GENEROSITY AS SPIRITUAL PRACTICE

By Meg Illman-White

One of the most wonderful experiences I have each year is canvassing for the Cancer Society. Most people on my route are glad to see me, have stories about how someone they love has battled cancer, and are genuinely happy to give. It was on one of those days last April, when people were thanking ME for giving my time, for asking them for money… that I knocked on a door and was met by a woman who sighed wearily, invited me in and started to complain about how many people come knocking these days. “That’s wonderful!” I heard my self exclaim! She looked at me as if I had lost my mind!!. “Its so great to be asked to give!” I forged on… wishing I had thought first before I blurted that out!! Then all of a sudden, she smiled a big warm amazing smile, dug out her check book and said: “you know… it really IS!!”

This sermon is about giving. Not just the act of giving money from time to time. Not about token donations made out of guilt or as part of an “eternal life insurance policy”. It’s about generosity as a spiritual practise, an important part of our spiritual journey. In fact, a crucial part.

1. To be able to give (whether it’s a smile, or a gracious act, a song or a gift) is a blessing.
2. To give is to belong, to be part of something, to feel connected.
3. Giving is what we want to do for someone we love
4. Giving helps us to know that we have the ability to make a difference in a hurting world:   (we see how quickly we can dig a little deeper when a tsunami or a hurricane hits…)

Paul , in his letter to the Corinthians, says: “The one who gives sparingly will reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

On the one hand, Paul ’s words seem to us to be superficial. We know full well that material blessings do not follow generosity. There are stories of people in Nazi prison camps who routinely gave away their rations to others who were weakened and sick. I doubt that they had material blessings showered upon them. So why did they make that kind of compassionate sacrifice?

I believe that it is because generosity is not something we do so that we’ll get something back. The sacrificial giving of people in prison camps was motivated by love. Calculated giving brings no joy – only resentment when it isn’t acknowledged!  True Joy comes from giving that is rooted in love.

Paul makes it clear that giving is a personal choice and that the giver is the one who is able to gauge the appropriate gift. We could expect Paul to encourage the Corinthians to tithe. The Pharisees (of which group Paul was a member) taught that everyone should give away one tenth of what they had.  In the absence of an indicative to tithe, and by reading what he does say here and elsewhere about the Christian community as “members of the body of Christ ”, Paul makes it clear that each one gets to choose according to their own circumstances. If a person living on the poverty line gives 10% of their income, they will simply find themselves to be more dependant upon others for help. And if a wealthy person were to say: “there! I’ve given my 10%!! That’s good enough!! That also may not be so. We cannot simply make rules about our giving and call it a spiritual practise. Legalism and generosity make terrible companions!! They are actually opposites.

In fact, that is exactly what Jesus is saying in the reading from Luke . It is interesting that these two sayings of Jesus are found back to back in Luke ’s gospel:  “do not judge and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give and it will be given to you…”

When we live a life of judging and condemnation, our generosity is choked off. We live from outrage rather than from gratitude. When we are able to let go of the judgments that overwhelm us, we become able to open ourselves… and then, true generosity of spirit, of mind and of possessions begins to take root 

We know well how easy it is to walk through life with the background noise in our heads of judgement and criticism. We yell at the kids for leaving their socks on the floor, gesture at the driver who cuts you off, feel hurt that no one says thank you, and soon you’re having a “terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day”. Through the background “noise” of our own critical slant on life, we barely notice the wonderful good morning hug, the smile on the street, the kind gesture someone makes.

If legalism and generosity are opposites, gratitude and generosity are constant and inseparable spiritual practices. In verse 12, Paul says:“for the rendering of this service (or ministry) not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God”.

In fact the Greek word that is translated “ministry” is actually Leitourgia (which means more literally… service). It is used here as a play on words or rather a word with two meanings: leitougia…  “to serve others” / “to worship God”.  Paul is saying that to serve others IS indeed to worship God.  True Christian giving is an act of praise and thanksgiving to God. And as such it is our deepest longing. The “flip side” of the same coin is that gratitude leads us over and over to a life of gracious generosity…

This is true for us in so many ways:

1. -          It is when we know we are truly loved and valued for who we are, that we are able to be more generous with another person’s shortcomings

2. -          It is when we realize truly how much we have been blessed that we long to bless others.

3. -          It is when we give with our whole hearts that we become free to offer God our thanks and praise.

This is life in all its fullness. Often the poor understand this better than the wealthy.

  Charles Wilson wrote our congregation from Honduras this week. In his letter he tells this story. “Life is painful and difficult for many Hondurans. Just ask the Franciscan Monks who live here in the worst barrios (slums) off donations and whatever they can beg.  Brother Josef has told me that it is always the poor who wish to give the most.  He says he has to tell them to stop giving him food or they themselves will not eat.”

  A life of generosity is a life lived in imitation of Jesus . He continually blessed God. His power was used to create a new model, a new way of living that called people to the great economy of GRACE . Jesus taught that when we give of ourselves, that gift multiplies for the gift of the world. To those who believed in his creative power he gave the power to walk tall and straight, to see and hear anew. He forgave and offered new beginnings. Jesus calls US to follow. NOT when we figure we’re “ready”… but from the shores of our lives, right here and now: Live with Jesus , in imitation of him and you will learn what it is to be generous and grateful!

So how are we to live a life of gratitude and generosity?  It is like anything worthwhile. It requires practise and a good model and the support of Christian community. This is our job for one another.

Practise gratitude:

1. -          make thankfulness the way you begin your every day

2. -          list the things out loud that you have to be thankful for. Even if it’s the same thing every day.

3. -          Notice and pay attention to the little miracles around you

4. -          Be ready and expecting to say: “wow”!! at the little miracles unfolding around you!

5. -          Expect to find God in the events of each moment – even in the hard ones

Practise generosity:

1. -          wonder how you can give something today

2. -          think about the impact you make on the world by your actions

3. -          live more simply

4. -          imitate Jesus

5. -          keep the needs of the poor before you

Jesus said: “where your treasure is, there your heart is also.”  Think about where you spend your “treasure”. Does that reflect all of you as a person? What could reflect you more accurately? What do you need to do differently?

Generosity and Gratitude. Spiritual practises for a lifetime. Something that puts you in a place where you can welcome others. Something that gives you JOY . Joy in giving. Joy in giving thanks!! The knowledge that one of the greatest gifts of all, is when you are invited to GIVE!! The word we use today says it all!  THANKSGIVING!!  LEITOURGIA. Thanks to God / “service to others”!