A Generous Heart

                                                      1 Corinthians 13:1-13

                                        Excerpts from Pastor Harry Roselle, Jr’s Last Sermon

This was the sermon Pastor Harry was working on for the Sunday before his illness forced him to go to the hospital. Mike Dymek read it in worship on Sunday, September 29, which you can hear on the recording of our Facebook Live at: https://fb.watch/uVbfq0H3_-/

   This is about giving time, talents, and the motivation behind it - the attitude of giving. It is the reason we do what we do here at Deer Creek.

          WE……...ARE THE HANDS AND FEET OF CHRIST IN THE COMMUNITY. OUR FAITH AND  THE WAY WE LIVE SHALL REFLECT THE TEACHINGS OF CHRIST AND BE A WITNESS TO ALL.

  What is the meaning of the word “giving?” - Merriam Webster’s dictionary says “to put into the possession of another for his/her use.”

   What does that imply? It is an asset or service we have, given to another who is lacking. One of the cardinal sins of giving is partiality - James, the brother of Jesus, devotes an entire chapter of his Epistle to this subject. He warns against passing judgement based on external appearances. Especially at the expense of the poor. What about us - are we quick to pass judgement on the people who pass through our doors, for the breakfasts or the car show or some other event? In asking those questions - what becomes of the spirit of generosity we are supposed to have before God?

  What happens after years of hoping, praying and believing in promises that are not delivered? How many times in the Bible was there only a small remnant of God’s people still alive and keeping the faith? How many times did it seem like Israel’s story would end, not with a bang, but with a whimper? What about today, will the church die out? The answer is NO! What has God promised to them and to us? At the right time (God’s right time), the Lord will return to His temple, preceded by His Messenger who will bring a message of judgement and hope. John the Baptist was the Messenger for Jesus fulfilling what the Old Testament had predicted. We are grounded in the hope of Christ.

  If you are waiting, waiting, waiting for God to act - I know how you feel. Do we have a faith based on confidence that God works ALL things for good for those whom He loves and who are called according to His purpose? Often our attitudes aren’t what they should be.  That is why we see the charge given over and over in scripture reminding us of what our orientation should be.

   While we wait on the Lord, what should our attitudes be? Do we continue to show the love of Christ grounded in the hope of Christ, or do we hold back while looking at the world with disdain? Do we become miserly in sharing our resources in terms of outreach and evangelism? I am not going to ask “what happens when giving ceases?”, but instead I am asking “what happens if we no longer give, serve or join with a joyful heart?”

   Paul gives us an answer in 1 Corinthians 1:1-3:

“If I speak in the tongues of angels but do not have love, I am only a noisy gong or clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.”

  So why is a right attitude essential? What is the basis for what we do here at Deer Creek?

 Like most people of every age, the people are waiting and expecting God to do something in the book of Malachi (3:6-15) and God gives an incredible charge to His people:

   “Test Me in this, says the Lord Almighty and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”

 The Lord loves the giver who gives for the right reasons and with the right attitude. Why? Giving has less to do with what you give and more to do with what you give away! What is the source of your gifts? Are your gifts from God or do they come from your own efforts? The person who gives cheerfully will be blessed by the good they bestow on others, and also be blessed by God.

  Why do we glorify by giving to those in need? That is the question we need to ask. Are we assuming that the things we have come from our own efforts so we rigidly guard them? We need to ask ourselves - What is my attitude when I see someone in need? We all make judgements - but that is not how scriptures say we are to approach the needy.

Your servant in Christ,

Pastor Harry