Worship Doesn’t Stop on Sunday
“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesús himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than receive.'” (Acts 20:35)
I’ve been asked more than once why we are preaching about money on Sunday morning. Shouldn’t we be talking about deeper spiritualities? Isn’t Sunday reserved for theology, salvation and the like? Perhaps. I suppose I should first and foremost acknowledge that I have no control or input over what is discussed on Sunday; it’s really not up to me what is preached. My job is to support our pastoral staff with engaging and poignant songs and a clean, distraction free facility.
But I also want it to be known that I fully trust and follow our pastoral staff as I know they are trusting and following God’s leading in what is presented and preached. For example, this week’s focus was already a part of the outline Drew and Erik are using in leading this 4 week discussion. Our third week is on Giving Generously. Paul is encouraging the elders of the Ephesian church to continue on in the faith while he is visiting them one last time.
“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'” (Acts 20:32-35)
The goal with money, or any possessions we have, is that it be used for others! To serve and build up and rescue.
What was wondrous and refreshing to me as I read our passage this morning is the context in which I found it. Paul is meeting with the leaders of the church in Ephesus and the surrounding churches. He has stated that he knows full well he is going to his death. What is the final thing he wants to them to hear from him? Money: how and why to use it. To Paul it seemed that how went about our daily lives was just as important as what we believed. It also very true that the outside world judges what we truly believe by the way we act.
I also wonder about Jesus’ own teaching. Nearly half of his parables are about money and how to use it. I wonder if the people in the crowd were confused or frustrated. “Finances? Again??” I wonder if Peter tried taking him aside to say, “Hey, Jesus, let’s stop doing all these money talks. Go back to the miracles and the fire from heaven stories! The crowds really like those!” But I think where Jesus really made his harshest rebuttal is recorded in Matthew 7:22-23.
“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you…'”
I don’t know about you, but I have never prophesied…or exorcised a demon…or performed a miracle. I have always regarded with awe anyone who was reported to have done those things. To be able to do those things, I would expect, takes a lot of theological study and spiritual knowledge. But Jesus seems to be saying that isn’t the point. So what is the point?
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”(Matthew 7:24)
Puts them into practice… Sounds practical, doesn’t it? So perhaps a few sermons on the Godly use of money is practical and important after all. I’ll admit I had my doubts when it was first put on the schedule. But as we go through this I am being more and more inspired to the idea that Jesus wants my whole life to be surrendered to him. Worship doesn’t stop on Sunday. Continual, renewing sacrifice of my thoughts, words, spending and other actions are what the Christian life is. (Rom 12:2)
So let’s do this! Let’s finish this race. Let us ask ourselves and our spouses and families the hard questions of where we are and where we are going. Let us dream boldly of what God would have us give up so that others may come to know His love. The invitations could go on and on…
I’m curious now: What has God been saying to you these last few weeks?