Contagious Generosity

"Contagious Generosity"

By Rev. Billy D. Strayhorn

(Mark 5:21-43, 2 Corinthians 8:7-15)

[21] When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him; and he was by the sea. [22] Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet [23] and begged him repeatedly, "My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live." [24] So he went with him.

And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. [25] Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. [26] She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. [27] She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, [28] for she said, "If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well." [29] Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. [30] Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, "Who touched my clothes?" [31] And his disciples said to him, "You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, 'Who touched me?' " [32] He looked all around to see who had done it. [33] But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. [34] He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease."

[35] While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader's house to say, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?" [36] But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, "Do not fear, only believe." [37] He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. [38] When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. [39] When he had entered, he said to them, "Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping." [40] And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside, and took the child's father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. [41] He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha cum," which means, "Little girl, get up!" [42] And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. [43] He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

2 Cor. 8:7-15

[7] Now as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you--so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking.

[8] I do not say this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love against the earnestness of others. [9] For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. [10] And in this matter I am giving my advice: it is appropriate for you who began last year not only to do something but even to desire to do something-- [11] now finish doing it, so that your eagerness may be matched by completing it according to your means. [12] For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has--not according to what one does not have. [13] I do not mean that there should be relief for others and pressure on you, but it is a question of a fair balance between [14] your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance. [15] As it is written,

"The one who had much did not have too much,

and the one who had little did not have too little."

(NRSV)

INTRODUCTION:

Several years ago a minister tired to figure out how to get the big crowds to attend on Stewardship Sunday. For some reason, stewardship has an uncanny way of emptying pews. This preacher thought long and hard. He came up with an idea. In the church newsletter he announced that next week’s sermon would be entitled: “Everything You Need to Know About Sex.” Well, you guessed it, Sunday morning the pews were packed. When the preacher stood the preach, the place was absolutely quiet. The members sat on the edge of their seats, anxious to hear the latest word on the world’s hottest topic. The pastor stood at the pulpit, looked at the congregation, and said: “Sex was created by God as an expression of love between husbands and wives and a way of propagating life on planet Earth. Now that we’ve got that settled, let’s talk about stewardship.” No games and no gimmicks today. Instead, like Steve has pointed out we need to be honest and up front. Stewardship and generosity are biblical priorities. Paul bluntly states that this business of being generous is a test of love. The passage you just saw enacted has often been called the miracle on the way to a miracle. But I think it could easily be described as a walking, living, breathing example of Contagious Generosity AND as an example of Biblical Stewardship.

I. THE LOVE OF GOD IS CONTAGIOUS:

A. There was just something about Jesus that was magnetic and contagious. People thronged around him to hear him teach and preach, to see the miracles he performed and just to be near him. He had that kind of personality. He drew people to himself.

Why? Because he was the physical embodiment of God's love. When you saw Jesus, you saw the love of God for the world and for each of us, in the flesh. There was no wondering if God was real. Or if God knows you are alive. One look at Jesus and you knew. His love was contagious and infectious.

B. That's what drew Jairus to seek out Jesus, that and Jairus' love for his daughter. That's what drew the woman with the hemorrhage. Somehow, they each felt the love God had for them through the presence of Jesus. And in that love, they felt hope for their seemingly hopeless situation.

They turned to Jesus and their hopes were made reality through the generosity born of God's love.

II. THE LOVE OF GOD LEADS TO GENEROSITY:

Both Jesus and Jairus set the example of generosity in this passage. Jesus simply by being Jesus; by reaching out and touching those who needed him, the woman with a hemorrhage. She had been alone and cast out for the last 12 years. Through the generosity and love of Jesus, she was healed and made whole.

It was through the generosity of Jairus, too. You see, Jesus was on his way to heal Jairus' daughter, who just happened to be on the verge of dying. By all rights, Jairus had first claim.

I was McDonalds one afternoon during the "beanie baby" craze and saw two young mothers get in a fight, a physical fight, over a "beanie baby." It was the last one in the store and one of the woman claimed she was in line before the other one, even though they were at the counter at the same time. It almost started a brawl.

Jairus didn't react like that. He may have thought, "Come on Jesus, we don't have time for this," but he never voiced it. I don't think he even thought it. And I think it was because of the love of God that Jairus saw in Jesus. Jesus was so generous with that love that it was contagious.

The love of God always leads to generosity even in the midst of tragedy. You will hear a little of that love in an anthem that the Choir will be singing later. It was written specifically for the memorial service of the Oklahoma Bombing. The Oklahoma bombing shows us at our worst and our best. It shows what we can become without God and what we can become with God. In the midst of that act of terrorism we saw incredible acts of healing, generosity, giving and grace. The love of God expressed through Christ, always leads to generosity.

III. CONTAGIOUS GENEROSITY AND US:

A. We really found that out over the past year. At the end of 1995 average weekly giving was $4,937.00. In 1996 we really worked hard in the area of Stewardship Education. It was uncomfortable for some. It was a challenge. At the end of 1996 our average weekly offering (not counting building moneys) was $6,069.00. And so far this year, our average has been $6,312.00. Our average giving continues to increase because of the contagious generosity of God's love being lived out in our lives.

Last year we braved the heat and we were the burnt offerings as we took a giant step in our faith, in our giving and in our relationship with God. We pledged to pay our summer offering early. And we hired a new full time Music Director. Because of the contagious generosity of our members we have one of the best music programs in the Conference and we never once hit one of those really critical Sundays. Through your continued contagious generosity, all of bills are current, including Cokesbury. The only thing we need to do better on is our Apportionments.

Through the contagious generosity of God's love being lived out in our lives, we now have 1,001 members on the rolls.

Through the contagious generosity of God and the Central Texas Annual Conference Church Growth and Development office, the full tract of property is now ours. you see, the rest of the property had a clause attached to it. We had to have grown to a membership of 1,200 by April 30th of this year or we would have had to pay $184,000 for the rest of the property. By reaching a 1,000 members the price would have been reduced to $132,000. But Church Growth and Development saw how much we have grown, the excitement and enthusiasm we have, and the growth we have had in our stewardship and signed the deed over to us. That will cause a lot of contagious generosity.

But maybe the greatest example of contagious generosity being lived out here at St. John the Apostle is the construction of our addition. There was a time when some of us thought it would never happen. There was a time when some of us thought we were crazy for trying. There were times when even after everything was finalized that some of us, especially one of your preachers, thought it would never get started because of rain delays. But together we were able to hear God's call to build and to respond with the same love and generosity that we have experienced. And now we can watch as the hopes and dreams of an entire congregation become a physical reality. Why? Because of contagious generosity in response to the love of God in Christ.

B. Oseola McCarty, 87, did one thing all her life: laundry. Now she's famous for it, or at least for what she did with her profits. For decades, Miss McCarty earned 50 cents per load doing laundry for the well-to-do families of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, preferring a washboard over an electric washing machine. Every week, she put a little bit in a savings account. When she finally retired, she asked her banker how much money she had socked away.

"$250,000," was his reply. She was in shock. "I had more than I could use in the bank," she explained. "I can't carry anything away from here with me, so I thought it was best to give it to some child to get an education."

This shy, never-married laundry woman gave $150,000 to nearby University of Southern Mississippi to help African-American young people attend college. "It's more blessed to give than to receive," she tells reporters. "I've tried it." (1)

CONCLUSION:

That's the lesson we have learned. It is more blessed to give than to receive. We've tried it. stewardship is one of our priorities, too.

INVITATION:

Our Building Campaign was entitled, Jesus Calls Us: RSVP, and we responded well. Jesus continues to call us. There are continued challenges in our lives, in our faith, and in our ministries. Jesus continues to call us. Our challenge today is similar in scope to last year's summer challenge. We've already stepped up to the plate. We've already dug deep. We're not asking anyone to increase their pledge at this point. But the Finance Committee would like to challenge you to prepay your summer giving like you did last year. Summer always seems to be a time when we get behind because of vacations and trips, etc. You'll find that option on the pledge card you were given.

If you've never pledged, then consider doing so now. Help the work of God continue through the work of this Church.

And if you've never pledged to the building program or haven't had the opportunity to pledge, we have packets for you. Please consider being part of the contagious generosity of God's love here at St. John the Apostle.

This is the Word of the Lord for this day.