GIVE IT ALL
APRIL 14, 1996
MONTREAT STEWARDSHIP CONFERENCE
ND JoHN M. BUCHANAN, PASTOR
or FOURTH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, CHICAGO
SCRIPTURE
Romans 12:9-21
Mark 10:17-27

"...GO, SELL WHAT YOU OWN, AND GIVE THE
MONEY TO THE POOR... THEN COME, FOLLOW
mE." -MarRK 10:21 (NRSV)
SOMEONE ONCE ASKED ERMA BOMBECK IF
Say

'
SHE_SAVED_UP GOOD IDEAS SO_SHE D BE ABLE

TO WRITE AT LEAST ONE STRONG COLUMN PER

WEEK.

SHE ANSWERED IN A COLUMN, Ginar's

——=_—

SAVED IS OFTEN Lost, 2) WitiobbpeiALEKELY AS.

' —_ Se ae

sae Se

Mrss BOMBECK WROTE:

eS

"I DON'T SAVE ANYTHING, MY POCKETS
ARE EMPTY AT THE END OF A WEEK. SO IS
MY GAS rank. | SO IS MY FILE OF IDEAS. I
TROT OUT THE BEST I'VE GOT, AND COME THE
NEXT WEEK, I BARGAIN, WHIMPER, MAKE
PROMISES, COWER AND THROW MYSELF ON THE
MERCY OF THE ALMIGHTY FOR JUST THREE
MORE COLUMNS IN EXCHANGE FOR CLEANING MY
oven. )

"IT DIDN'T GET TO THIS POINT
OVERNIGHT. I CAM FROM A FAMILY OF
SAVERS WHO WERE SIRED BY POVERTY AND ...
WORSHIPED AT THE ALTER OF SELF~DENIAL.

"THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, I'VE SEEN A
FAIR NUMBER OF MY FAMILY WHO HAVE DIED

LEAVING CANDLES THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN

LIT, APPLIANCES THAT NEVER GOT OUT OF
THE BOX ...

“IT GETS TO BE A HABIT.

"I HAVE LEARNED THAT SILVERWARE
TARNISHES WHEN IT ISN'T USED, PERFUME
TURNS TO ALCOHOL, CANDLES MELT IN THE
ATTIC OVER THE SUMMER, AND IDEAS THAT
ARE SAVED FOR A DRY WEEK OFTEN BECOME
DATED.

——

“ET ALWAYS HAD A DREAM THAT WHEN I
AM ASKED TO GIVE AN ACCOUNTING OF MY
LIFE TO A HIGHER COURT, IT WILL BE LIKE
THIS: {'s0, EMPTY YOUR pockets. | WHAT
HAVE YOU GOT LEFT OF YOUR LIFE? ANY
DREAMS THAT WERE UNFILLED? | any UNUSED

TALENT THAT WE GAVE YOU WHEN YOU WERE

BORN THAT YOU STILL HAVE LEFT? ANY

UNSAID COMPLIMENTS OR BITS OF LOVE THAT
YOU HAVEN’T SPREAD AROUND?’

Ano, I wWrLt ANSWER, ‘I'VE NOTHING
TO RETURN. I SPENT EVERYTHING YOU GAVE
ME. I'M AS NAKED AS THE DAY I WAS

BoRN,'" \

ONE TIME A YOUNG MAN ASKED JESUS A

SIMILAR QUESTION WHAT A MOMENT WHEN A

WEALTHY YOUNG MAN RUNS UP TO JESUS, A

POOR, ITINERATE RagBr , KNEELS BEFORE HiM

AND ASKS, GOOD TEACHER, WHAT MUST I DO

. WHAT FOLLOWS

TO INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE?"

IS INTRIGUING: /"OBEY THE LAW," JESUS

tl

SAYS; "KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS.

“I DO THAT," THE YOUNG MAN ANSWERS.

"I'VE BEEN KEEPING THE COMMANDMENTS ALL

ee

MY LIFE AND I'M STILL EMPTY."

Lg —um

JESUS LIKES THAT. THIS MAN'S

HONEST

WHOLESOME INNOCENCE}

INQUISITIVENESS 4, COURAGEOUS

VULNERABILITY, QMAKE HIM A VERY WINSOME

CHARACTER. HE HAS ALL_THE PROMISE OF A

eee

Gop’sS BLESSING.
ee

So WHAT'S WRONG WITH
qe

HIM? | WHY DOESN'T HE FEEL GOOD ABOUT

HIMSELF? \\ JESUS LOOKS AT HIM AGAIN,

LOVES HIM AND SAYS, "YOU LACK ONE THING.
tee \. a

Go, SELL WHAT YOU OWN, GIVE THE MONEY TO

THE POOR, COME FOLLOW ME."
ie. -

JESUS DOESN'T SAY THAT TO
Ty .

EVERYBODY, BY THE WAY. IT IS HIS

See :
PRESCRIPTION FOR A PARTICULAR YOUNG MAN

WHO, WHEN HE HEARS IT, IS SAD, THE EXT

SAYS.£ APPALLED IS MORE LIKE IT, DON'T
You mace? SELL ET ALL -- GIVE IT
ALL? 4 WHO COULD DO A THING LIKE THAT?
MAYBE SOME OF rr:f mavee MAKE A MAJOR,
LEADERSHIP GIFT TO THE CAMPAIGN;|{MAYBE
EVEN TITHE TEN PERCENT OF THE INCOME

“Te eR

FROM HIS INVESTMENTS, AFTER TAXES, OF
- <a ammo

CGURSE BUT SELL IT ALL? GIVE IT ALL?

No WAY.

BARBARA BROWN TAYLOR SAYS
itn.

CHRISTIANS MANGLE THIS TEXT IN ONE OF

TWO WAYS:
inal :

MONEY AND BY THINKING IT IS ONLY ABOUT

BY DENYING THAT ITF IS ABOUT

MONEY.
Jesus, BY THE WAY, HAS A LOT TO. SAY

ABOUT THE TOPIC, 4% SOMEONE OBSERVED THAT

sg, \sava.™ M men

. Voor
Drewardeicn S00 TLR — Fea. DLS Hath
jou
Liem. 45% HE TALKS MORE ABOUT MONEY THAN HE DOES
\AA and
ee ee ABOUT HEAVEN.
vt (c TEED
* Wan" THIS IS, FIRST OF ALL, ABOUT MONEY,
— oe puso See =,
ro \yn A TOPIC ABOUT WHICH AMERICANS, AND
qu yews [= a Sy,
unk OM AMERICAN CHRISTIANS PARTICULARLY, HAVE A
“ SS ee eae
UA
tt: s wa GREAT DEAL OF AMBIGUITY TWO RECENT
: a SC scsaieree]
(ow BOOKS EXPLORE THE TOPIC. ) sacos
pane <=
NEEDLEMAN IS A PROFESSOR OF PHILOSOPHY
— nel SS ee a,

AT SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY AND HE
HAS WRITTEN A BOOK ENTITLED MONEY AND
THE MEANING OF LIFE WHICH HAS RECEIVED
NATIONAL ATTENTION. HE WRITES:

[ NO OTHER CULTURE OR
CIVILIZATION THAT WE KNOW OF HAS MONEY
BEEN SUCH A PERVASIVE AND DECISIVE
INFLUENCE. IN THE WORLD WE NOW LIVE IN,

MONEY ENTERS INTO EVERYTHING HUMAN

BEINGS DO, INTO EVERY ASPECT AND POCKET

OF LIFE. THIS IS SOMETHING NEW." [P. 2]

AND I THOUGHT OF THE UNFORTUNATE

PLACE WE HAVE COME TO POLITICALLY:

IT, OR CONTRIBUTORS OR "POLITICAL

ACTIONG COMMITTEES, "JWHO BELIEVE IN YOU

-- AND WHO EXPECT THAT YOU WILL REMEMBER

THEIR INTERESTS WHEN YOU WIN AND TAKE
— ‘Clete

OFFICE. 1} AND WHO CAN THEREFORE THREATEN

FO WITHHOLD DESPERATELY NEEDED MONEY FOR
na

THE NEXT ELECTIONS, OR WORSE, GIVE IT TO

YOUR OPPONENT, IF YOU STEP O F LINE.

It IS THE LIFE-8LOOD OF THE ELECTORAL
Pama

PROCESS -- MOMMY ccmmmndhRenbhpenGpibeleblae E
THE NERVE TO=CAreetT=Demoeracy. (I

THOUGHT ABOUT HOW MONEY DICTATES
sees

ecrgzous: ([m PRESERVING HARD MINERAL
== Se Se,

MINING RIGHTS FOR WESTERN CORPORATIONS,
Sea eT ad

AND THE GUN LOBBY IN TEXAS, AND THE
Se a

FABULOUSLY WEALTHY CHRISTIAN COALITION
a eet

IN-VEIRGINTA AND HARRY-AND-E@UTS—ON

HEATH CARE—2EFORM AND THE ELOQUENT FACT

SS,
THAT CAMPAIGN REFORM PROMISED,
CSS SSS ES,
DISCUSSED, DEBATED, WAS AT THE VERY LAST
ge = Sa,
MINUTE FILIBUSTERED TO DEATH.)| NEEDLEMAN
be
IS DEAD RIGHT. (/NOWHERE ELSE IN THE
SSS CU“ SSS,
WORLD -- OR IN HISTORY -- DOES MONEY
=e,

HAVE THAT KIND OF INFLUENCE.
“WE LIVE IN AN AFFLUENT SOCIETY" HE

SAYS. | "THIS MEANS NOT ONLY THAT WE HAVE
[Sees

MUCH MATERIAL WEALTH, BUT THAT WE WANT
Dal
THIS WEALTH MORE THAN WE WANT EVERYTHING
Prag en areal

ELSE.” (Cp. 22]

But, SAYS THIS PROFESSOR OF

HE PROPOSES THAT OUR DESI OR MONEY IS

A KIND OF SELF-IMPOSED HELL. IN A

CHAPTER ENTITLED, B'" THE New Poverty:

LIFE rN HELL,” HE WRITES

"HELL IS THE STATE IN WHICH WE ARE

BARRED FROM RECEIVING WHAT WE TRULY NEED
ee,

BECAUSE OF THE VALUE WE GIVE TO WHAT WE

MERELY want." Bp. 27]

ROBERT WUTHNOW, A PRINCETON

SOCIOLOGIST, AGREES. WUTHNOW HAS BECOME
GP,

109

AN EXPERT ON THE TOPIC OF HOW AMERICANS,
INCLUDING AMERICAN CHURCH PEOPLE,

EXPRESS THEIR VALUES BY THEIR USE OF

AND MAMMON IN AMERICA, HE OBSERVES THAT

WE ARE A DEEPLY RELIGIOUS PEOPLE.
, = EEE

"BUT WE ARE ALSO PASSIONATELY

OBLIGATIONS, OUR BILLS, OUR
Simo i ET

RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR FAMILIES AND

11

COMMUNITIES AND COLLEGES AND MUSEUMS?
‘itt Feed omnes

Does Jesus ACTUALLY PROPOSE THAT WE

EXERCISE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR

FAMILIES? INSTITUTIONS ?/

COUNTING ON TO SAVE us; (our CAREER, OUR
eet

OUR POWER, OUR
<a

12

PERSONAL APPEARANCE WOULD HE NOT TELL

US WHAT HE TOLD THAT WINSOME YOUNG MAN,

HANDS TO LET IT GO AND TO COME, FOLLOW.

ROBERT WUTHNOW SCOLDS THE MAINLINE

CHRISTIAN CHURCH FOR NOT WRESTLING WITH

THIS ISSUE WUTHNOW SAYS AMERICANS ARE

ASKING IONS OF MEANING AND
PURPOSE, PERHAPS AS NEVER BEFORE. AND
HE THINKS THE CHURCHES ARE FAILING THEM

PRECISELY BECAUSE OF AMBIGUITY AND LACK

OF NERVE,
Pete

JESUS DIDN’T ASK FOR A MODEST

CONTRIBUTION TO THE CAUSE:

‘SRE Coe

APPARENTLY WANTED THIS MAN S HEART AND

SOUL.& It's A LONG WAY, WUTHNOW CRACKS,

THAT GOES ON IN CHURCHES OVER A
om =

13

PERCENTAGE POINT INCREASE IN PLEDGE

E—_—SS-
COMMITMENTS AND JESUS’ INVITATION TO
TAKE UP YOUR CROSS AND FOLLOW. _ an
EEE ee

WE ARE CAUGHT IN THIS DILEMMA. WE
Pall |

NOT A TIGHT BAND OF TWELVE OR TWENTY Pn L

DEEPLY COMMITTED PERSONS. WE ARE A
PUBLIC CHURCH IN A "CULTURE OF
DISBELIEFY AND WE ARE THEOLOGICALLY
DIVERSE AND\WE ATTEMPT TO BE HOME FOR
THE PASSIONATELY DEVOTED, THE MILDLY
INTERESTED, THE\CURIOUS, THE SEEKER.
AND IT WOULD BE WRONG, I THINK, TO
RESPOND TO THE PERSON ASKING, PERHAPS
FOR THE FIRST TIME, ABOUT GOD AND THE
MEANING OF LIFE, BY SUGGESTING THAT HE

START THE PROCESS BY MAKING A GENEROUS

FINANCIAL PLEDGE. AND YET, ay NOT PART

14

OF THE CRISIS OF RELIGION IN OUR CULTURE

PRECISELY OUR AMBIGUITY ABOUT THIS

COMMITMENT; OUR

CHRIST AS A SET OF opruzons, [Nor MUCH

DIFFERENT FROM OTHER OPINIONS, A

SAID -- SELL IT ALL -~ GIVE IT ALL?

YOUR MARKET HAS SAID IT WANTS AND WILL
cs

15

PAY FOR, AND THEN PROGRAM IT: | sourzoue

RELIGION # SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE, WITH

@iaeas
CHILD CARE FOR ALL, AND PLENTY OF
=> Ee
“SNOT A
(0TE

"WHAT WE HAVE IN THIS en

SAYS TOM LONG OF PRINCETON, @#"IS A KIND O
eee,

BLAND RELIGIOUS LIBERALISM, LONG ON
=a

TOLERANCE, SHORT ON LOYALTY, CHANNEL

arse, aS aS
SURFING ACROSS THE RELIGIOUS SPECTRUM OF
Glee SSS

THE UNITED STATES, SELECTING THOSE
OPTIONS THAT MATCH THEIR LIFE-STYLES AND
MEET THEIR PERSONAL wanrs."} [THEOLOGY
Topay, Juty ''94, Pp. 199]

THE WEALTHY YOUNG MAN WHO CAME TO

=

JESUS ASKING ABOUT LIFE, IN A WAY, I
Sam, aaa

16

ob

Wile
THINK REPRESENTS EVERYONE OF us| HE HAS

SUCCEEDED PROFESSIONALLY, FINANCIALLY.
ee

IN ADDITION, HE HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL
= a

RELIGIOUSLY.§ HE HAS DONE EVERYTHING HIS
a= SSS

RELIGION TOLD HIM TO DO ALL HIS LIFE.
Sap

HE IS AT THE END OF THE LINE ... HE
SS
— f
DOESN’T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO TO PRODUCE ot ¢

THE=EXPERTENCE HE WANTS AND NEEDS, AND é

LA f
WHAT IS THAT? - SATISFACTION,
==, =a
WHOLENESS, ONENESS WITH THE WORLD, WITH
a.
HIS OWN Lore, \with Gop, A SENSE THAT
ad SEE,
HE'S LIVING HIS LIFE AS PURPOSEFULLY AND
MEANINGFULLY AS HE CAN ...
THE RADICAL MESSAGE OF CHRISTIAN
Geers,

FAITH IS THAT WHAT WE TRULY NEED IS
a

z=

OFFERED TO US AS A GIFT .. Gop'sS LOVE,
ae Rd

Gop'S FORGIVENESS, \GOD'’S ACCEPTANCE.
oee=—_—-—s alhlhll SO

17

THE RADICAL PERSONAL IMPLICATION,

OF COURSE, IS THAT YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE
its.

TO ACCEPT THE GIFT IN ORDER TO RECEIVE

a]

I LOVE THE WAY BARBARA BROWN TAYLOR

PUTS IT:

"You CANNOT ACCEPT Gop’sS GIFT IF

YOU HAVE NO SPARE HAND TO TAKE ET WITH.

YOU CANNOT MAKE ROOM FOR IT IF YOUR
Pern

ROOMS ARE ALREADY FULL.4 YOU CANNOT
FOLLOW IF YOU ARE NOT FREE TO Go." [op.

te
CcIT., P. 125]

AND SO, WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS THE
POSSIBILITY OF A VERY DIFFERENT WAY OF

LIVING LIFE AND RELATING TO OUR
ei ptmeasyeammst smu

“WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS A WHOLE
a SAE
NEW WAY OF LIVING WHICH IS INTENTIONALLY

a Sa

UNATTACHED TO ALL THE THINGS THE CULTURE

—e <a

RESOURCES.

18

SAYS WE ABSOLUTELY MUST HAVE ORDER TO
Do you EVER

WITHHOLDING ... WIXHHOLDZNG YOUR LOVE,

FOR INSTANCE, AND T LATER REGRETTING

YOU EVER NOT GIVE/YOURSELF TOTAMLY TO
SOMEONE OR SOMETHING AND LATER WISHED
YOU HAD?

T conFess -- I'M A SAVER... I

STILL HAVE MY CLASS NOTES FROM FRESHMAN

GEOLOGY. ; A DOMESTIC CRISIS OCCURRED

ONCE WHEN SOMEONE DISCARDED MY NINTH-

i,

GRADE LEAF NOTEBOOK {- SOMETIMES IN
all en

THE PROCESS OF PREPARING A SERMON, I

19

hel

HAVE A COUPLE OF IDEAS WHICH I THINK ARE

ie

so coop I cAN'T WASTE THEM IN AUGUST

‘aitinfeemiemnicsiniar-

WHEN THEY MIGHT WORK IN NOVENBER, AND

THEN I ee wie

LITTLE BOOK, THE WRITING LIEE, WHICH IS

ae

REALLY ABOUT LIVING LIFE.| ANNIE

—

DILLARD'S WORDS LEAPT OFF THE PAGE AND I
HAVE COME TO THINK THAT THEY ARE PERHAPS
THE MOST ELOQUENT COMMENTARY AROUND ON

THE STORY OF THE WEALTHY YOUNG MAN IN

MarK 10.

"ONE OF THE FEW THINGS I KNOW ABOUT
WRITING IS THIS: SPEND IT ALL, SHOOT
IT, PLAY IT, LOSE IT, ALL, RIGHT AWAY,
EVERY TIME, Do NOT HOARD WHAT SEEMS
GOOD FOR A LATER TIME IN THE BOOK, OR

FOR ANOTHER BOOK: GIVE IT, GIVE IT ALL,

20

GIVE IT NOW. THE IMPULSE TO SAVE
SOMETHING GOOD FOR A BETTER PLACE LATER
IS THE SIGNAL TO SPEND IT ALL.
SOMETHING MORE WILL ARISE FOR LATER,
SOMETHING BETTER. THESE THINGS FILL
FROM BEHIND, FROM BENEATH, LIKE WELL
WATER. SIMILARLY, THE IMPULSE TO KEEP
TO YOURSELF WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED IS NOT
ONLY SHAMEFUL, IT IS DESTRUCTIVE. J
ANYTHING YOU DO NOT GIVE FREELY AND
ABUNDANTLY BECOMES LOST TO YOU. YOU
OPEN YOUR SAFE AND FIND ASHES.” [p.78,
79]
THIS IS NOT AN EASY LESSON FOR MANY
ieee aiiaiaeee |
OF US. |x YOU ARE ON THE SHORT SIDE OF
eine

FORTY-FIVE, YOUR LIFE SCRIPT IS “EARN,
Lites

CONSUME, DISCARD, carn." ( Te YOU ARE ON
a i —

21

THE FAR SIDE OF FORTY-FIVE OR FIFTY, YOU

WERE FORMED BY A DIFFERENT ETHOS, BY THE

rns inn

EXPERIENCE_OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION, AND

AT LEAST ONE OF YOUR LIFE SCRIPTS IS

"EARN, SAVE, HOARD, SAV ~ BECAUSE YOU

NEVER KNOW WHAT MIGHT uareen. ( You MAY
a

EVEN HAVE DONE SOMETHING AS PECULIAR AS
eee
THIS. | wen I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO AFFORD
Penne,

AN AUTOMOBILE THAT WAS RELIABLE AND

ACTUALLY STARTED EVERY TIME I WANTED IT

TO, I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW CHEVROLET.

ey

AND THEN I DID SOMETHING VERY

Ba

SIGNIFICANT. I PURCHASED, FROM THE

DEALER, A SET OF CLEAR PLASTIC SEAT

COVERS. |For FOUR OR FIVE YEARS WE SAT
ON CLEAR PLASTIC AND WHEN. TRADED THE

CAR IN, THE ORIGINAL FABRIC SEATS WERE

a

22

ABSOLUTELY AS PERFECT AS THE DAY I

BOUGHT IT. k HAD NEVER ONCE ENJOYED THE

Pe,
ACTUAL SEATS.!| FURTHERMORE, I FELT Goop
ence,

ABOUT MY ACCOMPLISHMENT.

IN HIS POPULAR BOOK THE SEVEN

HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE,

STEVEN COVEY TELLS ABOUT THE MAN WHO

ASKED ANOTHER, ON THE DEATH OF A MUTUAL

FRIEND, “HoW MUCH DID/HE LEAVE?” Hrs

W

FRIEND RESPONDED, E LEFT IT ALL." C.

99]

Anb LEONA SWEET, IN HIS WITTY
COMMENTARY ON THIS STORY SAYS THAT
JESUS, IN TELLING THE YOUNG MAN TO SELL

AND GIVE AT ALL, IS MERELY SPEEDING UP

THE INEVITABLE.

23

You AND I REALLY DON'T OWN ANYTHING

WE CANNOT DO wrtaour. (| Is FACT, THERE IS

A SENSE IN WHICH WE ARE IN BONDAGE TO

oe SE

ANYTHING WE CANNOT GIVE AWAY. | THAT IS

WHAT JESUS SAW WHEN HE LOOKED AT THE
-_ ~~ - cai

EARNEST YOUNG MAN,WAND THAT, I BELIEVE,

IS THE PLACE WHERE THE GOSPEL OF JESUS

ome mE

CHRIST INTERSECTS MOST POWERFULLY WITH
mmr ETRE

YOUR LIFE AND MINE.

Cee

IT MAY SEEM THAT WHAT INSTITUTIONAL
See EEE

RELIGION IS ABOUT MOSTLY IS ASKING FOR

DEGREE THAT WE ASK OR GIVE, OUT OF A

WORST OF ALL, A SENSE THAT_IF WE GIVE

a

GoD WILL BE PLEASED WiT
,

MISSING THE POINT ALTOGETHER.

24

CHURCH NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT. IF YOU'R
VISITING THIS MORNING AND A meyer OF
ANOTHER CHURCH, THAT CHURG A eps Your
SUPPORT. IF YOU ARE _p/MEMBER OF NO
CHURCH, YOU ousnt fo BE SUPPORTING
WHOEVER IS nephest TO YOU AND IS
PROVIDING (HE COMPASSIONATE AND HELPFUL
services To NEEDY PEOPLE WHICH MAKES

f MORE HUMAN.

But

POINT,

THE POINT OF ALL THIS IS WHAT

THAT YOUNG MAN WAS LOOKING FOR --

Ee

ETERNAL LIFE: 4 LIFE NOW, WITH THE DEPTH

AND MEANING AND FULLNESS OF ETERNITY
team: EEes Prenat
ABOUT TIT.

THAT'S WHAT JESUS CHRIST CAME TO

GIVE. WIT IS A GIFT. YoU RECEIVE IT BY
iitinem,

25

OPENING YOUR HANDS AND ASKING FOR IT.

It rS YOURS AS YOU RELEASE YOUR GRIP ON

ee

WHATEVER IT IS YOU ARE CLASPING SO

TIGHTLY AND ALLOW GOD'S LOVE, }Gop'sS

[ee

FORGIVENESS, (GOD'S AMAZING GRACE TO FILL

YOu.
You KNOW, FROM CHILDHOOD YOU AND I

‘toe
HAVE BEEN TAUGHT TO CLASP

TIGHTLY IN PRAYER =~",

BOW YOUR HEAD, FOLD YOUR HANDS."

THERE IS A MUCH OLDER CUSTOM, J

CLOSET. ff

26

HAVE LEARNED, AND THAT ITS TO BE EN A

ad

HOLDING SO TIGHTLY, AND BE READY TO
RECEIVE.

Pere)

THE PROMISE, WHICH JESUS MADE TO
HIS PERPLEXED FRIENDS, IS THAT THOUGH
THE DEMAND TO GIVE IT ALL AWAY IS

ae quienes
IMPOSSIBLE, \WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE

27

POSSIBLE, A LITTLE MORE SO, I THINK,

WHEN OUR HANDS ARE OPEN.

aaa

**e¥ eK kK

GREAT GOD OF LOVE, FOR ALL YOUR
GIFTS, WE THANK YOU. FOR OUR RESOURCES,
BE THEY GREAT OR MODEST, FOR THE LOVE OF
FRIENDS AND FAMILIES, FOR THE COMMON
GIFTS OF BEAUTY AND KINDNESS AND
AFFECTION, WE THANK YOU. TEACH US TO
OPEN OUR HANDS, TO RELEASE OUR GRIP, AND
TO BE RECEPTIVE TO THE LOVE YOU HAVE FOR
US, IN JESUS CHRIST ouR LoRD.

AMEN.

28

Wan | Vale

——> BuT WHEN THE TOPIC COMES UP IN A

RELIGIOUS CONTEXT WE HEAD FOR THE UWA Aance
ane i 7 :
EAREST_EUBMENDSY.\\ Bou_LynnsAvs 7
CHAS eH reise Wy We heme
CHURCHES DEVELOP_A CULTURE OF GIVING “bb
ee, a

WHICH OPERATES OFTEN..BY..MYTHS.
—

YTH NUMBER ONE -> MONEY IS ABOUT

MATERIALISM. \,RELIGION IS ABOUT
et IN IS_AB
SPIRITUALLLY. Y IS ABOUT

EEA ——
HEART AND SPIRIT.

MYTH NUMBER TWO -- THE CHURCH

| etme a a,
eS ee |

DOESN'T NEED MONEY, IN FACT, WOULD DO

BETTER WITHOUT IT\ WRONG. YHE CHURCH IS

eer eee FO Gees

33

ALWAYS ONE BUDGET. YEAR AWAY FROM

EXTINCTIONY THE CHURCH NEEDS MONEY --
eS, a

NOT ONLY TO PAY BILLS IT INCURS DOING

IT ;TISALARIE RANCE, CRIBS FOR
Ss JO S, INSURANCE, C

DAY CARE (Bo PIANO TUNING
' OKS, MUSIC, '
MEAL VOUCHERS FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE ... BUT

PRECISELY BEGAUSE WE ARE IN THE SPIRIT
AND SOUL BUSINESS, | AND WHERE YOUR
== # {LC

TREASURE IS, THERE YOUR HEART WILL BE.
Rn

YOU HAVE SOME enor z

SURE. ( "YOU DON’T NEED MONEY, FEW

WEALTHY PEOPLE.