“ABOVE AND BEYOND”
Because God Is Generous Series
Mark 12:41-44 (quotes taken from the NKJV unless noted)
Wakelee Church ~ November 21, 2004
Theme: We can make a difference when we, like the widow, give out of our thankfulness above and beyond.
Introduction - Tough circumstances in which to be thankful
Back during the days of 1929, a group of ministers in the Northeast gathered to discuss how they should conduct their Thanksgiving Sunday services. Things were about as bad as they could get, with no sign of relief. The bread lines were depressingly long, the stock market had plummeted, and the term Great Depression seemed an apt description for the mood of the country. The ministers throught they should only lightly touch upon the subject of Thanksgiving in deference to the human misery all about them. After all, what was there to be thankful for.
But in the group, one pastor rallied the group. This was not the time, he suggested, to give mere passing mention to Thanksgiving, just the opposite. This was the time for the nation to get matters into perspective and thank God for the blessings always present, but perhaps hidden due to hardship.
Now, thank God this isn’t 1929. Some of us have lost their jobs, said good-bye to loved ones, and struggled with finances…while others have not. Some of us have friends and loved ones serving overseas, leaving a void. But this morning, just like those ministers, I believe, whether we find ourselves in the time of plenty or in the time when difficulties seem all around us, that there is always something to be thankful for.
Think of the Pilgrims, that first Thanksgiving. Half their number dead, men without a country, but they still gave thanks. Its’ that same gratitude that lead Abraham Lincoln to formally establish the first Thanksgiving Day in the midst of national civil war, when the casualty list seemed to have no end and the very nation struggled for survival.
Perhaps in your own life, right now, there’s intense hardship, emotionally, spiritually, or physically. Maybe you are experiencing your personal Great Depression. Or maybe you know of someone who is…
In any case, I want to introduce a very special lady to you. Her husband died some time ago. But in the midst of extremely difficult times, her life story made a difference. Her name we do not know, but for centuries her story has been told in Bible studies and pulpits. Unfortunately, her story has been often regulated to just giving sermons, but this morning I hope that you will join me in looking at her motive for her giving.
I personally don’t think a rabbi guilted her into her last two coins. I also don’t think she was responding to some great stewardship program. She was giving out of something deep down inside of her. And that gift, prompted Jesus to say that she had given more than any other.
I believe the widow with her gift of two mites was motivated by Thanksgiving…Thanksgiving for the opportunity to give…Thanksgiving, even in the midst of her poorness…Thanksgiving, above and beyond as she acknowledged the generosity of her God by returning the favor.
In just a few days, families around this nation will sit together, eat way too much food together, watch a bunch of TV together, and then go home without having this upcoming holiday change them a bit. In Jesus’ parable, these are rich who give out of their abundance, but it makes little change in their lives. Thankfulness is just celebrated once a year.
But what would happen if it were different this year. What would happen if, like the widow with her two coins, we come to this holiday with a level of thanksgiving that goes above and beyond the norm. Like ministers during the depression, pilgrims in the midst of loss, a president in the midst of civil war, and families today in the midst of difficulty, we have a choice.
Will we make a difference this holiday season? Will we show our thankfulness above and beyond? If so, I believe we have a great example to follow in this widow. Let’s look at four specific lessons we can learn from her about being thankful above and beyond…
(If you haven’t yet, I invite you to take out the half-sheet and follow along…)
I – Thanking above and beyond doesn’t depend on the amount we give…
“And many who were rich threw in much. Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites…” (vs. 41-42)
I think the first thing we can learn is that thanking above and beyond doesn’t depend on the amount we give. While the rich gave a whole bunch, the widow gave very little monetarily.
This week we received a letter from the Conference Youth Committee communicating that
we have received a $150 grant for our youth ministry. Now, granted, $150 is a drop in the bucket, but hear from that letter their spirit behind this gift,
“Nine years ago, we brainstormed how we could impact local churches to
minister to youth…our plan was to place $400 as a line item in our budget
to be designated for new local church youth ministry. We are granting you
$150 [of that $400] to be used to create [youth] ministry [at Wakelee]. We
are blessed to be a part of the process.”
Did you hear it? Out of the numerous requests they had for funding, they turned and gave us $150 and other recipients the remaining $250, because they were “blessed to be a part of the process.” That’s being thankful above and beyond no matter what size the gift.
II – Thanking above and beyond doesn’t depend on our status…
“…for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty…” (v.44)
The second lesson I believe we can learn from the widow is that our status doesn’t matter. While some gave out their riches, she gave out of her poverty.
If we’re looking to be thankful, the widow shows that the last place we should be looking for thankfulness is in our wallets or our checkbooks. True thankfulness, which goes above and beyond the world’s status of wealth, comes from the status we find in our hearts.
When our hearts are in the right place, then thankfulness comes naturally.
When our hearts are in the right place, then thankfulness replaces the need for status.
When our hearts are in the right place, then all the wealth in the world means very little unless it is helping us to move above and beyond mere thanksgiving platitudes…
When our hearts are in the right place, then status doesn’t matter, we give thanks in the midst of our poverty, in the midst of troubled times, because that is what we do.
Thankfulness above and beyond doesn’t depend on our status.
III – Thanking above and beyond depends upon our willingness…
Jesus said, “this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury.” (vs. 43)
Well, Pastor Greg if our thankfulness doesn’t depend on the amount we give or our status in giving, what does it depend on? Let’s look at two things from the widow’s example.
First, the widow was willing…
When I went to pick up Matthew this past week down at the Elementary School, the person we normally get our names for our Thanksgiving and Christmas families from was there waiting for me.
As my son, went down the hall to the restroom, she pulled me aside and said, “I’ve got a problem.” And with that, she started in telling me the story of how she has one family that needs to be helped this Christmas that two churches have refused to help.
“The parents work, but it seems like nothing is getting to the children” our she said. “The other churches seem locked in to the parents being trouble, but it’s the kids I’m most worried about. Do you think Wakelee would help?”
Without hesitation, I said, “Of course we will. Add them to our Christmas list.” It was then that a big smile came across her face… “I told the other churches who declined that Wakelee would be willing to help, because they never turn anyone away.”
Willingness…now I don’t know why those other churches refused and I’m not going to second guess their judgment, but, if you’re willing be thankful above and beyond, you’ll get people telling other people about it.
In fact, numerous times in Scripture, we hear God saying to us, if you are willing I am able.
Being thankful above and beyond depends upon our willingness…
IV – Thanking above and beyond requires we give it our all!
“but she our of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.” (v.44)
And I think the last thing we can take from this widow’s story, is the fact that she, in her
thankfulness, gave it her all. And it still happens today…
I was sitting in the back end of an ambulance Friday night trying not to get in the way of the crew who was helping a young lady who had just been in a T-bone car accident. As a chaplain, I do very little in these situations, but be there and listen, and assist when asked. But this time was different.
After the police officer had received the person’s statement and the medical forms were filled out, I began to make my exit by saying to the patient, “Is there anything I can do for you before I leave?” And normally I receive a polite no, and a handshake.
This time, however, I received a request, “Can we pray?” And with that, the EMTs, the mom, the patient, and myself took each other’s hands and prayed in the back of that ambulance.
Even in the midst of the accident, even in the midst of going to the hospital, even in the midst of the trauma and shock, this patient gave it their all. In the midst of all that happened, this patient wanted to thank God that it hadn’t been any worse and that she knew that God would continue to be there if asked. That’s giving your all...
Being thankful above and beyond requires that we give it our all.
Conclusion – We can make a difference this Thanksgiving…
Because I believe that when we are willing to give it our all, and when we stop determining
our level of thankfulness by amounts and status, then we can make a difference this Thanksgiving, because are being thankful above and beyond even in the tough times.
Let me leave you with this last story…
It’s a story of Martin Rickart. Martin was minister in a little town named Eilenburg, Germany some 350 years ago. He pastored a church there during the Thirty-year War and through the Black Plague in which, in all, 8,000 people died, including his wife. During his thirty-two years of ministry, all but the first and the last, were overwhelmed by difficulty and great conflict.
But in the midst of all of it, Martin had a thankfulness that went above and beyond. So much so, he wrote the words, “Now thank we all our God with hearts and hands and voices; who wondrous things hath done, in whom this world rejoices.”
It’s the poem on the back of your sermon sheets. The first stanza was written as a prayer used before a meal. The second as a prayer for safekeeping and guidance. The third as a doxology or benediction…words to stir us up as we praise God and what he has done.
We can make a difference this Thanksgiving. Lete’s show this above and beyond thankfulness this week and in the weeks to come, so that even when we are surrounded by tremendous adversity, we will be thankful above and beyond…with heart…and hands…and voices. And the church says….Amen.
Closing Hymn - #92 – For the Beauty of the Earth
Benediction – “Now Thank We All Our God”- in unison!
(It’s my hope that you will use this in some way as your prayer at the Thanksgiving table.)
Now Thank We All Our God
Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done, in whom this world rejoices;
Who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way
Who countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.
O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us;
And keep us still in grace, and guide us when perplexed;
And free us from all ills, in this world and the next.
All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given;
The Son, and him who reigns with them in highest heaven;
The one eternal God, whom earth and heaven adore;
For thus it was, is now, and shall be ever more.
WORDS: Martin Rinkart, 1663; translated by Catherine Winkworth, 1858
Sources: eSermons.com, The United Methodist Hymnal
