What teaching of Jesus gives you the hardest time? What do you wish He had not said? “Turn the other cheek.” “Love your enemies.” “Forgiven others as many times as seventy times seven.” “Take care that your liberty does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.” All are candidates for hard teachings, things that many find challenging. For me one of Jesus’ hardest sayings is this one: “To whom much has been given, much has been required.”
I think of myself as a generous person. I try to do my work above and beyond the call to duty. I strive to be a good spouse, father, and grandfather. But I struggle with extending that generosity to all people. Maybe it is my growing up on a farm where seed and fertilizer and farm implements were extended on credit to my Dad and I knew he often felt out of control. Perhaps it was choosing a profession that I always felt was undervalued by the majority of society, and it led me to carry a chip on my shoulder. I don’t know.
I do consider myself one to whom much has been given. Even though I, like all of you, have seen descending returns from investments during the last two months, I still have plenty, an abundance. So, I will do my best to give from what I have first been given.
Today is Giving Tuesday Now, a day to remember all of the organizations that do great things in communities. We might think that it is a hard time to ask for reaching into our pocket a second time to give. After all, we have been asked to continue our normal giving even during a time of less income and returns. But perhaps it is for this day—this time—that Jesus’ statement is most appropriate--“to whom much has been given, much will be required?” Let us reflect on the great needs of our community, our country, our world-- right now-- and share from all that has been entrusted to us by God.
“We give thee but thine own, whate’er the gift may be; all that we have is thine alone, a trust, O Lord, from thee. Amen.”
Pastor Roger Black
Scripture Passages for Today: Psalm 110, Ezekiel 34:23-31, Hebrews 13:20-21
