In the 18th Century, at the beginning of what came to be known as the First Great Awakening, Jonathan Edwards preached a sermon entitled, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” That sermon rocked the spiritual world of Edwards’ listeners. It’s not the sort of title or theme I am likely to preach. But we could all use some spiritual awakening from time to time. So let’s try a different theme with a parallel structure: “Grateful Children in the Hands of a Prodigal God.”
That word “prodigal” probably brings to your mind the famous Parable of the Prodigal Son in Chapter 15 of St. Luke’s Gospel. And well it should.
That son was prodigal. He was lavish, extravagant, and reckless in his spending. The same word—“prodigal”—could be used of the father. He gave that brash younger son a third of his estate just because the son asked for it. The father did this even though his youngest son showed the greatest disrespect and disregard in demanding his inheritance before the father’s death. Once the young man was broke and slunk home to ask to be taken on as a hired hand, the father raced to meet him and restored him fully to the household. In other words, the made the son an heir all over again.
The father of the parable was prodigal. The God he represents is prodigal as well, to paraphrase the Timothy Keller title.
God loves us extravagantly, without regard to cost. He doesn’t give us a chance to earn his love. In fact, that love is infinite, so we couldn’t earn it anyway. Don’t imagine that God’s love is a mere affection. Love is who God is and what he does. Look at all the good things in your life: loved ones, material comforts, financial security, achievements, talents, health, career success, and so on. Those are results of God’s love freely given to his beloved child: to you!
Our God is prodigal. He gives with reckless extravagance.
That is why our central worship form is the Holy Eucharist. “Eucharist” comes from the Greek word meaning to give thanks. Worship models for us the spiritual posture God yearns for us to take in our ordinary lives. In other words, worship invites us to remember that our God loves us enough always to provide for us. A Christian heart is a grateful heart.
Gratitude is the antidote to one of our greatest spiritual illnesses: fear.
A common fear is that we will not have enough: enough to retire, to send our kids to college, to pay our bills, to meet our various commitments.
Gratitude is more than a feeling that God has done well by me in the past. It is the joyful assurance that God is reliable. He will provide for me beyond reason in the future as well. Fear just can’t find much room in the chambers of a grateful heart.
To live with an attitude of gratitude takes action.
Being generous with what we have builds and sustains a grateful heart. That is why the Bible teaches us to tithe. God teaches us to give the first fruits of our labor—the first ten percent—for our sakes.
When I meet with couples for premarital instruction, one of the first things I ask them to do is to construct a budget unlike any they have had before. I ask them to make their first non-negotiable expenditure what they want to give away. Giving from the leftovers will never generate a grateful heart.
Later in this newsletter you will see an excellent report by our treasurer about our current financial condition at the Cathedral. We are experiencing a shortfall in pledged income.
The people of St. Mark’s have always been generous both to the church and to the community. In this financially challenging time, I ask you to consider shifting the balance of your tithe a bit, supporting the faith community you love so much in its time of need. If you do not yet pledge, please make a pledge for 2009. It’s not too late. Just let our financial assistant Kristen know the amount of your pledge. I anticipate that we will face this same challenge in 2010 due to the financial markets, so I urge you to be very generous during our fall stewardship campaign as well.
We are indeed children of a prodigal God. There is much to be grateful for. As I write this article sitting in the mountainous surroundings of Kanuga, I am reminded how grateful I am to be your Dean. I am grateful to God for calling me to serve this wonderful faith community, and I am grateful for the love you have poured out to me and to my family. Thank you! And thanks be to God the Father and to his Son our Lord Jesus Christ!
