“Earn. Save. Give: Give All You Can” Proverbs 11: 25

There is something about giving that changes who we are. Changes us from the inside out. For the last several weeks we have been exploring practical biblical foundations around finances in the book of Proverbs coupled with the wisdom of John Wesley, the founder of Methodism. We end today with probably the most transformative of the principles - giving. 

John Wesley was not the only church leader who had thoughts on Biblical stewardship. Martin Luther, father of the Lutheran church, said that during our walk with Christ we experience three different types of conversion. The first is conversion of the heart. Then conversion of the mind. But the last and perhaps most difficult is conversion of the purse. In order to truly give our whole lives to Jesus, we need to surrender our financial habits and practices to him as well. That is the root of the spiritual discipline of stewardship.

If we want to see an example of someone who had multiple conversions in scripture, we need to look no further for Zacchaeus. Known perhaps best from the children’s song that is written about the “wee little man is he” - Zacchaeus is known for a couple of things - he was short, and he climbed a tree to see Jesus. 

But there is so much for to Zacchaeus then that. If we look in the gospel of Luke, chapter 19 we find part of his story. Zacchaeus was a tax collector. We have some wonderful folks in our communities who serve as tax collectors today, a public position for the public good. Not so during time times of Jesus. Tax collectors collected what was owed to the Roman government, which was often well above what people could afford and still live, and they didn’t see the benefits of those monies at all. Then in addition to that you have the tax collector themselves who would tell people they owed even more money then the exhorbenet amount that was given to the Romans, so that they could keep that extra money for themselves, growing rich off of the backs of the poor. 

So tax collectors were not well liked and Zacchaeus was apparently a tax collector among tax collectors. We are told that he was chief tax collector (which let’s just be honest folks did not become for their sense of compassion) and that he was very rich. So he charged folks a lot. He had heard about this Jesus person coming to town and he wanted to see. Being short this was an obstacle so he set aside all of his pride and climbed a tree. He could see Jesus but he didn’t think Jesus could see him. But Jesus could see him and he stopped and told Zacchaeus that he, Jesus, was coming to his house that very day.

Zacchaeus was so touched by Jesus that he had his heart changed. And a heart change led to a mind change - it was no longer about how much money he could extort from other people. And that mind change led to a change of his purse, as he told Jesus that he was going to give away half of his possessions to the poor and pay back everyone he wronged four fold. Zacchaeus was deeply transformed by his interaction with Jesus Christ, where he felt loved and accepted.

Friends, true salvation doesn’t just change our hearts, it changes our lives, our very priorities. Being accepted and loved by the Savior makes us want to make sure others come to know that deep, transformative love in their own lives as well. In Jesus Christ we catch the vision that life is about so much more than what we have made it. Its about more than the things of the world. Its about the Kingdom of God that touches hearts and changes lives. 

I don’t know if you’ve ever heard this - but we give towards the vision. I want you to stop and consider some of the charities and agencies that you support. Why do you do so? Is it because they have a compelling vision or perhaps have touched your life in a powerful way?

I give to a host of different organizations, but they all have a mission that I believe in. Places like the Young Clergy Women Project which advocates and supports clergy women under the age of 40 around the world, offering them a network where they can grow in the leadership. And the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), which is often one of the first organizations on the ground when a disaster hits and one of the last to leave. They bring hope in the midst of life-changing situations. I believe in those visions. So I support them. 

For the church, our visions is to make disciples and represent the priorities of the Kingdom of God. We give to that vision because we believe in it. We give to that vision because we are a part of it. We give to that vision because our lives have been changed. We don’t give because we believe through giving we earn our salvation, we give out of a grateful response to the grace of God in our lives. 

But giving often requires sacrifice Zacchaeus sacrificed his pride when he climbed up in that tree. What we are willing to sacrifice for Jesus Christ? What are we willing to give towards the Kingdom of God? 

Friends, we don’t give out of obligation, we give out of gratitude and by giving our lives are further changed. We read in Proverbs that a generous person will be enriched. A generous person will be transformed further because they are reflecting the priorities of the Kingdom of God in this world. In other words, giving makes a difference in our lives.

One of the things that I particularly treasure about the United Methodist church is that we give together. Part of what comes in to our offering plate goes to shares of ministry, which supports mission and ministries around the world. It supports educating young folks to follow their call as well as African University. It helps bring health and wholeness to communities as well as teach tools to sustain that wholeness. The theme of these four years in the annual conference is Better Together - and our offering is truly better together. It reminds us of the impact that we can have together as a local church and beyond when our gifts are used to God’s honor and glory together.

But here’s the thing - when Wesley was talking about giving, he wasn’t talking about writing the occasional check to a church or a charity. He was talking about participating in the Kingdom of God, caring about what God cares about and living into what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. And we do that through stewardship. Stewardship isn’t just something that we do - its a lifetime journey with God. Its about changing our financial priorities. Its a spiritual discipline that changes us.

Friends, we are called to be good stewards of what God has given us. We are called to earn all we can. Save all we can. And yes, give all we can, knowing that all we hold is first God’s and is to be returned to God. Let us give to that which honors God. Let us bless God with our gifts for something bigger than ourselves! Amen.