(our theme for November)

I don’t know anyone who loves money for the sake of its pretty green or gold color. Nor do I think I know anyone who has a counting house like that old King Midas, who would sit on the piles of gold, stroking it and feeling the coins run through his fingers. No, the modern day glutton for gold usually wants it in the format of objects – things owned and collected. The modern Midas wants more and more stuff, bigger and better things. But the old Midas and new have much in common. Their #1 commonality is Greed! With a capital G! And greed makes Midas stingy! Midas doesn’t share much. Midas is fearful of losing money, because if the money goes, so does the status, the prestige, the image, the respect from those who count only one’s wealth as their value. But the greedy Midas has already lost the most important thing in life – closeness to God!

As it says in Matthew 6:24 – “You cannot be a slave to two masters! You will like one more than the other or be more loyal to one than the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

Midas doesn’t share, except when credit and honor are offered as an award for it. Midas is so busy collecting money and things that LOVE falls by the wayside.

And it’s not just the rich Midas who fails the call. The struggling middle-class person, who is working hard to climb up the ladder of success can miss the mark too. That mark is generosity – doing for others, helping your neighbor, extending a hand to someone, giving of your time by visiting that widow next door, sharing what you have with someone who has need, volunteering your time generously, expecting nothing in return.

Last Thursday, I saw a young homeless man offering great generosity. We offer Welcome Table – free meals to anyone who is hungry for food or fellowship each week on Thursday evenings at our church. The young man came into the dining hall with the rest of the guests, as he usually does, but he asked for an apron and wanted to wait tables, serving food to the guests. He has done this several times lately. I gave him an apron and he worked hard for the next hour, graciously serving food and making people feel welcome.

As our guests were leaving the young man asked if any food was left and if so, would it be okay if he ate. He said he was very hungry, having only eaten four times that week! In tears we hurried to bring him two large servings of food. When he devoured that, we brought more.

Of course, he thanked us – but it was we who gave thanks for having seen such unselfish love and generosity! All who saw this example of generosity and unselfish service left there deeply blessed.

This young man was offered money by a couple of our other volunteers, but he vigorously declined those offers, telling us he has all he needs. He only wanted food. His example reinforced for us, how simple acts of kindness prove generosity of spirit and show that Jesus is among the generous. For all who witnessed his actions that evening there was deep blessing!

I think our young, hungry guest was Jesus that night! He sure embodied LOVE! And he reminds us all that generosity of spirit brings us close to God!

Dear Lord, fill us with the desire to help, the desire to share, the desire to serve, as Jesus did. Help us to represent your hands and feet to the world and to leave greed lying in the dust! In Jesus’ name, Amen!...