Let’s talk about money.

Did anyone notice what happened to the stock market last Wednesday?  It went crazy.  The market had its best day of trading in the last two years, the value of the U.S. dollar is at an 8 year high, bitcoin reached an all-time high, and literally overnight Tesla stock went through the roof.  Seems whatever happened Tuesday had at least a short-term positive impact on the market.  Which is good because a lot of people have been concerned about the economy.  At least every time I turn on the T.V. that is what Lester Holt and friends are talking about.  The cost of housing has gone up 18%.  The cost of heating that house has gone up 30%.  The cost of making sure the people living in that house have food to eat has gone up 20%.  And if you want to leave that house (and not get arrested for indecent exposure), the cost of clothing has gone up 9%.

When the cost of basic necessities cost so much it is not surprising that people are talking about the economy.  But that does not mean people are talking about money.  When we talk about the economy we talk about what things cost.  When we talk about money (which we almost never do) we talk about what we spend.  We don’t like to talk about money.  It is awkward and uncomfortable; it feels invasive and intrusive.  I had a friend call me the other day and ask me how much money I make and how much of that money I have set aside for retirement.  This friend cares about me and wants to make sure I am financially stable but talking about my money and how I spend it made me feel vulnerable and exposed. I told my friend I kind of felt like he was prepping me for a colonoscopy.  I have no problem listening to Lester Holt and friends talk about the economy but, even with a friend, it just feels really really uncomfortable to talk about money. 

I know how uncomfortable people get when you start talking about money. We feel our money and how we spend it is private and personal.  Which is why we don’t talk about money in public and we absolutely under no circumstances talk about money in the pulpit.   Except today that is exactly what I am going to do; I am going to talk about money.  It is not an easy thing for me to talk about, in some ways I would rather talk to you about a colonoscopy.  Because I know there is this idea out there that all the church wants is my money and I don’t want to give the impression that I or the church are only after people’s money.  Which is probably why I hardly ever preach about money.  I am not sure how many money sermons I have preached in the last 20 some years but I am sure I can count them on one hand and probably wouldn’t need my thumb.  I think this is the second time in 8 years that I have preached one here.  This is awkward, this is uncomfortable, but this is what Jesus is talking about in our gospel lesson for this morning.  In Mark 12:41-44 Jesus is talking about money.  So, let’s talk about money.

In our gospel lesson we find Jesus in the temple courts of the great Jerusalem temple.  Ever since He arrived in Jerusalem ridding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey Jesus has spent a great deal of time in the temple courts teaching the people and debating with the teachers of the Law.  In approximately 48 hours Jesus knew He would be hanging on a cross and that He must reserve the time that remained for the most essential teachings. 

So, what does Jesus do with the precious few moments that remain?  He goes out to the court of the women and watches people put their money in the offering plates.  Mark tells us, “41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury.”  In the great Jerusalem temple there were several money boxes with trumpet shaped tops into which the people would put their offerings for the upkeep of the temple.  Jesus intentionally takes a seat next to one of these offering boxes and watches as people put their money into the box.  The Greek word suggests that Jesus is not a mere casual observer.  Rather, Jesus is closely watching with a discerning eye that is appraising the value of the offerings being given. 

How does that make you feel?  How does it make you feel to know that Jesus is closely watching what you put in the plate?  Our ushers for today are Paul and Doug.  What if instead of Paul and Doug our usher for today was Jesus.  What if after the sermon and the confessing of the Apostle’s Creed Jesus came forward to receive the offering plates and went row by row passing the plates?  What if Jesus personally passed you the offering plate and with a discerning eye appraised the value of what you put in the plate, would it change your offering?  Here is the thing.  This isn’t really a “what if” scenario.  Jesus isn’t our usher today, Paul and Doug are going to pass the plates, but Jesus is in this temple, and He is watching as we put our money into our temple treasury.  How does that make you feel?

As Jesus watched the crowds put their money into the temple treasury Mark tells us Jesus observed that “Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.”  It makes sense that Jesus would notice the large amounts that were thrown into the treasury.  Large offerings are what allowed the great Jerusalem temple to be built in the first place.  When a $15,000 offering shows up in the mail from an anonymous donor, I notice.  I can’t help but think of all the ministry we could do with an offering like that.  These days my mind instantly goes to the new preschool we are starting.  Kara has two wish lists of furniture, equipment, and supplies.  One wish list total is $14,000 the other $6,000.  With a large offering we could buy all the items on one of those lists.  Or we could expand the sports field next to the playground so we can hold summer camps on it, or we could offer tuition scholarships to families in need.  There are so many ministry things that could be done with a large offering.  Conversely, it doesn’t make much sense that Jesus would notice the two very small copper coins that were thrown into the treasury.  There is not much you can do with two pennies.  You can’t pay our light bill with it.  It is not enough to pay for the printing of our bulletins.  It’s not even enough to buy a roll of toilet paper for one of our bathrooms, and we get 1-ply toilet paper!  I don’t think any of us would say a donation of two pennies is worthless… but we would all probably agree it’s not worth much.

But that’s not how Jesus sees it.  “43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.”  Um, no.  The value of the widow’s offering was considerably less than all the others.  Her two copper coins were not worthless, but they were not worth much.  It is unlikely that anyone would have even noticed if she missed the offering box and dropped the coins down the drain.  If two small copper coins is all it takes to impress Jesus than I don’t think any of us has anything to worry about.  Jesus can watch us put our offerings in the plate all He wants.  What He is going to see is people putting in way more than two small copper coins. 

What’s the deal with Jesus gushing over this woman’s offering?  Does Jesus not understand the value of money?  Well, as you might expect, Jesus understands the value of the woman’s offering better than anyone.  Jesus explains why He gushed over the woman’s offering more than all the others.  Jesus tells His disciples, “44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”  Large offerings are good, large offerings can build a temple in Jerusalem or a preschool in Johns Creek.  Notice Jesus doesn’t disparage the large offerings; He doesn’t belittle them, and He doesn’t discourage us from giving them.  But the monetary value of the offering is not what Jesus is looking at.  When Jesus looks at an offering, He is not concerned with the quantity, rather, He is concerned about the quality; He is not concerned about the what, rather, He is concerned about the why.  This woman only gave two small copper coins, but she gave them sacrificially; she gave “out of her poverty” and she gave them generously; she gave “everything – all that she had”. 

Offerings that are both sacrificial and generous are what Jesus is looking for.  Jesus is looking for an offering given not from our surplus, but an offering given as a sacrifice; an offering that causes us to willingly go without something so that we have more to give.  Jesus is looking for an offering that is given not simply to meet a need but to exceed expectations; an offering that is so big it requires its own line in the family budget.  If you want to give an offering that causes Jesus to gush over you like He gushed over the poor widow, then give an offering that is both sacrificial and generous. 

I understand that is easier said than done.  I understand the cost of living has gone up.  I live in the same economy as you and I face the same temptations you face.  I want my retirement to be fully funded, I want my emergency fund to have 3-6 months of living expenses in it, I want my family to have food and clothing house and home, and I want to go on an occasional vacation.  And sometimes I convince myself that to have these things that I want I have to limit or cut back in other areas, like the amount of money I put into the plate.  Or worse yet I keep putting the same amount into the plate but grumble and complain about it one moment and then brag and boast about it in the next. 

If you are not giving sacrificially and generously then make an adjustment.  Make an adjustment to the amount if necessary but, more than that, make an attitude adjustment.  I think I can help.  First remind yourself not only where Jesus is having this conversation about money but also when.  As I said, approximately 48 hours after this conversation Jesus will be hanging on a cross.  He hung on that cross to save miserly sinners like you and me.   So that our sins would be paid for Jesus willingly sacrificed not gold or silver but His holy precious blood.  So that our sins would be for forgiven Jesus generously breathed His last breath and gave up His everything- His all.  First and foremost, remind yourself that Jesus sacrificially and generously offered Himself to save a miserly sinner like you.  Then realize why Jesus watched what people were putting into the temple treasury and why Jesus watches what you put into the plate.  Jesus was not and is not looking for an opportunity to condemn.  He was not and is not trying to make you nervous or uncomfortable.  The reason Jesus watches people put offerings into the plate is because He is eagerly looking for an opportunity to gush.  Every offering that a believer gives is acceptable in the sight of God, but the offerings that are given sacrificially and generously are the offers that make Jesus gush.  Every time the plate is passed to you is an opportunity for you to make Jesus gush.  If you remember how Jesus sacrificially and generously gave Himself for you and when realize that Jesus is eagerly looking for an opportunity to gush over you than I think you find it easier to make the necessary adjustments.

Jesus wasn’t afraid to talk about money which means we don’t have to be afraid to talk about money.  This week I challenge you to talk about money.  Ask yourself if the offering you put in the plate is one that Jesus would gush over.  If you have a spouse, set aside some time to talk with them about why you give what you give and discuss what a sacrificial and generous offering might look like for you and your family.   Have that conversation in the shadow of the cross where all your miserly sins have already been forgiven.  Then come and put your offering in the plate knowing that Jesus is looking for an opportunity to gush over you.  A lot of people are talking about the economy these days, but this week I challenge you and your family to talk about money.  May God bless your conversations.  Amen.