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September 9, 2007AM

Romans 12:8

YOUR CONTRIBUTION

 

Aesop wrote a fable about a crow.

 The area where this crow lived was going through a drought.

  So he had not had anything to drink in a long time.

   One day he happened to look into a pail.

    And there at the bottom of it was some water.

     He quickly stuck his beak into the pail but he couldn’t quite reach the water.

      He couldn’t tip the pail over or the water would spill out and disappear.

       So what did he do?

        He started picking up pebbles one at a time.

         One by one he dropped them into the pail.

          More and more pebbles accumulated in the bottom.

           Gradually the pebbles made the water rise.

           It finally rose high enough the crow could reach the water and drink.

We could all learn a lesson from that story.

 The little things, the common things, can be used to save life.

  Each of us can pick up a pebble.

   None of us are pebble-less.

    What are some of the pebbles we can use to touch someone else?

     It might be teaching a Sunday school class.

      It might be serving on a committee.

       It could be ushering, or providing transportation.

        It might be visiting a lonely neighbour.

         We all have something to offer that will lift a person closer to Jesus.

          Your contribution might not seem terribly special or significant.

           But each time we use a pebble God is brought closer to someone’s life.

           Everyone of us can make a contribution.

            Your contribution is important, you are important.

             There is a reason why this is true.

Paul says we have gifts that differ according the grace given to us.

 The New Testament tells us about spiritual gifts.

  Usually when we hear about gifts there is something we naturally want to know.

   We want to know what the gifts are that God has given.

    We want to know what gift we have received.

     What gift has the Spirit placed into my life?

      We want to know what the gifts are, and which one I have in my life.

       I have been through all kinds of studies on the gifts of the Spirit.

        What they are!

         What they can accomplish!

          Who has them!

           Which ones are the most important to have!

           And somewhere in this quest for knowledge Paul’s command is lost.

            “Let us use them!”

             Of course we know they are to be used.

              But do we use them properly?

               Paul says there is only one way to properly use a spiritual gift.

                Each gift is to be used in a specific way.

                 Today we are going to consider the gift of contributing.

                  What does God say about your part in making a contribution?

 

I   WHAT IS YOUR CONTRIBUTION to the world around you?

     Let’s not define the contribution you make too narrowly.

      Paul assures us if we have received God’s grace, we can contribute.

       God’s grace is varied.

        And God enables everyone to contribute in a variety of ways.

         Your contribution is like the crow’s pebbles.

          It may not seem like much in your eyes.

           But your contribution can be the difference between a drink and a

           drought.

Paul uses the Greek word metadidomai metadidomai.

 That word metadidomai is translated “contribute” or “give”.

  But it comes from two Greek words – meta metaand didomai didomai.

   The first Greek word is meta.

    Meta means to transfer, to turn over, to sequence.

     In other words, as a giver, you are part of a sequence.

      You are not the first to give.

       You have been a receiver.

        Someone contributed into your life.

         And as a result you meta.

          You in turn contribute to someone else’s life.

           Has anyone contributed to your life?

           Has God’s grace been working in your life?

            Then be part of the meta, the sequence.

             You give in the measure you have received.

              Oh but Pastor you don’t know how tight things are for us right now.

               You don’t know the uncertainties we are facing.

                You are right, I don’t know.

                 But I do know what the second Greek word means in metadidomai.

                  Meta means - to be part of the sequence.

                   Didomai means to have power.

                    That is what marks this gift of the Spirit.

                     It may seem irrational.

                      Outward appearances are saying, keep your contribution.

                      The Holy Spirit transforms our outlook.

                       The power to enter the sequence of giving is not our own.

                        You have didomai – power, from the Holy Spirit.

                        He gives you the power to be part of the sequence.

                         He empowers you to make your contribution.

                        He empowers you to give.

                         Your contribution becomes a gift of the Spirit when He

                         empowers you.

 

II  That’s great but how do we give under the power of the Holy Spirit?

 What does that look like?

  Paul says we are to use our contribution with liberality.

   From time to time we will bar-b-que hamburgers for supper.

    So all these bottles and jars are placed on the table.

     The fancy word is condiments.

      They are fixings.

       Some people living in our house right now are liberal with the fixings.

        One thing used liberally is the mustard.

         It is more than just a squeeze.

          Mustard lathers the top of the hamburger.

           Dorothy and I watch in disbelief as the container drains.

           But I’m not terribly worried about it.

            Because I know we have a bigger jar of mustard in the basement.

             I have one of those commercial size mustard jars.(bring out jar)

              So be as liberal as you want with the mustard.

               We may have to ration some of the other fixings.

                But you can use our mustard with liberality.

                 You can use it as if it were the only condiment you were using.

And that is how we are to contribute.

 We are to contribute as if we have an unlimited supply.

  No, I take that back.

   We contribute with liberality because we do have an unlimited supply.

    Paul said His God could supply all your needs.

     He empowers you to make YOUR CONTRIBUTION.

“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.  Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever!  Amen.”  (Philippians 4:19-20).

      The word Paul uses for liberality refers to more than just quantity.

       It encompasses the quality of our contribution.

        We give with sincerity.

         It is an unmingled giving.

          There is bountifulness but there is also purity.

           There is a holy element to our contribution.

Let’s say you had two pennies.

 If you have the spiritual gift of contributing, which penny is yours?

  Which penny is your possession and property?

   Neither penny is yours.

    Both pennies are God’s.

     What if you had two nickels?

      Both nickels are God’s.

       You can give both nickels.

        What if you had two $1,000 bills?

         The spiritual gift of contributing empowers you to say it’s all God’s.

          That is simplicity.

           Life gets complicated when we start to compartmentalize.

            It gets complicated when we say this is mine and that is God’s.

            All is for God.

             All is relinquished, surrendered to God.

              That is the life of holiness.

               That is living in the power of the Holy Spirit.

                That is living by grace.

                 It is the folding of your life together with Jesus.

                  You must be completely blended with Him.

                   Only then can you contribute liberally and sincerely.

Paul said, “We have behaved in the world, and still more toward you, with holiness and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God.” (2 Cor. 1:12)

 Paul was rich in God’s grace.

  And he knew what to do with that wealth.

   He was shown he could give it away.

    He had a singleness of giving.

     What is YOUR CONTRIBUTION?

      What have you contributed to the ministry of your church?

       As we close this morning think about the pebbles that bring others to God.

        Is YOUR CONTRIBUTION an empowered gift that you pass on with sincerity?