It’s “Give to the Max” day in Minnesota. This is a day when a lot of us are making donations to various non-profits and other causes. Like a lot of you, I’m giving to PROP. Somebody thought it would be fun to challenge the PROP board to give up to a certain amount on “Give to the Max Day” and they would match the gift. Compared to that, my gift is small, but it takes the whole board giving to get the match and so, since I’m on PROP’s board, I’m doing my part.
Talking about money is not always the most comfortable thing to do and yet it is an important conversation. In scripture, the only thing Jesus talks about more than money is God. The old adage that goes, “It’s not about the money, but...it’s about the money,” is consistently affirmed by Jesus. He does this on a large scale like when he questions the economics of the temple. (Matthew 21:12). And at a smaller individual measure when he says, “Where your treasure lies, there your heart will be also.” (Luke 12:34). Most of us get that…
The conversation about giving to EPUMC is (I hope) also going on in your home. We are in the middle of talking about this in our worship around the theme of “How Much is Enough…” Last Sunday, we heard the feeding of the 5,000 from the scripture and Nadia Boltz-Webber who said this about the disciples and our dilemma; “Maybe the disciples, like us, need to be reminded that even when we do not have what is needed, what is needed is still at hand…it’s just gonna come from God or others, because in God’s economy, that’s how it works. What you have is enough because it is never all there is.”
I believe this. It is not just that I believe that our giving and our sharing together does more than we can imagine; it’s that I believe Jesus is showing up at EPUMC. Jesus is showing up and not just stretching a nickel a little farther, Jesus is showing up and challenging us to be more like him. Jesus is showing up and using what it is we have to offer to support and transform lives.
Now, I have no idea how Jesus spent his money. But I have some idea about what Jesus spent his life doing. Jesus spent his life taking risks that God would be showing up. Time and time again Jesus challenges the assumptions of scarcity and points towards the abundance that he experiences. As you consider your giving on “Give to the Max Day” and your support of the ministry and mission of EPUMC may you be inspired to see the abundance of God showing up in your life. And may you also be inspired to respond generously to the challenge of where your treasure, your wealth, your gift, your financial pledge, whatever else you might call your money will be spent.
Keep the Faith!
Pastor Dan
Talking about money is not always the most comfortable thing to do and yet it is an important conversation. In scripture, the only thing Jesus talks about more than money is God. The old adage that goes, “It’s not about the money, but...it’s about the money,” is consistently affirmed by Jesus. He does this on a large scale like when he questions the economics of the temple. (Matthew 21:12). And at a smaller individual measure when he says, “Where your treasure lies, there your heart will be also.” (Luke 12:34). Most of us get that…
The conversation about giving to EPUMC is (I hope) also going on in your home. We are in the middle of talking about this in our worship around the theme of “How Much is Enough…” Last Sunday, we heard the feeding of the 5,000 from the scripture and Nadia Boltz-Webber who said this about the disciples and our dilemma; “Maybe the disciples, like us, need to be reminded that even when we do not have what is needed, what is needed is still at hand…it’s just gonna come from God or others, because in God’s economy, that’s how it works. What you have is enough because it is never all there is.”
I believe this. It is not just that I believe that our giving and our sharing together does more than we can imagine; it’s that I believe Jesus is showing up at EPUMC. Jesus is showing up and not just stretching a nickel a little farther, Jesus is showing up and challenging us to be more like him. Jesus is showing up and using what it is we have to offer to support and transform lives.
Now, I have no idea how Jesus spent his money. But I have some idea about what Jesus spent his life doing. Jesus spent his life taking risks that God would be showing up. Time and time again Jesus challenges the assumptions of scarcity and points towards the abundance that he experiences. As you consider your giving on “Give to the Max Day” and your support of the ministry and mission of EPUMC may you be inspired to see the abundance of God showing up in your life. And may you also be inspired to respond generously to the challenge of where your treasure, your wealth, your gift, your financial pledge, whatever else you might call your money will be spent.
Keep the Faith!
Pastor Dan
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