Sermon November 11, 2012

 

Sermon November 11, 2012   Giving All to God

Old Testament  Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17

The first theme is hospitality.  The fate of the main characters in this story, from first to last is dependent on the kind ness of strangers.

When all three men in the family die, Naomi heads back to Judah and her two daughters-in-law begin to accompany her. She encourages them to seek shelter among their own kin in Moab. One returns (Orpah) and Ruth remains: She is insistent: “Do not press me to leave you or turn back from following you!

“Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die –there will I be buried.”

Normally we associate hospitality with being able to offer something tangible, like food or shelter.  But Ruth is destitute. She has no food or shelter to offer. So she offers the only thing she has left – her own presence.

We may not have anything to offer God but our Presence. But to God we have given it all. The widow had only two little pennies to offer but it was all she had.

The family and the church are both places we have opportunity to learn to live with people we did not choose.

Even though Ruth is Gentile, her story reminded Jews of something important about their God.  God does not abandon God’s people when the going gets tough, even when they are destitute as ancient  Near Eastern  widow. God’s fidelity is beyond choice.

The themes of hospitality and fidelity can be traced through the book of Ruth. We learn that the child born to Ruth and Boaz is none other than Obed, the grandfather of the great King David.  Through Ruth, a poor childless foreigner, God is at work in surprising and unexpected ways.

God often works through the most unlikely people – outsiders, strangers, and the outcast. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained the angels unawares.

Psalm 42 

A beautiful Psalm set to music in the song : As a Deer…..as the deer desires water our soul desires God. God is our desire. WE long to worship Him. He is our strength and shield. When we feel cast down if we only think of God we are lifted up.  Encouraged with the strength to go on.

We may have feelings of being cast down. We may feel empty at times. But if we hope in God we know and realize that He is our help and our God.

Epistle- Hebrews 9:24-28

The doors to heaven and earth get flung open in this passage.  Repeated emphasis is placed on both the permanence and authenticity of Christ’s living sacrifice.  It is as though the author wants to shout, “Everything that we knew before was only a template, a mock-up of the new reality made possible in Christ.”

The Writer of Hebrews is explaining how Jesus as high priest surpasses the tradition of high priest making sacrifices for the sins of the people. We do not need to wait for the High Priest to make sacrifices on our behalf day after day and year after year.  Jesus act of sacrificial love covers all, once and for all.

We can live a life of peace and assurance knowing that Jesus’ sacrifice covers all our sins. And we are forgiven which is another difference.  We can live a peace-filled life knowing that Jesus, the Son of God who walked on this earth in perfection, has already appealed to God on our behalf.

Gospel  Reading  Mark 12: 38-44

Who are we in this familiar story, usually called the parable of the “widow’s mite”?  Are we the scribes (the rich people) or the widow?  As human beings, it seems so natural for us to want positions of influence and prestige.  Many of us want to be like the scribes, who walk around in their long robes and enjoy the prominence in society.  We want the best seat.  We crave attention.

But Jesus says “BEWARE!:  Jesus warns that those who are motivated by selfish desires and social position will receive the greater condemnation.  Why?  Their motives are not pure, and they have taken advantage of the weak to get to their places of honor.  What are our motives?

Jesus continues his teaching as he observes the crowd depositing their money into the treasury.  The rich people give large sums, but Jesus commends the widow who gives nothing but two coins.  She has given all that she has, not just her extra.  What are we giving to Jesus, our leftovers, or our all?

It is sad to say that “the church” has all too often participated in systems of oppression and violence –psychological, spiritual, economic, and even physical – all in the name of Jesus Christ.

Ouch!!! That hurts! But looking down the tunnel through the ages of the church truth is the truth.

Many of the scribes whom Jesus condemned also thought they were doing what was honorable, right and good.

I have served churches that believed in hoarding money. They sit on and accumulate 10,15, 20 Thousand dollar certificates and moan and groan that they don’t have enough to fix the roof or give to the poor. They cringe when asked to participate in missions either local or global. And usually there is no peace that can be felt in these types of churches. There is a coldness and no real sense of direction.

 

 And I have seen the hand of God work in those churches that struggle to pay their bills but because they are faithful with what they do have God is faithful to them. In these type of churches you can feel the love of God, the warmth of the Spirit of God and there is a purpose in living.

Feeding the hungry and providing clothing are important spriritual practices,  BUT the church must come to view these practices as more than just programs.

The church must come to understand these practices as the very life flowing out of its worship.

The church must call all of society to care for the orphan, the widow, the resident alien, and the poor as its primary purpose….and governing and political functions as secondary.

In this way, the church not only exhibits God’s righteousness but shapes a politic that is in itself righteous.

 

Naomie was going back to Judah because there was Bread in Bethlehem (the house of bread).

Ruth committed to staying on the path with Naomi.  She married a Jew and through this marriage the blessing for Israel came through King David.

When we feel like all is naught and we are going to land on our face we only have to think about God and then we find the hope we have been searching for.

We no longer have to drag our sheep, goats, or cows to church to be sacrificed. Christ became the ultimate sacrifice for each one of us that gives us redemption from our sins.

There is a principle to be learned in the Widow’s Mite. She gave all she had. Throughout the Bible we have seen this principle taught to us in various ways. We can learn it today or we can go back around the desert one more time.

Today is the day of salvation. There is no need to keep making the same mistakes over and over.

There are only benefits to Giving All to God.

Prayer:

Lord forgive us. We allow the world around us to influence our ambitions and our motives.  Forgive us when we look to anything else but you as our God. Help us to empty ourselves, so we can be filled with our love and your presence. May we reflect you, God in all that we do. Amen.

Hymn of Decision  UMH 569 We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nations

Pastoral Prayer

Oh God, our Lord and Provider, we ask you to meet us here.  WE have had a busy week, but as we pause in this moment, we remember that all of our energy comes from you.  Allow this to be a time for us to refocus our hopes and desires.   We know our hope is in you. WE know that you forgive. WE know that you fill us with new life. Let us praise you, for You are God!  In Christ name we pray..

Now hear us Father as we pray as /Christ taught by saying…Our Father who art in heaven….