“What Money Can Buy—And What It Can’t”
November 8, 2009
II Corinthians 9:6-15
Last Sunday, as Tom Mitmann announced, we officially entered “Stewardship Season” here at Congregational UCC. It’s a time for us to think about what it means to wisely use all the resources that God has given to us: the earth, our time, our abilities, our relationships, and our money.
Too often in churches this all gets boiled down to “our money” and how much of it we’re going to give to the church.
To correct this sad and weary approach, we need a little help from our friends.
For those of us of a certain age, the musical event of the fall was the release of the entire newly remastered Beatle’s catalogue on CD. If, in this economy you had an extra $250 to spend, you could get all the albums. And for an addition $250 or so, you could also get them in mono, which, apparently has some nuances and variations not found on the stereo tracks. Now, I know that some here, both older and younger, are thinking: “What is it with you people and the Beatles? Will this ever stop?” But bear with me, please.
It’s just that all this new/old music got me thinking about what the Beatles can tell us about money—and about stewardship as well.
Remember the early song, a cover of “Money”—the one that cried out “Give me money, That’s what I want?”
Now that’s a pretty up-front statement about money—and one that some would suggest churches are always repeating.
If we used the Bible as any kind of guide, we wouldn’t be surprised to have money discussed in church—even in this congregation. One review of the topics mentioned in the Bible found that believing or believers appeared 272 times, pray or prayer 371 times, and love or loving 714. Possessions and giving, however, are mentioned 2,172 times!
Money is a part of the life of faith.
And in the church, well, like the song says, that’s what we want.
We want money because we know what it can do
This morning the Mission Board finished a series of adult education sessions presenting what this congregation has done with the $100,000 outreach grant that we received two years ago. The results are pretty amazing. We have developed relationship with school programs such at Fas Track at City High. We helped start the Suite Sounds Project at the Holden Cancer Center. We are now in the second year of presenting a series of free concerts to the community. We are developing a ministry to students at the University. If money can make those things happen, then money is what we want.
Our giving this fall supported the Theological Education by Extension College in South Africa, continuing a relationship that has been important to the college and to this congregation for decades. If money supports education for men and women of all races, then money is what we want.
On the more pedestrian side of things, as David said this morning, our giving keeps the lights on and the building warm so that it can be used by students, by those seeking counseling, by musicians—even by us!
Money also provides curriculum and other materials for our Christian education program, nurturing children and youth in their love for God, living out our baptismal vows to support parents in the fulfillment of their covenant promises.
Money is transformed into music and musicians so that our hearts are thrilled and our souls are transformed by more than words can say.
Money—that’s what we want. Given all that we can do with it, given all that we do do with it, I have no problem saying that.
I don’t even have a problem reminding you of the outstanding personnel that this congregation employs. You know their consistently high-quality work and their devotion to their varied callings in this place. And maybe you remember the words of Paul that “The laborer deserves to be paid.”
This congregation wants the things that money can do—in this place and around the world. To have it all means that in the coming year we will need to increase our pledged giving. We will need to make up for the loss of income created when members moved.
If we are honest, we will give thanks that we have among us the resources that we need. Indeed, one author suggests that “Most members of mainline Protestant traditions could probably double their pledges and hardly notice the difference in their checkbooks.” Even in this financially troubling time, he might be right.
We remember Paul’s words: “The one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” Paul is recommending a way of generosity in response to the generosity of God toward us. It is up to us, the members and friends of this congregation to give so that we might “share abundantly in every good work.”
The resources are there. And the desire is there. Now imagine the possibilities for new ministry and mission here when we give abundantly from what we have received in abundance.
It’s not that the Trustees get up on the chairs and dance and sing this song at each of their meetings, but “Money—that’s what we want.”
And yet we need to remember that John and Paul also sang: “I don’t care too much for money.” And, you know, that’s the case. We’re aware that, as the song says, money can’t buy me love. Money can’t buy a sense of meaning and purpose in life. Money can’t buy the wholeness of life, the salvation, that God freely gives in abundance.
And so, when we think about stewardship and money and budgets, we acknowledge that we don’t care too much for money.
I once heard a woman speaking about a program for poor children that she ran. And, of course, she was interested in “raising money” for this group. So she stunned me when she said: “The money helps. But it only goes so far. What’s really important are your prayers.”
Money is not what changes the lives of youth in the Fas Track program—the love and patience and persistence of people does.
Money is not what builds decent housing in the developing world and in the United States—the sweat and effort of people working for Habitat for Humanity does.
Money does not give us hope in the face of illness or trouble—the prayers and companionship of members of this church have carried many of us through valleys of shadows.
Money does not even make this building what it is. The value of this church—the place where you were married, where your children were baptized and nurtured in faith, the place where you found new friends, where the homeless are sheltered, where you have laughed and cried and worshipped the living God—the value of this church for you and for the world cannot be stated in financial terms.
We don’t care too much for money.
Indeed, we recognize that stewardship is about much more than money. It is about the wise and faithful use of all that we have and all that we are.
The prophet Micah told us as much over 2500 years ago. “Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten of thousands of rivers of oil?” he asked.
Of course not. We are called instead to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with God—whatever the cost, whatever the gain. Money and giving is not the issue. How we live is.
As your minister, I am concerned about your capacity to grow spiritually in personal faith and to grow in character as human beings. So let me suggest three things that you might do to continue on that path.
· Manage your resources wisely—Stewardship, after all, is not about giving, but about how we use all that we have been given: our time, our talent, our income and possessions.
· Focus on serving God and others. John Wesley put it this way: “Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.” So the question isn’t “How much should I give?” The question is “Am I giving all that I can?”
· And take an active role in the life of this church. In joining this congregation you covenanted “to seek and respond to the Word and the will of God…to walk together in the ways of Jesus Christ, made known and to be made known to us.” Now is the time to renew those vows.
Money can’t buy us love. We glorify God, Paul tells us, we glorify God by the generosity of our sharing.
Thanks be to God who gives us all good gifts.