March 25, 2012

“The Seven Not So Deadly Alternatives: Generosity”

Psalm 40:5-8; Luke 12:13-21

Introduction

    One writer in the Salt Lake Tribune said it this way: “Walking through the new City Creek Center for the first time, it’s difficult not to be impressed... The stores are as shiny as new dimes, displaying racks of clothing, cases of jewelry and shelves of various products. Some of the pricier stores feel more like movie sets, not showing off merchandise so much as creating a fantasy world – showing you what your life could be like if you bought the contents within.”
As we home in on another of the seven not-so-deadly alternatives, we come to one of our culture’s driving forces: the G-word, Greed. We have built an economy producing things that people are conditioned to want, but do not really need. Just think of the countless consumer goods that didn’t exist even one generation ago. Almost all of us (there may be a few exceptions) buy these things because we have been manipulated through advertising and peer pressure. City Creek had some 50,000 people show up on Thursday, Friday and again yesterday. Three days in a row, that’s more than capacity at Rice-Eccles stadium.
     A letter to the editor said: “I was surprised to read that with City Creek Center will not be open on Sundays. Does this make sense? Opening the largest shopping complex to be built in the U.S. in decades and closing it on Sunday? What does this say to the multitudes of visitors who come here? Or to the multitudes of Utah residents who shop on Sundays? I can’t believe the decision to close on Sundays even entered the discussion.” So, maybe the Greed Factor took a hit.
But perhaps the letter could be revised: “I was surprised to read that City Creek Center will not be open on Sundays. Does this make cents (I mean, dollars)? Opening a large shopping complex and closing it on Sunday? Does this say to the multitudes of visitors who come here that there are many who still want to protect a one-day-a-week Sabbath? Or more important, to the multitudes who shop on Sundays, maybe we force too many people to work on Sunday missing out on an important aspect of life encouragement and faith building? I, too, have been looking forward to this opening. I can’t believe the decision to close on Sundays even entered the discussion. But in many ways, I’m glad it did.”
    As we tackle the ever present pressure of Greed, let’s also look at its counterpart: another G-word, Generosity. Greed can take many forms of this excessive desire to possess wealth, goods, or abstract things to keep for your Self: greedy with time, energy, attention, talents, personality, etc. Psychologically, greed is an inordinate desire to acquire, possess or hold on to more than you need.
Generosity can also take on many forms of this habit of giving freely without expecting anything in return. Generosity can be spending your time, assets, talents, money, or labor for someone in need or simply to share yourself with people in your life.

I. Deadly Greed vs. Life-Giving Generosity

    Jesus told this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest (a few questions: where did he think the ground come from? What factors led to an abundant harvest? He was already rich, wasn’t he?). “He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops’ (did he consider options? The local food bank? Neighbors in need? Offering some to anyone who might like some extra grain?). “Then he said, ‘You have plenty of grain laid up for many years’ (How many times does he say I, me, mine?). ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself).
“But God said to him, ‘You fool!’ (You stupid person! so deficient in judgment, sense, understanding or caring). ‘This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ Then Jesus looks at everyone right in the eye: “This is how it will be with those who store up things for themselves but are not rich toward God.”
    Stories abound throughout the centuries about extravagantly rich people who hoard it all for themselves. And there are many who give away millions for the benefit of people, organizations, community, and world. But I want to direct God’s message of Generosity (a not-so-deadly alternative) to each of us here this morning, to you and to me as well because greed and generosity can touch the lives of rich and poor and everyone in-between.
    Look at what sparked Jesus’ response. Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me” (I want my share of the action and he’s treating me poorly; he’s being greedy; what does the Law say about inheritance; Teacher, would you straighten him out?). In my pastoral experience, I have seen issues of inheritance cause great tension or even tear a family apart. When I was 30-something, dear Uncle Wal died and his ten- year-old Buick with seven thousand miles on it was given to another family member. Shoot! We (I mean, I) really could have used an old but new car like that! I have to admit – greed was seeking an attack.
    In his reply, Jesus is telling the crowd that concern over money and wealth can easily get out of control. The Lord wants us to use our resources, however great or small, more wisely. God blesses us, gives us time, energy, abilities and resources to further his kingdom, his reign, his purposes in our lives. And yet, deadly greed is often at war with life-giving generosity in the way we live and handle our time and money.

II. God’s Gift of Generosity

    With each of the seven not-so-deadly alternatives (along with kindness, patience, and diligence), generosity is a gift from God. Giving freely is a work of the Holy Spirit. Our part is to be willing, open and then obedient when opportunities for generosity emerge in our minds and hearts.
When Don Fisher stepped down as CEO of Gap, he and his wife Doris found themselves deeply concerned about the growing education gap. The Fishers defined success not simply as helping kids, but as finding an educational model that could achieve strong results. After a full year of searching and learning, they homed in on the Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP). At the time, KIPP was just two charter middle schools in Houston and New York City, but it fit the Fishers' standards for excellence: a results orientation, high expectations for students, and visionary co-founders. At the outset, the Fishers committed $15 million, and then much more in the ensuing years. KIPP has grown to 99 schools in 19 states, teaching more than 26,000 students. The program is now nationally recognized as the gold standard in charter education.
    Great story; but I don’t have 15 million to give away. Most of us don’t. But there are ways that our generosity can have growing blessing and effect on others. Here’s another story. Oseola McCarty spent more than 70 years doing laundry for families in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. For many of those years she earned 50 cents per load, preferring a washboard over a mashing machine. Every week she put a little bit in a savings account.
    When she was unable to work anymore at age 87, she asked her banker how much was in her account. She was in shock when he told her, “$250,000.” Miss McCarty later said, “I had more than I could use in the bank. I thought it was best to give it to some child to get an education.” This shy, never married laundry woman gave $150,000 to nearby University of Southern Mississippi to help African-American young people attend college. “The Bible says, it’s more blessed to give than to receive,” she told reporters. “I’ve tried it.”

 Conclusion

    Jesus concluded the parable of the rich fool saying, “This is how it will be with those who store up things for themselves but are not rich toward God.” So where are your riches? In your children, your friends, in your faith, in the Lord? Or are they merely in your bank account, your career, your self-image or reputation?
    What are the priorities in your life these days? Having nice things, getting ahead, earning a living, making money? Or do they include encouraging life with family and friends, making a contribution to church or community, working on spiritual growth? Would you like to be remembered as the one who had a lot or gave a lot? One who was rich toward God?
    Friends, as we continue this journey through Lent toward the Cross and Empty Tomb, ask the Lord to grow in you the gift of generosity. Seek out the ways you can use the blessings God has given you to bless the lives of others.
Let us pray for one another for this.