By expressing our thankfulness like Eleanor and Susie, we are living witnesses to the grace of God. Giving is a way of worship in which thanksgiving and glory to God is expressed. Verse 13 also reminds us that our giving is related to confession of the gospel of Christ. People of faith are grateful and live lives of thankfulness.
A theology of offering arises out of a simple premise: WHY you give is every bit as important as WHAT you give. Let me hasten to say that what we have to offer God is a lot more than money. We have time and talent and energy and the creative gift of imagination. In many ways, giving money is the easiest part.
I would be embarrassed to tell you the times I have spent money foolishly. Most of the time, we spend our money on things that really aren't that important. That's because most of the time we spend it on our own appetites. We spend our money foolishly on our appetites instead of spending it wisely on the Kingdom of God.
In the fullness of time Christ came to redeem us from our fallen state. He died for our sins and rose to usher in a New Creation – the Kingdom of God – that we might live together in peace. That New Creation is not realized by government decree, but as individuals like us humble ourselves and turn to the Lord--and invite others to join us.
Does anyone know what time it is? The Bible says, "Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation." (2 Cor. 6:2) Not yesterday, not tomorrow, not when you feel more like it. Now is the acceptable time. Now is the time to respond to God's grace.
We can all identify with Humpty Dumpty as he sat on the wall--a better time. Can you remember such an idyllic time? How far back do you have to go? Back before the Fall. Back before you made a mess of life. Back when relationships were right. After the Fall, we look back with envy at the simple times of sitting on a wall.
On September 11, 2001, we got a refresher course in the reality of evil. Before 9/11, we regarded terrorists as being an opposing army. After 9/11, we saw a difference: An opposing army is guided by allegiance to a country and its ideologies, however misguided. Unlike enemy soldiers, terrorists are loyal to no one.
Salvation comes to us in baptism as a free gift without any qualifications on our part. And so as Lily/Natalie was baptised this morning, as small as she is, we witnessed the pure grace of God at work as God created a new relationship with her and made a covenant with her to always be her Saviour and Helper.
Paul says, "We walk by faith and not by sight." Most people advocate walking by sight. With our eyes, we see the path before us. Our eyes keep us from stumbling and falling. We live by sight. Many conclude that only what we see and touch is real. In the church, however, we believe that there is more to this world than what meets the eyes.
We need to stop and ask ourselves again and again, not ‘Do I believe in God?' but rather how do I take him in to account in my daily life? Is my relationship to him anywhere near as driving a concern or passion as the success of my business or the health of my children, or my ambitions for next year?