We Are Able And We Are Willing 11/21/48
Scripture: Genesis 28: 10-22
Text: 2 Corinthians 9:7; “Every
man, according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly or
of necessity. For God loveth a cheerful
giver.”
The offering which we have just
presented this morning, for the relief and rehabilitation work undertaken by
our churches, comes at a time when it might be called a “thank offering,” for
we have brought it to the place of worship on Thanksgiving Sunday. It is given in the Christian spirit.
There is a note of deep
appreciation and awe in the Old Testament story of Jacob at Bethel. Perhaps Jacob had supposed that he was
leaving the God of his family behind at the place of his childhood. But he was reminded, in a vivid dream, that
God is everywhere, that God was in the place where he slept, that God was with
him. The story related that he was
afraid - not with cowering fear but with a kind of awe. And so deep was his impression of the
majestic presence of God that he not only made a simple monument to his
experience on the spot where he had dreamed, but he also made a vow that of all
that was given him by the Lord he would give a tenth to the Lord.
That fraction has often been
taken as a standard, even a duty, for the members of a Hebrew congregation or a
Christian church. And it seems, in most
cases, a worthy aim.
But a later, Christian, standard
suggested by Paul, in his second letter to the Corinthians, is even
better. “Every man -- as he purposeth in
his heart -- not grudgingly or of necessity.
For God loveth a cheerful giver.”
It was a ticklish job Paul was undertaking, one which called for tact. He was asking the people at Corinth to make
a collection for the poor saints at Jerusalem.
He himself would not only supervise but would take the money in person
to Jerusalem. It was important how the
people felt who got the money --- not as a “dole” but as an evidence of the
brotherly concern of fellow Christians.
It was important how people felt who gave the money. Paul did not want them to give under duress
- grumblingly. Rather, he wanted it
given in the same glad spirit of Christian fellowship which he wanted the Jerusalem
Christians to feel as they received it.
He was zealous for the spirit of the gift. “Each man as he purposeth, -- not grudgingly --- a cheerful
giver.” And part of the spirit of the
gift is that it be a worthy expression of ability and interest.
The Kingdom of God on earth
needs organized, systematic promotion through the local church fellowship. But it is spiritual business. It is an honor and a high responsibility to
be associated with such a task. We who
are entrusted with this business hold in our hands the keys to the Kingdom for
many people. Therefore church finance,
both for local church expenses and for benevolences, is a spiritual experience.
Church finance is not taxation
for revenue. I have heard members of
some churches speak of their church contribution as their church “tax” of 2
percent, 5 percent or whatever might be the definite proportion of their income
required as a quota. I have heard
church members refer to their contribution as “dues,” much as they might speak
of the financial requirement of their club or fraternity.
Really it is neither; it is much
more than either of these concepts of revenue or of minimum requirement. It is interested, consecrated sharing,
motivated by love and by belief in the church’s Christian task of making known
Jesus’ way of life. It is proportionate
to willingness and ability. It is done
in recognition of man’s faithful stewardship of all that comes to his
possession and administration. In this
spirit we come to the time when we make the plans for another year of work by
our own willing gifts.
This past week, a tentative
budget sheet and covering letter was sent to the homes of this parish with
subscription cards enclosed. The budget
sheet is a business-like presentation of the needs to be met by our
contributions; the subscription card, when filled in, is our own expression of
intention to give to the Lord through the budget of our church.
(1) I believe in this church!
I believe in its worship, wherein we approach God in complete freedom
and love. No form of duress need cause
anyone to bow before the Almighty here. We come to church because we want to, or not at all. I pray only for increased desire to do
so. It is quite right that the Sunday
morning service should be the crux of our whole church life.
[poem
by Samuel Taylor Coleridge]
O
sweeter than the marriage feast,
‘Tis
sweeter far to me,
To
walk together to the kirk,
With
a goodly company.
To
walk together to the kirk,
And
all together pray,
While
each to his great Father bends,
Old
men and babes and loving friends,
And
youths and maidens gay.
(2) I believe in this church’s teaching task. 170 pupils are enrolled in our church
school, not including cradle roll or the adults of the Bible class. These 170 boys and girls (and there ought to
be even more) are intelligently taught Christian literature and background, the
Bible and Christian history, by a volunteer group of a score and more of men
and women, using the best lesson material now available for the purpose. There are no “sad but saintly” specimens
here; but wholesome people, young and mature, working together in Christian
knowledge and experience.
(3) I believe in the spirit of cheerful willingness that is manifest
in this congregation. Our guests at the
recent youth rally noticed it, commented on it, and appreciated it. Our youth take hold of projects that
would be quite beyond the daring of some.
And they are backed by the adults.
Our women’s groups pitch in to a variety of practical service, and our
men’s activity makes us the envy of other churches where the vision is less
keen.
I do not suggest for a moment
that we are near ecclesiastical perfection.
We could make spiritual strides ahead as great as that from walking to
600-mile-per-hour flight, as that from steam power to atomic fission, if we had
the additional insight and willingness.
But the spirit of this church is worthy in its direction and favorable
in its accomplishment.
(4) I believe in the activity of the church; the incessant use of our
plant for worship, for Christian education, for the character-forming
activities of Boy and Girl Scouts and Cubs, for sociability, for occasional
community service.
(5) I believe in the willingness of this church to take its full
share in the fellowship of churches in the Winnebago district and the State
conference and in the interdenominational work of this community, the State
council of churches, the national and international Christian fellowship. I believe in the missionary interest of this
church wherein we are interested not only in what affects us and our children
and our immediate neighbors, but also in the welfare and Christianization of
others in this land and all over the world.
I have faith that we will give willingly to see that our benevolence
budget can be subscribed and paid, for the desperately needed advance in
Christian evangelism and service.
(6) I want to speak a word of deep appreciation for the way in which
you look after the needs of your minister, and for the feeling of solid
support by which you uphold his hands in all sorts of Christian endeavor.
Here we come, then, to the
moment of decision as to what shall be our individual share in the promotion of
Christ’s Kingdom through this church.
Most of you have seen the figures prepared and adopted last Monday as
our 1949 goal. There are some slight
increases in local expenses, but these are very small indeed. There is a substantial increase in
benevolence giving which is in line with the whole Christian advance. All the major denominations, as well as the
churches of our fellowship, are moving ahead to meet the terrific needs of this
day. The whole world needs Christian
faith, Christian practice, Christian democracy. The kind, quality and sincerity of our faith is challenged
seriously by the forces that believe in ruthless power --- and the time is
short! Let us do our part willingly,
eagerly!
The sacrificial appeal made for
CWVR during the past 3 years ends with this year on December 31st. Our offering of this morning is an attempt
to end it with credit. So there is only
one subscription card and a single appeal before us today. Some of us will want to continue the
standard of sacrificial giving by increasing our regular pledge by the amount
of our CWVR giving for the past 3 years.
All of us are asked to consider an average 10% increase this year in
order to subscribe fully this budget.
If there are those for whom this is difficult, others of us will need to
undertake more than a 10% advance to bring up our average.
I venture to suggest that, so
far as possible, we make individual pledges. In most cases husband and wife have given together, but in some
cases each will want to make his and her own pledge. Certainly I think it advisable for each young person who has
become a church member to make his or her own pledge. No one can worship for you.
Really, no one can “give” for you as an act of your
devotion. Even those who are away at
prep school or college can make a token pledge to keep alive their sense of
membership in their home church.
The theme of the Wisconsin Congregational
Conference at Eau Claire was this: “We
Are Able, But Are We Willing?” Chaplain
Jim Flint conducted three splendid devotional sessions on the theme, titling
each meditation on a phrase of the youth hymn, “Are Ye Able, Saith the
Master.” The Moderator, Mr. A. E.
Hatch, gave an excellent address reminding us that we certainly are able, and
asking us searchingly, “but are we willing?”
I hope that the answer will be
given here this morning by this church, and by those who are absent this morning
but who will be handing their pledge card to a canvasser. We know that we are able to support God’s
work. For we are blessed by his bounty.
And I have faith to believe that
we are willing.
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Delivered in Wisconsin Rapids, November 21, 1948.