St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church
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When Receiving Is Better Than Giving Luke 3:15-17 January 7, 2007 (Click the date to see the bulletin)
1. This morning, we will travel faster than the speed of sound – so hold on to your shoes! Here’s the reason we’re in such a hurry: Yesterday was The Day of Epiphany, the "twelfth day of Christmas," which the Church has long celebrated as the day the Magi found the child Jesus. That is why we sang two verses of We Three Kings at the beginning of our service. Today, however, is the day we traditionally celebrate as "Baptism of Jesus Sunday," which is why we’ll reaffirm our own baptismal vows and sing "Baptized in Water." We’ll end our worship by celebrating our Lord’s Supper. And tomorrow? Tomorrow we’re back to Ordinary Time. So we will go from 0 to 33 (plus or minus a few years), from Jesus’ birth to his resurrection, in one hour (plus or minus a few minutes). It’s enough to make us spin around! How do dancers and other spinners keep from getting dizzy when they spin? Focus! Find a spot on the wall – focus! 2. To keep us stead during this speedy hour, we focus on RECEIVING. We’ve been taught that "Giving is better than receiving." We hear it when somebody else receives more or bigger or better than we do, and we console ourselves with these words. They’re a direct quote from the Apostle Paul in the Book of Acts (20:35). Paul claims he is quoting Jesus. However, none of the gospel accounts of Jesus’ teachings include that quote. So we’re left wondering from whose lips those words came – Jesus, or Paul. And we’re also left wondering where we fit in that picture. 3. It helps to learn that Paul’s original words were not what we hear, "It is better to give than to receive." As near as we can determine, Paul actually wrote: "Blessed it is to give rather than to receive." Blessed – the same word we find in the Beatitudes. It means "happy, joyful." "Happier we are to give than to receive." That, at least, takes it out of the moral realm, and puts it where we prefer to live – doing what makes up happy. And what makes us happy? Well, there are lots of answers to that question. Some say, "I’m happiest when somebody gives me what I want." Or "I’m happiest when I’m doing what I want to do." And others say, "I’m happiest when I’m making someone else happy." And that’s where God comes in! 4. God wants us to be happy, more than anything else. We find evidence over and over in the Bible that God has our best interest at heart. Happiness, full life, is the gift God offers us. And the most effective way to be happy is to receive that gift. God first gives us that gift when we are born, when we draw that first breath of life. God reinforces that gift at various points in our lives – and few points are more important that our own baptism. At our baptism, we promise (or our parents or guardians promise) to pay attention to God – turn from the ungodly influences on our lives, and look to God for the happiness God so wants us to know. 5. But we forget. At least, I forget. I forget that YEARS ago my parents brought me to Church, and promised to teach me how to follow Jesus – how to love God, how to love my neighbor, how to love myself. The best way to remember what we forgot is to reaffirm those vows, and receive once again the give of life God has to give. It took me a while to believe that. But this is what convinced me: Several years ago, on a Saturday morning, I participated in a Service of Installation for a minister in Dallas. That service included a Reaffirmation of Baptismal Vows. The very next morning, quite by accident I think, I attended church back here in Tulsa, and that worship service included – you got it! A Reaffirmation of Baptismal Vows. I thought, "Egad! I just did this yesterday!" But, after I somewhat reluctantly went along with the crowd, I was amazed to discover what a difference it made in the way I approached that day! And I realized that I need to be reminded every day that I intend to look to God for my life, and the best way to see that is to remember the life of Jesus. 6. So today, the day we look back in time so we can look ahead, we remember the gift God gives us each day, the gift of new life. And we realize that sometimes we are happier when we receive before we give. Pay attention as you live through this coming week. God is waiting to give you "a new lease on life," sometime, somewhere. |
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