As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.

(I Timothy 6:17-19)

A Native American grandfather is talking to his young grandson. He tells the boy he has two wolves inside of him struggling with each other. The first is the wolf of peace, love and kindness. The other wolf is fear, greed and hatred. "Which wolf will win, grandfather?" asks the young boy. "Whichever one I feed," is the reply.

This morning is the final chapter in our series on the book Enough. This final chapter asks us to make a choice about what will define us. In the opening paragraphs of this chapter Hamilton talks about meeting with family members after a death to plan their loved ones funerals. When I meet with families I do something very similar to what he describes. Often, I am called on to do a funeral for someone I've never met. Even if I know the person, there is always more to know. And so, as we work through the service I ask the family to tell me a story about the person that defines who they were. The stories are beautiful, touching and teary … and paint well the defining characteristics of someone's life. By what … for what will you be known?

One of the defining characteristics of the earliest Christian communities was their generosity. Several passages in the book of Acts which records much about the formation of early Christianity speaks about how when the Christians came together everything was shared, possessions were held in common and no one was needy. It was a behavior that caused observers of the community to exclaim in amazement: "Who are these people?"

Another reminder goes all the way back to creation. We human beings were created in the very image of God. We know God to be generous, generous if one could say this about God … generous to a fault. One of the most beautiful hymns speaks of God's generosity – "How Great Thou Art." Think of those words … "O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder consider all the worlds they hands have made … and then in the ultimate act of generosity … And when I think that God, his son not sparing." Love poured out for us … without price, lavishly bestowed on all humanity. In the image of God we were created … hard wired to be rich in generosity. Our baptismal vows remind us of how we keep our lives in line so that we are reflecting God's love and generosity. We profess Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior … we declare that it is in his example we will reach out to the world.

So much gets in the way of that, though, doesn't it? That other "wolf" starts taking over … the voice that Adam and Eve heard in the garden, tempting them away from the goodness of God's love for them. We hear the voices of fear … that we will not have enough left for "me" if I am generous. We hear the voices of culture which tell us that life does consist in the abundance of our possessions. Pretty soon, that's about all we can hear and we become hoarders … we miserly share what we have, even to the point of doling out our love. We even hear the voices of some preachers … the so-called "wealth" preachers. Their message is that if you give to their programs God will give you wealth in return. And they are sometimes very specific about the amount they want you to give. Early this week I was watching one such show that was broadcasting from Jerusalem. They wanted their viewers to call and give nine hundred dollars and for that gift the money would start pouring in. As we let those voices crowd our thinking we reach the point where we exist only to please ourselves … and we are miserable. We give from the left-overs and not from the bounty.

The Bible speaks of how we are called to be generous in the concept of tithing. Most of the time we can't get past the word because we think about that ten percent thing and say, "I can't do that." While tithing as a goal of giving ten percent is a good goal to have in mind … tithing is also about how we give to God … again is it our left-overs or the best? Remember the ten apple story in our book study? David Slagle illustrated with apples a way to think of this concept. And we have ten apples this morning. Think of all that you have as these ten apples. Nine of them, says God, are yours. But one of them is mine … it is meant to be given to express your thanks to me, and I will use it to continue my loving purposes in the world. But what happens so often is this: we look at those apples and figure that nine of them are not enough … how can we do it all and still give away one whole apple. So we start thinking … well, maybe if I take a little off this top apple for this year's Christmas presents we forgot to save for … and then, oops, God will understand how much we really need to get away on a vacation … and then, how bout this and how bout that? Oops … the apple is down to the core … not much left … Lord, here is your apple.

Contrast that with the giving story of Rev. David Henritzy. He shares that years ago he changed his giving mentality. Time was when he sat down to pay his bills, etc and wrote the checks for gas, electric, phone and all the rest first and then saw what was left … and paid his church pledge. He got to thinking …this isn't how it is supposed to be. And so, with a deep breath and a leap of faith he started writing the check for his church pledge first. That practice has given him a whole new perspective on what it truly means to be generous and he reports it has always worked.

God calls us to be generous as God is generous … to give our best and be our best. To live a life that is defined by generosity to the point that as others observe us they are moved to ask in awe – who is this person, who are these people. What story will be told of your life?

Let us pray: "Oh God, we thank you that you have given us life, that you sustain us by the power of your Holy Spirit and that gave Jesus Christ as an offering for us. We thank you for the abundance that we have in our lives. And we pray that you would help us. Help us, oh Lord, to honor you with our tithes. Help us to care for the poor and those who are in need. Help us to recognize that it is truly more blessed to give than to receive. We offer ourselves to you. Help us to do your will. Lead us, we pray, in the example of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." (Enough Stewardship Program Guide, page 89)