stream the service by going to the Sligo Presbyterian Church YouTube Channel on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. (EDT).  You can hear a podcast of the service at the Sligo Presbyterian Church YouTube Channel or the Sligo Presbyterian Spotify Page.

Well, just look out the window. Now I find it really interesting how this scene changes as we grow up. I mean, when we’re small, all that white snow, it’s just amazing, you know, like being in a fantasy world. And then a little later, you know, after we’ve started school, man, this is really exciting because of two words: snow day. And then, when we’re a little bit older, well, all this white stuff isn’t amazing nor is it exciting. Instead, it’s something that’s cold and that’s slick and that you’ve got to move with a shovel. Oh the joy of being an adult.

Of course, considering this time of year, well, what we’re getting right now shouldn’t really be a surprise. That’s just the way it is in northwestern Pennsylvania. And I’ll tell you something else that’s not surprising, some of us probably feel a little bit buried by something other than snow right about now. I mean, we celebrated Christmas exactly a month ago. And even though we may have taken down the tree and put away the decorations and baked our last cookie, at least for a while, an awful lot of folks are just starting to dig themselves out of their holiday debt, that wonderful gift that just keeps on giving, or maybe, more accurately, that just keeps on taking. 

And I’ll tell y’all, since that’s the case, our focus this morning just seems appropriate. I mean, we’ve been plowing through this sermon series we started right after Christmas entitled Our Gifts to God: Offering Ourselves to Our Heavenly Father. And to this point, we’ve talked about offering God our praise and our attention, our time and our talents. And this morning we’re going to move forward and discuss why we should and how we can offer God our gift of treasures, something that, when you get right down to it, is pretty challenging to do, even for Christians. I mean, although we may talk about the importance of stewardship and the need to be generous, well, when push comes to shove, it’s not all that hard to give God our lives or our hearts or our hands because, let’s get real, we’re fairly confident that he probably won’t be collecting those things any time soon. But when it comes to writing a check or scanning a card, well, that’s a whole different kettle of fish. I mean, for me personally, it’s a lot easier giving God my life than giving him my car or my television or my phone. 

And you know, because of that, I think it’s worthwhile spending a little time talking about giving to God our treasures. And as we’ve done the last few weeks, we’ll do that by answering two questions. First, why should we make God this kind of offer. And then second, how might it actually be done? I mean, what are some things that we need to do if we’re serious about offering to God the stuff that we have? Now, that’s what we’re going to be working through this morning. And hopefully, after we’ve braced ourselves to brave the storm out there, we’ll have more insight and direction in here that just might enable us to offer God our gift of treasures.

Of course, to start doing that kind of thing, speaking for myself, I’m going to need some pretty good reasons, you know, convincing arguments, which really sets us up for our first question: Why should we offer God our gift of treasures? In other words, why is it important for us to take some of our stuff, particularly our money, and to offer it to our Heavenly Father? And I’ll tell you, as I thought about it yesterday, you know, before it started to snow, I think we have three excellent reasons.

For example, offering some of our tangible treasures, well, I think it’s important to God. In other words, giving some of our stuff, man, I believe that’s exactly what God wants us to do. I mean, isn’t that what Jesus was getting at when he said this to his disciples:

Don’t store up treasures on earth! Moths and rust can destroy them, and thieves can break in and steal them. Instead, store up your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy them, and thieves cannot break in and steal them. Your heart will always be where your treasure is. [Matthew 6:19-21, CEV]

You see, that’s what Jesus said. And I’ll tell you, from God’s perspective, it just makes sense. I mean, it certainly reflects an understanding on our part that I believe God wants us to have, and I’m talking about our understanding of how we’re different from him. You see, everything in our world, including us, is temporary; therefore, no matter how much we fight to prevent it, everything we know eventually breaks down. That’s just the way it is. But that’s not true of God; he’s eternal. And he’s immutable. And he’s constant. Now, that’s the kind of understanding I think God wants us to have, and when we reflect it by giving up some of our stuff, man, I think it pleases him. 

And I’ll tell you something else that I believe makes God happy; it’s when our understanding shapes our focus. I mean, knowing what we know, are we going to value what’s temporary or what’s eternal? And are we going to invest our money and possessions in something that’s here today and gone tomorrow or something that we know is going to last? You see, when we offer to him some of our treasures, I believe it’s important to God because it reflects our understanding and shapes our focus. And that’s one reason we should do it, but that’s not all.

Because I think making this kind of gift to God is also important for others, and I’m talking about those folks who, for whatever reason, lack what we have and who may desperately need what we can give, in other words, those neighbors we’re called to love. And you know, I think that’s why God gave this command to his people before they’d even entered the Promised Land. 

When you harvest your grain, always leave some of it standing along the edges of your fields and don’t pick up what falls on the ground. Don’t strip your grapevines clean or gather the grapes that fall off the vines. Leave them for the poor and for those foreigners who live among you. I am the Lord your God. [Leviticus 19:9-10, CEV]

Now that’s what the children of Israel were told to do after they’d settled in the land. And in my opinion, this is something else we need to remember as we go about living our lives. You see, when we’re generous, we’re addressing genuine human needs. In other words, with every gift to God, we’re improving the lives of those who may not survive without our help. 

But you know, I think giving does something else. In a very tangible way, it also communicates Jesus Christ. It communicates the love of the one who suffered and died on that cross so that we might be set free from fear and doubt. And it communicates the hope that was made real when he was raised from the grave. You see, just like it’s important to God, offering our treasures is also important for others. And that’s another reason we should do it.

But even that’s not all, because I firmly believe it’s also important for us, for us as we go about living in the present and looking toward the future, I’m talking about for us, the ones who are offering to God our treasures. I’m telling you, it really is good for us, for you and me. And I think that’s reflected in something else Jesus taught his disciples:

Don’t judge others, and God won’t judge you. Don’t be hard on others, and God won’t be hard on you. Forgive others, and God will forgive you. If you give to others, you will be given a full amount in return. It will be packed down, shaken together, and spilling over into your lap. The way you treat others is the way you will be treated. [Luke 6:37b-38, CEV]

Now that’s what Jesus said. And again, it just makes sense. I mean, when we’re generous with what we have, it’s going to deepen our relationship with God. My goodness, we’ll be doing exactly what he called us to do. Our actions are inline with our faith; therefore, it’s going to be easier and more natural for us to trust in the one who’s been so gracious and forgiving to us. I’ll tell you, we’re going to be closer to God.

And as to our relationships with one another, man, they’re going to be stronger too. As a matter of fact, our generosity to them just might move them to be generous with others and with us. You see, we’re offering them an example that they can follow. And when they do, I’ve got to believe we’ll all benefit. And that’s good news for everybody. And so, why should we offer God our gift of treasures? Well for me, the answer is clear, because doing this is important to God and for others and for ourselves. And in my opinion, that’s why we should do it.

And how, how can we offer God our treasures? I mean, how can we take what is ours and give it in a way that reflects his word and his will? In other words, how can we integrate some of this generosity into our lives? Now that’s the question. And in my opinion, it may come down to doing three things, and let me briefly share with you what they are. 

You see, for me, first, it comes down to making the right assumptions, and I’m focused on assumptions about those possessions that we have and that we’re able to give. And you know, if we have any doubt about who has official title to all our stuff, I think a couple of verses from the Psalms may clear this confusion right up. Just listen:

The earth and everything on it,
including its people,
    belong to the Lord.
The world and its people
    belong to him.
The Lord placed it all
    on the oceans and rivers. [Psalm 24:1-2, CEV]

Now that’s what the psalmist says. Therefore, if we assume that our possessions actually belong to us and that we have ultimate power over what we own and that we have the right the to use whatever we have in whatever way we want because it’s all ours, it that’s what we believe, well, let me tell you, based on the word of God, we are wrong. This stuff doesn’t belong to us. Man, it belongs to God. I mean, give me a break, it was created by God. And it’s sustained by God. And long after we’re gone, it will still be under his control. In other words, all these things in which we may take all kinds of pride, man, they’re actually temporary gifts that can be used either to indulge ourselves or to help others. And you tell me, which way do you think better reflects the will of God? You see, first, how we offer our treasures is shaped by the assumptions we make.

And second, it also comes down to having the right attitude, and right now, I’m talking about the right attitude about the act of giving itself. And you know, I think the appropriate mind-set was described by the Apostle Paul in his second letter to the Corinthians. Just listen:

Each of you must make up your own mind about how much to give. But don’t feel sorry that you must give and don’t feel you are forced to give. God loves people who love to give. God can bless you with everything you need, and you will always have more than enough to do all kinds of good things for others. The Scriptures say,

“God freely gives his gifts
to the poor,
    and always does right.”  [2 Corinthians 9:7-9, CEV]

Of course, as Paul reminds us, having the right attitude is a whole lot easier once we’re making the right assumptions. You see, when you get right down to it, as we consider the stuff we have, well, since it actually belongs to God anyway, giving really isn’t an obligation. It’s not a “have to.” And it’s certainly not this terribly unfair burden we’re expected to carry around. Instead, knowing what we know and trusting what we trust, giving to God, man, it’s an opportunity, isn’t it: an opportunity to demonstrate our understanding and to shape our focus, an opportunity to address needs and to communicate Christ, and an opportunity to deepen our relationship with God and to strengthen our relationships with others. You see, second, how we offer our treasures is determined by the attitude we have.

And finally, along with our assumptions and attitude, how we do what we’ve been called to do really comes down to taking the right actions. It’s about moving in a way that’s Godly and righteous. It’s about doing what we all know we’ve been called to do. In fact, it’s like what John wrote in his first letter:

If you hate each other, you are murderers, and we know murderers do not have eternal life. We know what love is because Jesus gave his life for us. This is why we must give our lives for each other. If we have all we need and see one of our own people in need, we must have pity on that person, or else we cannot say we love God. Children, you show love for others by truly helping them, and not merely by talking about it. [1 John 3:15-18, CEV]

You see, when push comes to shove, offering to God our treasures isn’t about being nice people. It’s not about following some kind of law. As a matter of fact, it’s really not about having to be generous. It’s about showing love. It’s about doing those things that reflect the kind of compassion and mercy that God has already shown to us. It’s about giving a portion of our lives, giving a portion of our stuff, giving a portion of our money, giving a portion of our treasures, because a brother or sister is in need. As a matter of fact, it’s about getting to the point where feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, welcoming the stranger, clothing the naked, caring for the sick, and comforting the prisoner is so natural and so comfortable, and so automatic that we honestly don’t realize we’re doing it. I mean, how can we offer God our gift of treasures? For me, it’s all about making the right assumptions and having the right attitude and taking the right actions. 

Well, from where I stand, looking out the window, it’s still snowing outside. And even though there was a time in my life when this kind of thing would have filled me with either amazement or excitement, right now all I can think about is being cold and slipping on the ice and having to shovel around my house. Such is life. Of course, eventually the snow will be gone and we’ll be able to put the shivering and the sliding and the shoveling aside.

But as we leave here this morning, let’s not do this kind of thing with giving some of our possessions to God. I mean, because it’s important to him and because it’s important to them and because it’s important to us, as it relates to giving, let’s work to make the right assumptions and to have the right attitude and to take right actions. And when we do, I believe we’ll be offering to our God our gift of treasures.