Sincerely Yours – Share Series

Sincerely Yours – Sharing

Romans 12:13

A young man saw an elderly couple sitting down to lunch at McDonald’s. He noticed that they had ordered one meal, and an extra drink cup. As he watched, the gentleman carefully divided the hamburger in half, then counted out the fries, one for him, one for her, until each had half of them.

Then he poured half of the soft drink into the extra cup and set that in front of his wife. The old man then began to eat, and his wife sat watching, with her hands folded in her lap.

The young man decided to ask if they would allow him to purchase another meal for them so that they didn’t have to split theirs.

The old gentleman said, "Oh no. We’ve been married 50 years, and everything has always been and will always be shared, 50/50."

The young man then asked the wife if she was going to eat, and she replied, "It’s his turn with the teeth."

That is an extreme example of what we want to talk about this morning.

Two more qualities of sincere love

Sharing and hospitality

Really both have to do with how we view our possessions

Is everything we have designated for ourselves, or do we see our resources as opportunities to serve others

OT law created an attitude of sharing

You don’t have to consume everything that is yours

Deuteronomy 24:19-21

When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. When you beat the olives from your trees, do not go over the branches a second time. Leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless and the widow. When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines again. Leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless and the widow.

Note Paul’s words in Ephesians 4

Not just to provide for self, but the chief ambition of work is to be able to help others in need

Sincere love looks at resources not only in view of what it can do for self, but how it provides an opportunity to serve others

When you get your paycheck – what’s your first thought?

When you run into some extra money, what’s the first thing that comes to your mind

Sincere love thinks how can I help the needs of other people?

It’s simple but we need to be reminded – just like or kids – SHARE

Sometimes we are as selfish as little kids on the playground

Have you ever reprimanded your kids for not being willing to share

Listen to your own advice

There are so many needs and God has blessed you so that you can share in those needs

Let me share with you an opportunity for the entire church to share

3 weeks from today you will be given an opportunity

For several years we had a very successful 5th Sunday mortgage reduction contribution – 2nd contribution on fifth Sundays

Great – paid off mortgage years in advance

A good thing

Last couple of fifth Sundays we’ve had off

We have two more this year – Aug 30, Nov 29 - and we are using those to have a 2nd contribution, but instead of helping ourselves, we are going to be a blessing to some Christian ministry in need

We are going to share with someone who has a need

This fifth Sunday we have chosen Boles Home

We have had a long relationship with them and participate monthly in supporting them

But they have ongoing needs and we want to bless them with our resources

The Home began in 1924 on a 436 acre tract of land donated by William Foster Boles and his wife, Mary Barnhart Boles for the care of children. Having been originally established as a home for orphans, it currently has been expanded to serve the needs of troubled youth and single mothers.

Through the love and support of over 300 congregations of churches of Christ (and other interested groups and individuals) the Home has continued to care for more than 20,000 children in its 84 year history.

The Home serves approximately 100 boys and girls per year from diverse economic and ethnic backgrounds, and is committed to serve children and families regardless of their religion, race or background. Most children living at the Home have experienced multiple losses, with instability in their family life prior to admission, and then with placement away from family. Some of those children suffered abuse or neglect to such an extent that the State Child Protective Services Unit has intervened, removing them from their family’s care.