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Generosity that is Above and Beyond
Luke 6:27-38

     This morning's Scripture is an excerpt from one of Jesus's most famous sermons.  Isn't it a powerfully challenging message?  Our author Luke says Jesus had been up on a mountain praying all during the night.  Having had that close communion with the Father, Jesus then descended the mountain and stood on a large, level plain.  There he taught a great and diverse crowd of people who had gathered from across the region.
     Jesus’ message that day focused on a God-follower’s lifestyle - in particular, how they relate to and treat the people who are in their lives. The centerpiece of that day’s sermon, the essential piece that holds together all the rest, is found in Luke 6: 31: “Do for others as you would like them to do for you.” This has been nicknamed “The Golden Rule” for it is the one shiny key that, if used as intended, will open most every door you’ll ever need to open.  This wisdom, if applied, will make your everyday life and mine wide open and good in every imaginable way.
     Here's what following this rule will do for all who choose that path. It will show you God's definition of right and wrong. It will rule our heart and guide our feet. The Golden Rule will serve us as ably as a traveler’s map, a pilgrim’s walking stick, or a woodsman’s compass. And though it will place the highest responsibility on us, it will also bring us the greatest of rewards.
     This morning we’ll look carefully at this Golden Rule, see what it asks of us, then consider what it gives us in return. Two words will help us get started. They are “Live Generously”. Don't you think that is one of the marks of a true Christian, that they live generously in every way? If you looked around at the people you know or have heard about, chances are there are some you’d easily identify as “givers”. They love to help - it's their joy. It's also a way of life for them.  Unfortunately, there are other people who seem to be “takers”. They seem to always be in one form of need or another. And even if it is in their power to give to others, that isn't what they typically think about or do.
     Our calling as Christians is to be givers, to be open-handed and generous, ready to let go of what we have for others’ sake. To be self-emptying like this isn't easy; in fact, it goes against our human nature. That's why we must depend on God to help us be generous.  Left to ourselves we tend to be cautious, to worry, even assume the worst. We must be on the lookout for selfishness or self-centeredness.  We can want to keep our time and other parts of us all for ourselves, neglecting to do good that is in our power to do for others.  
     I want to share a remarkable example of Christians who “lived generously” in the early years of the Christian Church.  Do you know that a number of serious plagues swept through Europe in the first three centuries after the death of Christ? The years 260-309 AD brought some of the worst. Bishop Dionysius and a historian named Eusebius wrote long accounts about what life was like during those frightening years.  Here are some excerpts (paraphrased):   “When sickness struck an unbeliever's household, the family members deserted their loved ones, and would not go near their dearest friends in life.  Those families cast their sick, elderly relatives out on the street to die alone; they did the same with their weak and suffering young children.  You saw people bundled up and half-dead up by the roadside as if they were refuse thrown outside.  Those who could quickly packed some of their belongings and fled from the cities, toward the remote countryside, in hopes of staying safe.
    “As Bishop of the church here, I am grateful to report that Christians everywhere are showing themselves in the clearest light during these difficult times.  They are the only ones remaining here among the terribly ill.  They fearlessly visit the sick, showing exceeding love and kindness. They minister to them and serve as if they were serving Jesus Christ himself.
     “They are also taking on the affliction and pain of the plague into their own bodies, but those who do and then die, do so joyfully. These Christians will not desert their neighbors; they remain in their homes and by their bedsides to the very end.  Some of them have recently organized a bread ministry to feed those who have recovered and are hungry once more.  Although this is a dark time for our world, there are so many who have seen and heard about what Christians are doing.   They are amazed and have been giving glory to our God.”
     Isn't that an incredible example of what “living generously” really is?  We have had frontline workers during our current plague of COVID-19; they have been the ones sustaining our hospitals, businesses, and agencies.  Those essential workers have taken risks, made sacrifices, and certainly lived generously as they served others.   As you and I know, there continue to be neighbors and loved ones who have immense unmet needs.  These are in our community and beyond, and we have resources God is counting on us to share.   When God prompts us to share our resources, let’s listen and obey.   It might mean rolling up our sleeves, or praying for someone, or using some talent we have, to improve their daily life.   If you’re not sure how to minister to someone, ask them what they need some help with or ask someone who knows them well.   Then when the time comes, serve them “as if you were serving Jesus Christ.” 
     The next requirement that is part of Golden Rule living is to “Love everyone”.  I can assure you that that doesn't just happen for most of us, so here’s a bit of wisdom for us to consider from a Native American grandfather.  His grandson was with him one day and confided to him: “I feel as if I have two wolves fighting in my heart.  One wolf is a vengeful, angry wolf and the other wolf is a loving, compassionate wolf.”   The grandson asked, “Which wolf will win the fight in my heart?”  The grandfather answered, “The one that you feed!”.
     Every day, with every decision and thought, we can feed love so it increases or feed hate so that spreads.   We can choose to show grace to someone who hurts us or keep a grudge.  We can be petty and irritable over small annoyances, or do the harder work of building others up.  The two things Jesus told us not to do in his sermon that day were not to judge and not to seek revenge for wrongs done to you. What he said we must do is forgive and love all, even our enemies .
     One of the finest examples of a Christian who lived this out is Martin Luther King, Jr.  Do you know his home was burned down one night by a group of white men who didn’t like his message about the equality of the races? The situation after the fires was a dangerous period; a crowd of Dr. King's friends and supporters gathered, some talked about getting guns, others talked about getting gasoline and setting fire to the homes of all the white people in the area so they would suffer as the black people had suffered. The crowd’s human instinct was to hurt those who had hurt them and theirs.
    Can you identify with that impulse to want to return insult for insult, or hit back when we get hurt, or curse at others when they are cursing us? Those baser choices, which put revenge in our own hands, are not God’s way, nor do they lead to making the world a better place for all.   Thanks to Dr. King, the crowd that night turned away from their enemies. They went home and began to discuss how to win the victory with votes instead of with guns, with politics instead of burning buildings, with love that ushers in a better world rather than hatred.
     One of the things Martin Luther King Jr. told the crowd that night that calmed them down was this: “When you live by the rule of an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth, you end up with a nation of blind and toothless people.”  He knew the way of violence only begets more violence, and that hate only fosters more hate. He believed that one could only defeat one's enemy with love.
     He embodied the gospel of Jesus Christ when hatred was surging all around him, when some had a desire for vengeance. He helped lead people feeling pain toward a longer-term path; it would take much effort in the same direction for a long time to effect changes.  That was then, but what do you think about these days we are living through right now?  Isn’t there turmoil in our society, over a number of painful issues?   God wants and needs us to be His agents, engaged in loving actions and efforts that move our communities in a better direction, over the long haul.  We do that by consistently living generous lives and loving all people.   These are radical choices, embodied by only a minority of people, for such a way of life is costly.  
     But hear this Good News: Jesus says there is a blessing for all who live and love as he lived and loved.    He compares our rewards to the way a pocket on the front of an outer garment could open and hold things - in this case wheat.  He wants us to imagine kernels pouring into the pocket, so it bulges.   Then as it nears the top it is pressed down and shaken a bit so as much wheat as possible fits!  Jesus’ audience would have grinned in recognition, for they all used their pockets to carry things.  But then Jesus gives us a Kingdom truth in the story.  Their pockets will be running over if they treat others with generosity, but if they are stingy in their treatment of others, they will only end up with a meager amount themselves.  The measure we use in giving to others, will be the same one used when we receive ours.
     I want to end with a beautiful story that illustrates this so well.  There was a King who invited his subjects to come to his palace for a grand feast.  The invitation included a special request.  Since the moat around the palace had dried up that season due to lack of rain, the King asked each guest to bring a vessel filled with water for the  royal moat.  Some of the guests eagerly lugged full buckets. Others carefully carried cups full of water.  Still others brought small containers filled with just a few ounces of water.  
     When they had all finished eating, dancing, and singing that evening, the King said: “Now I, your Majesty, have a surprise for you.”   Some thought it might be something outside waiting for them and they turned their attention to the large drawbridge they had walked on as they crossed the moat.   But the King walked to a large door on the other side of the great room.  With a nod of his head his staff opened the thick door to reveal his Royal Treasury.  It was an immense room, with chests that were opened and overflowing with fine jewelry, gold and coins, precious art, treasures of every kind.  The King stood at the doorway and said, “You may all come in and help yourself to my riches tonight, but there is one condition.  You can only take home the amount of Treasury you can carry in the vessel in which you brought me water.”
     People of God, we who are followers of the King of all Kings, may we live generously and love all.   May we also know that our Lord loves to surprise us in extravagant ways.   Let’s leave here aware that Jesus is counting on us to be His faithful vessels, filled, pressed down, then poured out for all the world.   Thanks be to God, Amen.    

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