Generosity

“I am so lucky! I have a job, wonderful friends, and my faithful guide dog to lead me around. I am so very grateful!” These words were spoken during a radio interview by a blind woman who had clearly learned what gratitude means. In contrast, a recent study revealed that the group of people most likely to feel deprived and longing for more is the so-called “middle class” – those who have much, but tend to watch the wealthy folk around them with envy, and, as a result, fail to recognise what they have. Gratitude, it seems, does not always collate with our circumstances.

One of the features of the 21st century world is the culture of accumulation. Our whole society is oriented around the desire to have more. Linked with this is what seems to be a growing sense of entitlement among people in the developed world. We don’t need gratitude for what we have, because we believe on some level that the world owes us a “good life”. Whatever plenty we may possess is not enjoyed, but expected, and whatever we think we lack is a failure on the part of the universe to give us what we “deserve”. And so we fall, all too easily, into a cycle of complaining, bemoaning what we don’t have, and ignoring the abundance that surrounds us.

I wonder, for example, whether we would have landed in the economic crisis of the last few years if we had developed a culture of generosity and gratitude, rather than accumulation and expectation in the western world. I wonder whether the “happiness quotient” of people in developed countries would be higher if we spent less time striving for more stuff, and more time enjoying and sharing the stuff we already have. I wonder whether, in some not-so-mysterious way, the contentment I wrote about last week, is to be found in the twin disciplines of thanksgiving and generosity.

Saying thank you is a good and important practice – both in spirituality and in human relationships. But, it can often feel like it’s not enough. The words are too easy to say, but to try and repay whatever gift we’re thankful for can diminish the gift and seem like an insult to the giver. This is where generosity is such a powerful practice – and one of the reasons why giving is such a significant act of worship.

I’m reminded of the movie “Pay It Forward” in which people, who have received some gift from another – often a stranger – are told not to try and repay the gift, but to “pay it forward”, to do something else to benefit three other people as a way of expressing gratitude for what has been received. This principle reveals a basic truth – giving and thanksgiving are inseparable. The glory of developing a lifestyle of giving and thanksgiving is that we find ourselves becoming increasingly aware of the goodness, the beauty, the truth and the abundance in our lives. And, as we share our plenty with others, through simple, daily acts of giving, we increase abundance and wealth all around us. They key, though, is to give mindfully – not thoughtlessly, just checking a box on a list or salving our conscience, but with a real concern for what the other person actually needs, and what gift will most benefit them.

All the great faith traditions of the world have robust teachings about giving. All the great spiritual teachers have recognised that it is not having that brings joy and fulfilment, but enjoyment. There are those who have much, but, through their lack of enjoyment, will always be poor, and there are those who have little, but through their capacity to enjoy, will always be wealthy. The best way to develop the ability to fully and intentionally enjoy the gifts we have been given is to give them away – to practice thanksgiving through generosity, and to share the abundance with others.

This is why, whenever followers of Christ gather for worship, we take up an offering. In practicing the discipline of giving, we are opening ourselves to the gift of enjoyment and abundance, and we are saying “thank you” in the most profound way. And then we inevitably learn the truth of the Scripture that says, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)

__________
John van de Laar is a Methodist minister, liturgical consultant and the author of the book Food for the Road – Life Lesson from the Lord’s Table. He holds a Master’s Degree in theology from UNISA, and is the founder of Sacredise.com, an international worship training and resourcing ministry. John is married to Debbie, and they have two sons.

Visit www.sacredise.com for more articles by John, as well as resources for personal and public worship – music, prayers, liturgies, images and drama scripts.

Where Your Treasure Is…

“It’s interesting that we don’t stand for prayer, but we do stand when the offering is received!” This comment, asked by a friend during a worship gathering, was spoken with some disgust and frustration. It was like all he could see was that money was being given more prominence in the service than God. In that moment I realised how the moment of giving is perceived by many churchgoers – and I can’t help but sympathise with them.

The truth is that the Church has often not handled money well. I remember watching a documentary about a well-known televangelist in which the pledge cards that were issued by his ministry were examined. The presenter noticed that the smallest amount that could be pledged (indicated by a check box on the card) was $5000! We have all heard the stories of wealthy pastors who stand before crowded congregations of people, many of whom struggle to make ends meet, and promise divine blessing if the worshippers will just give sacrificially into their ministry. The numbers of those who have left the Church because of such abuses is impossible to count.

In response, some churches have gone to the other extreme – removing the act of giving from worship altogether. But, I can’t help wondering if this practice doesn’t hurt worshippers more than it helps us. The act of giving is about far more than just the money that we choose to put in the plate. It’s about the extent to which we are willing to put our faith in God and God’s reign. It’s about the extent to which we really mean it when we say, “Jesus is Lord”.

We live in a world where money is the primary measurement of value of pretty much everything. Our bank accounts and wallets represent for us our security, our value and the potential contribution we can make in the world. Throughout the ages, those with lots of money have been treated differently from those with little. The wealthy have greater power, greater respect and a far greater variety of choices than the poor. It is extremely easy to get drawn into the constant quest for more wealth, but if we buy the message of the money-centred world, we inevitably lose our souls.

It is impossible to value a human being in financial terms. It is also very dangerous to estimate the value or contribution that someone can make by looking at their bank account. Does anyone really believe that Donald Trump would be a good president just because he has lots of money?

So, when we gather for worship and we share in the act of giving, we are doing a number of significant and prophetic things. First, we use money as the symbol for our giving because Jesus made it clear that we need to see money as more than just the metal and paper we place in the plate. “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be,” said Jesus (Matthew 6:21). By placing a representative proportion of our material ‘treasure’ into the offering, we are seeking to move our hearts away from our bank accounts, our homes and our possessions, and to a more lasting, life-giving reality – God’s reign.

Second, in the act of giving, we are proclaiming, against all that the world may tell us, that we don’t believe that money provides us with value, security or the possibility of a rich and full life. Rather, we demonstrate that we place our trust in God’s care and provision for us, and in God’s call for us to share what we have so that others need not go without.

Finally, as we place our money in the offering plate, we are symbolically placing ourselves – everything we have and everything we are – at God’s disposal. By giving generously, we make a commitment to God and to God’s people that we and our resources are available to be used by God for God’s purposes in our world.

This is why we stand (at least in my church) when the offering is received. In one sense, the act of giving is the most profound act of worship we can offer. And, if we practice it regularly and wholeheartedly, it will inevitably lead us to give of our time, our abilities, our resources, and our very selves to bring justice and healing to others wherever we may have the opportunity.

__________
John van de Laar is a Methodist minister, liturgical consultant and the author of the book Food for the Road – Life Lesson from the Lord’s Table. He holds a Master’s Degree in theology from UNISA, and is the founder of Sacredise.com, an international worship training and resourcing ministry. John is married to Debbie, and they have two sons.

Visit www.sacredise.com for more articles by John, as well as resources for personal and public worship – music, prayers, liturgies, images and drama scripts.

Where Your Treasure Is…

“It’s interesting that we don’t stand for prayer, but we do stand when the offering is received!” This comment, asked by a friend during a worship gathering, was spoken with some disgust and frustration. It was like all he could see was that money was being given more prominence in the service than God. In that moment I realised how the moment of giving is perceived by many churchgoers – and I can’t help but sympathise with them.

The truth is that the Church has often not handled money well. I remember watching a documentary about a well-known televangelist in which the pledge cards that were issued by his ministry were examined. The presenter noticed that the smallest amount that could be pledged (indicated by a check box on the card) was $5000! We have all heard the stories of wealthy pastors who stand before crowded congregations of people, many of whom struggle to make ends meet, and promise divine blessing if the worshippers will just give sacrificially into their ministry. The numbers of those who have left the Church because of such abuses is impossible to count.

In response, some churches have gone to the other extreme – removing the act of giving from worship altogether. But, I can’t help wondering if this practice doesn’t hurt worshippers more than it helps us. The act of giving is about far more than just the money that we choose to put in the plate. It’s about the extent to which we are willing to put our faith in God and God’s reign. It’s about the extent to which we really mean it when we say, “Jesus is Lord”.

We live in a world where money is the primary measurement of value of pretty much everything. Our bank accounts and wallets represent for us our security, our value and the potential contribution we can make in the world. Throughout the ages, those with lots of money have been treated differently from those with little. The wealthy have greater power, greater respect and a far greater variety of choices than the poor. It is extremely easy to get drawn into the constant quest for more wealth, but if we buy the message of the money-centred world, we inevitably lose our souls.

It is impossible to value a human being in financial terms. It is also very dangerous to estimate the value or contribution that someone can make by looking at their bank account. Does anyone really believe that Donald Trump would be a good president just because he has lots of money?

So, when we gather for worship and we share in the act of giving, we are doing a number of significant and prophetic things. First, we use money as the symbol for our giving because Jesus made it clear that we need to see money as more than just the metal and paper we place in the plate. “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be,” said Jesus (Matthew 6:21). By placing a representative proportion of our material ‘treasure’ into the offering, we are seeking to move our hearts away from our bank accounts, our homes and our possessions, and to a more lasting, life-giving reality – God’s reign.

Second, in the act of giving, we are proclaiming, against all that the world may tell us, that we don’t believe that money provides us with value, security or the possibility of a rich and full life. Rather, we demonstrate that we place our trust in God’s care and provision for us, and in God’s call for us to share what we have so that others need not go without.

Finally, as we place our money in the offering plate, we are symbolically placing ourselves – everything we have and everything we are – at God’s disposal. By giving generously, we make a commitment to God and to God’s people that we and our resources are available to be used by God for God’s purposes in our world.

This is why we stand (at least in my church) when the offering is received. In one sense, the act of giving is the most profound act of worship we can offer. And, if we practice it regularly and wholeheartedly, it will inevitably lead us to give of our time, our abilities, our resources, and our very selves to bring justice and healing to others wherever we may have the opportunity.

__________
John van de Laar is a Methodist minister, liturgical consultant and the author of the book Food for the Road – Life Lesson from the Lord’s Table. He holds a Master’s Degree in theology from UNISA, and is the founder of Sacredise.com, an international worship training and resourcing ministry. John is married to Debbie, and they have two sons.

Visit www.sacredise.com for more articles by John, as well as resources for personal and public worship – music, prayers, liturgies, images and drama scripts.

Generosity

“I am so lucky! I have a job, wonderful friends, and my faithful guide dog to lead me around. I am so very grateful!” These words were spoken during a radio interview by a blind woman who had clearly learned what gratitude means. In contrast, a recent study revealed that the group of people most likely to feel deprived and longing for more is the so-called “middle class” – those who have much, but tend to watch the wealthy folk around them with envy, and, as a result, fail to recognise what they have. Gratitude, it seems, does not always collate with our circumstances.

One of the features of the 21st century world is the culture of accumulation. Our whole society is oriented around the desire to have more. Linked with this is what seems to be a growing sense of entitlement among people in the developed world. We don’t need gratitude for what we have, because we believe on some level that the world owes us a “good life”. Whatever plenty we may possess is not enjoyed, but expected, and whatever we think we lack is a failure on the part of the universe to give us what we “deserve”. And so we fall, all too easily, into a cycle of complaining, bemoaning what we don’t have, and ignoring the abundance that surrounds us.

I wonder, for example, whether we would have landed in the economic crisis of the last few years if we had developed a culture of generosity and gratitude, rather than accumulation and expectation in the western world. I wonder whether the “happiness quotient” of people in developed countries would be higher if we spent less time striving for more stuff, and more time enjoying and sharing the stuff we already have. I wonder whether, in some not-so-mysterious way, the contentment I wrote about last week, is to be found in the twin disciplines of thanksgiving and generosity.

Saying thank you is a good and important practice – both in spirituality and in human relationships. But, it can often feel like it’s not enough. The words are too easy to say, but to try and repay whatever gift we’re thankful for can diminish the gift and seem like an insult to the giver. This is where generosity is such a powerful practice – and one of the reasons why giving is such a significant act of worship.

I’m reminded of the movie “Pay It Forward” in which people, who have received some gift from another – often a stranger – are told not to try and repay the gift, but to “pay it forward”, to do something else to benefit three other people as a way of expressing gratitude for what has been received. This principle reveals a basic truth – giving and thanksgiving are inseparable. The glory of developing a lifestyle of giving and thanksgiving is that we find ourselves becoming increasingly aware of the goodness, the beauty, the truth and the abundance in our lives. And, as we share our plenty with others, through simple, daily acts of giving, we increase abundance and wealth all around us. They key, though, is to give mindfully – not thoughtlessly, just checking a box on a list or salving our conscience, but with a real concern for what the other person actually needs, and what gift will most benefit them.

All the great faith traditions of the world have robust teachings about giving. All the great spiritual teachers have recognised that it is not having that brings joy and fulfilment, but enjoyment. There are those who have much, but, through their lack of enjoyment, will always be poor, and there are those who have little, but through their capacity to enjoy, will always be wealthy. The best way to develop the ability to fully and intentionally enjoy the gifts we have been given is to give them away – to practice thanksgiving through generosity, and to share the abundance with others.

This is why, whenever followers of Christ gather for worship, we take up an offering. In practicing the discipline of giving, we are opening ourselves to the gift of enjoyment and abundance, and we are saying “thank you” in the most profound way. And then we inevitably learn the truth of the Scripture that says, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)

__________
John van de Laar is a Methodist minister, liturgical consultant and the author of the book Food for the Road – Life Lesson from the Lord’s Table. He holds a Master’s Degree in theology from UNISA, and is the founder of Sacredise.com, an international worship training and resourcing ministry. John is married to Debbie, and they have two sons.

Visit www.sacredise.com for more articles by John, as well as resources for personal and public worship – music, prayers, liturgies, images and drama scripts.

Contentment

I have a love-hate relationship with contentment. I remember once listening to Sheryl Crow sing, “It’s not having what you want, it’s wanting what you’ve got,” and starting an argument with her in my head, listing all the reasons why wanting more can be a good thing, and why just being happy with what you’ve got can actually, sometimes, be bad. I’m not a status-driven, “I want it all, and I want it now” materialist. I don’t thrive on consumption, and I have no dreams of untold wealth. But, I get frustrated when contentment is reduced to stagnant complacency. The way contentment is often described sounds an awful lot like ‘laziness’ to me.

If human beings had remained content in this way, we would never have discovered the diverse beauty of lands different from our own. We would never have learned to heal sicknesses, grow crops or create the amazing tools of communication that we rely on every day. If we were always content, we would never choose to get married, have children or make friends. While all of these things may have a dark side to them, in themselves they are gifts, and they have all arisen out of a sense of need, of restlessness, of discontent.

So, how are we to navigate between the twin dangers of lazy complacency and greedy lust for more – neither of which lead us into true contentment? How are we to understand contentment, and how are we to achieve it? I am reminded of a wise, but little known, word that Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica: “Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before.” (1 Thes. 4:11). These words have become a guiding principle for me, and they, linked with my worship practice, have opened the door to contentment.

What I’ve learned is that contentment is not about having everything you want (Sheryl Crow was right there). But, nor is it about sitting back, resignedly, and giving up any longing for more. Contentment can be found in a quest to discover new things, to experience new places and even, within reason, to acquire new possessions. The key for me is in Paul’s words, which indicate that contentment is not a destination. It’s part of the quest.

When we are so busy trying to get more, do more, be more, that we have no time to enjoy the places and people we find ourselves with, we will never be at rest. On the other hand, when we just check out, and give up the journey altogether, we end up disheartened and depressed – existing instead of living. But, when we are able to embark on the adventure that is life, seeking new learnings, new experiences and new people, while celebrating each moment, each milestone and each new bend in the road, we discover a life that is vibrant, full and, yes, content.

One simple practice, that worship teaches, can open the doors to this vibrant, adventuresome contentment – thanksgiving. When we give thanks for what we have and how far we have come, we discover contentment. When we give thanks for the journey itself, and for each moment we find ourselves in, we discover contentment. And when we give thanks for what we have yet to learn and experience and explore, we discover contentment. Thanksgiving moves us away from the addiction to goals, destinations and things, and into appreciation for people, relationships and the glory of living. We may still have goals, we may still journey toward destinations and we may we still acquire some things, but they are not the point. The point is to be aware, each step of the way, of God’s presence and purpose, of the mystery of our unique place in this amazing universe, and of the love which holds it all together. And that is what thanksgiving teaches us. And it is worship that teaches us thanksgiving – if we will only allow it to, through regular, mindful participation.

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John van de Laar is a Methodist minister, liturgical consultant and the author of the book Food for the Road – Life Lesson from the Lord’s Table. He holds a Master’s Degree in theology from UNISA, and is the founder of Sacredise.com, an international worship training and resourcing ministry. John is married to Debbie, and they have two sons.

Visit www.sacredise.com for more articles by John, as well as resources for personal and public worship – music, prayers, liturgies, images and drama scripts.

Work

In South Africa a past series of television advertisements for the national lottery depicted working people suddenly behaving rather outrageously, expressing for the first time their frustrations and anger at bosses and jobs. The reason soon became clear – having won a fortune, they no longer need to work, and thus they were free to behave as they wished, and walk away to a life of leisure. This, we were told, is our “license to dream.”

What fascinates me about these commercials is the assumption that work is a necessary evil from which we would all flee if we were just given the opportunity. Many, if not most people seem to endure work as little more than drudgery, finding neither joy nor satisfaction in the tasks that fill the greater part of their waking hours. At a parents’ meeting at my son’s school some years ago, a teacher began her presentation by asking the parents to raise their hands if they were fulfilled and happy in their work. Of roughly one thousand adults in the room, only about a hundred responded. For fully ninety percent, it seemed, work is nothing more than an unavoidable curse. Perhaps it is ironic, then, that in South Africa we have a special day each year dedicated to workers - celebrated just this last Saturday on May 1st.

For followers of Jesus, though, work takes on a whole different meaning - and Jesus himself is our best example. It was both shocking and transforming for the disciples to see their Master strip, and then bow to wash their feet (John 13:1-17). In a culture in which feet were seldom pampered as they are today, in which dusty roads were walked in open sandals, and in which the customary courtesy of washing a guest’s feet was usually performed by slaves, Jesus’ act was extremely radical. In taking up the towel and basin, Jesus called his followers to serve one another, but also removed the temptation to create a ‘pecking order’ of work. He revealed something new about himself and his purpose to his friends, and they encountered him afresh. Conversely, in his parable of the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25:31-46), Jesus made it clear that he is also encountered when we serve “the least”. In this way all work becomes an opportunity to meet Christ again, a potential for receiving and giving the grace of Christ.

It is not surprising, then, that worship and work are strongly connected. The traditional word for worship - liturgy - literally means “the work of the people”. In worship, we join together to serve God and one another, and in doing so, we learn to build our entire lives around this God-honouring work. For example, as Susan White wrote in her book, ‘The Spirit of Worship’, “In the Lord’s supper, the work of human hands, bread baked and wine made, vessels crafted and textiles woven, the money in the offering plate, all become transparent to the redemptive love of God. This allows us to see our work for what it is, a true participation in the life and mission of God.” (p.53)

What this means, is that as we are changed through the liturgy - the “work” of encounter with God - so the meaning of everything we do is changed as well. Worship teaches us that our work is a place of ministry - a calling. And as we learn this lesson, we discover that whatever tasks we perform are a service to God, and an opportunity to further the purposes of God in our world.

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John van de Laar is a Methodist minister, liturgical consultant and the author of the book Food for the Road – Life Lesson from the Lord’s Table. He holds a Master’s Degree in theology from UNISA, and is the founder of Sacredise.com, an international worship training and resourcing ministry. John is married to Debbie, and they have two sons.
Visit www.sacredise.com for more articles by John, as well as resources for personal and public worship – music, prayers, liturgies, images and drama scripts.

Finding Abundance

“If you’re not living on credit, you’re throwing money away!” I was stunned, both by the comment, and by the person who had expressed it. He was a friend, a leader in our church, a successful business owner, and I looked up to him. Yet, I couldn’t help but feel distinctly uncomfortable as he spoke, celebrating the glories of capitalism and the credit system that enabled him to provide for his family a lifestyle way beyond what his pay cheque alone could have bought. What I didn’t realise at the time was that he was merely an echo of the spirit of our age.

In spite of the economic crisis, the environmental degradation brought on by careless human consumption and waste, and the widening gap between the wealthy and the poor, human beings continue, unrelentingly, on a course to have more and to consume more. Those who “have” never seem to have enough, and seem quite willing to parade both their wealth and their addiction to more. Those who “do not have” are captivated by the dream of having, and give both their money and their self-determination to buy entry into any and every kind of lottery in the hopes that their number will come up and they will be magically transformed into one of the wealthy. To feed this quest we are flooded, minute by minute, by the siren calls of those who offer the next gadget, the next toy, the next “lifestyle product” which “is guaranteed” to still our fears and fill our emptiness. And all the while we grow more addicted, more frantic in our consumption and more careless of the consequences. It is no wonder that we find ourselves, on average, wealthier than ever, but far more miserable.

But, there is an antidote to this malaise. It is a simple practice that we are invited to adopt as part of our worship. We call it “giving thanks”. One of the best ways to stop feeling deprived is to “count our blessings” and acknowledge the goodness that we already possess. One of the most liberating experiences is to really grasp, to the depths of our souls, that most of the things that make life rich and full and joyful are free, plentiful and multiply when shared - think of beauty and nature, love and connection, creativity and play. Thanksgiving teaches us to notice our abundance, and it leads us into the joy of contentment.

This is not to say that it is wrong to strive for more, necessarily. Good, life-giving progress in so many areas of life has arisen out of need and the quest for answers to common struggles or lacks. I do not believe that all progress is wrong, or that robbing men and women of incentive is healthy. But, I do not believe that human desire left unchecked is healthy either. Desire, without a regular, strong dose of gratitude all too easily transforms into cancerous greed.

So, if you’re feeling “less” somehow, or if you’re worried about the world’s constant quest for “more”, perhaps you’d like to accept the invitation to join a worshipping community in thanksgiving this week. If you’re struggling to see any good in your life, and are only aware of what you lack and what is wrong, perhaps you’d like to join the practice of thanksgiving in your local church. If you are concerned about the way our contemporary lifestyle is damaging our planet, perhaps you would find it helpful to contribute by becoming a person of gratitude and contentment, through the regular practice of thanksgiving.

I now know that my friend was wrong. The sense of life and joy that he sought is not to be found in more money, or even in more credit. It is to be found in recognising the priceless, abundant gifts that life gives to every one of us, and in the constant practice of deep gratitude which ensures we don’t forget how very blessed we are just to be alive.
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John van de Laar is a Methodist minister, liturgical consultant and the author of the book Food for the Road – Life Lesson from the Lord’s Table. He holds a Master’s Degree in theology from UNISA, and is the founder of Sacredise.com, an international worship training and resourcing ministry. John is married to Debbie, and they have two sons.

Visit www.sacredise.com for more articles by John, as well as resources for personal and public worship – music, prayers, liturgies, images and drama scripts.