I don’t know if you are a David Letterman fan. But those who watch him know that he has made a name for himself with his “Top Ten” list. You may have seen these before, but in case you haven’t I want to give you the Top Ten things pastors most like to hear from YOU, their parishioners. Ready?

No. 10: Hey, it’s my turn to sit on the front row.

No. 9: I was so impressed by your sermon that I never noticed that the service went over by twenty minutes.

No. 8: Personally, I would rather attend the church work day than play golf.

No. 7: Pastor, the women of the church solved their problem without you. (Of course, my wife informed me that they usually do and that’s no joke!)

No. 6: I want to volunteer to be a permanent Sunday School Teacher. (I’ll bet that makes Glenda’s TOP 10 List)

No. 5: I love it when we sing hymns we’ve never sung before.

No. 4: Since we are all here, let’s go ahead and start church early.

No. 3: Pastor, we would love to send you to that preaching seminar in the Bahamas.

No. 2: Nothing inspires me and strengthens me more than working on a church committee

And the No. 1 thing pastors like to hear from you, their parishioners, is:

Pastor, would you please preach that Stewardship sermon again next week.

Well, let me put your minds at ease.  I promise not to preach this sermon next week … in two weeks, maybe, but I promise no rerun next week. 

However this morning, you’re stuck. Blame the Stewardship committee – they’re the ones who “invited” me to share a few words about Stewardship – which, I guess, is appropriate because with the Harvest Dinner last night, which was FABULOUS by the way, Stewardship season has officially begun. 

A few moments ago you heard from John Greene. And in the coming Sundays you’ll hear from one of the Vargas’s, Steve DeJarnett, and Dave Robertson – who all will probably say this better and more succinctly than I.

Talking about money has never been one of my favorite things to do.  And for some of you, hearing me talk about money is not on your Top 10 list either.  So … I am going to start out by not talking about money, but instead on why we give.

        First.  We don't give our gifts to God in order to get something back.  We don't give to God because we hope to receive special favors in return. We give out of gratitude for what God has already done in our behalf.

        There is a trend among people today to be self-indulgent.  Many of the so called 'successful' churches are packaging Christianity to fit people's wants, not their real needs. 

        For example, there are some churches that foster the idea that if we give a lot to the church, then God will make us prosperous in our homes.  In short, if we sow lots of money, we will get lots of money back. 

This is the standard pitch of some of the more notorious televangelists - but it can be heard in many churches throughout America.

        In order to see how ludicrous such theology is, all we have to do is look at what happened to Jesus’ Disciples.  Surely if a group of Christians deserved to prosper because of their devotion, it is them. 

Every one of them deserved a new chariot in front of their homes, a swimming pool in their back yard, and solid gold trinkets hanging from around their neck.

        But is that how the story turned out? Nope!  Let me tell you what happened to each of them: Matthew suffered martyrdom by the sword in Ethiopia. Mark died at Alexandria after being dragged through the streets of that city. Luke was hung on an olive tree in Greece.

Peter was crucified upside down in Rome. James was beheaded in Jerusalem.  James the Lesser was thrown from a pinnacle of the Temple and then beaten to death. Philip was hung against a pillar in Phrygia.

Bartholomew was flayed alive. Andrew was hung on a cross, from where he preached to his persecutors until he died. 

Thomas was impaled on a stake at Coromandel, India. Jude was shot to death with arrows. Matthias was first stoned and then beheaded.

Barnabas was stoned to death at Salonica. John was put into a caldron of boiling oil, but escaped death and was banished to Patmos where he lived in exile till he finally died.

        When the Disciples talked about stocks and bonds, they weren't talking about General Motors and U.S. Treasury notes.  They were talking about the stocks and bonds that prisoners wear.  When they talked of chains, they were not talking about the golden variety but heavy chains of cast iron. They offered their prayers of thanksgiving not from the decks of their yachts but from prison cells.

        If I were to say to you that God will prosper you because you give your offerings to this church - or to any other church or charity -  I would be guilty of the worst kind of self-serving blasphemy. 

And yet we read in our text this morning – as a matter of fact it is printed on the front of our bulletin – “the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”  Was the Apostle Paul just blowing smoke?  I don’t think so. 

The problem is that many of us are so materially focused that is all we can see.  God will bless us, surely.  But – it may not be with material means.

We need to remember that our gifts are a debt not a bribe - A debt of gratitude - of recognition that in the end everything we have comes from God and belongs to God ... which just so happens to be our Stewardship Theme for this year!

        SECOND - We need to recognize that God doesn't need our money.  But we need to give.

There is an old story that goes like this: There once was a wealthy man who was determined to take his wealth with him when he died.  He prayed and prayed until he convinced the Lord to let him bring his wealth inside the pearly gates.  There was one condition:  He could only bring one suitcase of it with him. Therefore, the rich man filled his suitcase with gold bullion.

        Then one day, he died. St. Peter greeted him at the gate and told him he could come in, but his suitcase would have to stay.

"But I have an agreement with God to bring one suitcase into heaven," said the man.

        "That's very unusual," replied St. Peter. "Let me look inside that suitcase."

        The man opened the suitcase to reveal the shining gold bullion.  St. Peter was amazed.  He asked, "Why in the world would you bring more pavement to heaven?"

        There is nothing we have that God needs!  Our gold is as asphalt to God. Our diamonds like glass. God doesn't need our money. It's easy for us to have the misconception that God must have our resources to fulfill God's plan.  Nothing could be farther from the truth.  When we give our gifts to God it is not because God needs anything.  It is we who need to give!

        And WHY DO WE NEED TO GIVE?  One reason is to combat the power of materialism in our lives.  There was a young man who was desperately in need of a job.  He asked God to help him find employment, and when he secured a job that paid $10 a week, the young man was so overjoyed that he promised God that he would always give 10 percent of his income to the church.  He began by giving $1 a week, 10% of his $10 income. 

        As time passed, the young man moved on to a higher paying job. Now he was making $100 a week, and he dutifully put $10 in the plate each Sunday.  Eventually, he earned $1,000 a week, and while he still put $100 in the plate, it had become a grudging duty. 

        Finally, he hit the big time -- earning $10,000 a week (we should all be so cursed).  He could not bear the thought of putting $1,000 into the plate each Sunday, so he sought out the pastor. 

"When I made that promise, I only earned $10 a week," he said.  "My promise made sense back then, but now things are different.  Would you please release me from my promise to give 10% of my income to the church?"

        The pastor thought about it for awhile and then replied, "My son, I cannot release you from a promise you made before God.  But I would be happy to pray that your income be reduced back to the original $10 a week!"

        There is no more deceptive and deadly power on this earth than the power of materialism. It is an addiction as strong as heroin and cocaine combined.

        Here's how the deadly power of materialism works:  The more goods of the earth we have, the more we feel we need. Luxuries become necessities; what was once extravagance becomes an essential.

And, even worse, the more we have, the more we feel we deserve, until the power of materialism separates us from our neighbor and ultimately from God. 

That is why Jesus had more to say about money than any other subject - not because God needs our money but because we need to give.  It is the only way to break materialism's hold.

        Just consider this: One recent study indicated that churchgoing Protestants in America give an average of 2.5 percent of their household income to the church.

Now that may sound OK, as an average [although still not what it should be] - until you consider that in the depths of the Great Depression, Protestants gave an average of 3.3 percent of their income. As a people, we are earning more, much more, but giving less.

        Our gift to God is not a bribe but a debt. We don’t give because God needs it but because we need to give. We need to show that it is God who rules our lives, not greed.

        AND THERE'S ONE THING MORE that needs to be said:  Our giving to God is supposed to come off the top, not from what we have left over.

        The person who believes in God but does not have faith in God says, "Don't ask me to pledge to God's work.  I will give as I am able."

        The idea is that I will give if I have enough left over after satisfying my needs and desires. There are many Christians who practice this kind of giving - who give from what is left over rather than from what they first receive - and so their offering is but a token gift - a token gift grows out of a token faith.

        There is a story that has been repeated in many places over the years – I may have shared it with you before, but it bears retelling.  

It seems that there was a church that needed a new treasurer, so they asked the local grain elevator manager to take the position.  He agreed under two conditions.

        One, that no treasurer's report would be given for the first year, and two, that no questions be asked about finances during that year.

        The people were surprised, but finally agreed since most of them did business with him and he was a trusted man.  At the end of the year he gave his report:

     * The church mortgage of some $68,000 has been paid.

     * The minister's salary has been increased by 10%.

     * The congregations pledge to the Mission Work of the denomination has been paid twice over. 

     * There are no outstanding bills. 

     * And there is a cash balance of $11,252!

        Immediately the shocked congregation asked, "How did you do it? Where did the money come from?"

        He quietly answered:  "Most of you bring your grain to my elevator.  Throughout the year I simply withheld ten percent on your behalf and gave it to the church in your name.    

“And you didn't even miss it!"

Hmmm… Jerry, are you paying attention???

        Can you imagine what we could do for the Lord if we were all willing to give at least the tithe to God, who really owns it? The person who gives to God only what is left over will never be a cheerful giver.  He or she will always give out of a resentful heart. 

        But the man or woman who gives God the first fruits will know the joy and the satisfaction that comes with truly trusting God.

        Our gifts are a debt, not a bribe.  We give not because God needs our gifts but because we need to give them in order to fight the power of materialism in our lives. We give off the top not from what's left over. We give because we truly trust Jesus when he said that the most important commandment was to love God with all our hearts, minds, and wallets … oops.

          Finally, let me say this so that you do not go away thinking that this is nothing but a veiled pitch for increased giving to this church … it is not. 

What it is, is an overt pitch to, over the next couple of weeks, really look within your heart and see where God is inviting you to share of your resources – not because of God’s need, but because of yours. 

God is good.  I promise you that. God will bless us when we are faithful, rarely as we expect but always more than we deserve and can imagine.

        May you be blessed in your abundance and in your giving.  And may you feel the presence of a loving God in all you do.

        Amen.