The Gospel Makes You Generous and Hospitable
by James Lincoln on January 14, 2007
How were the Christians supposed to live in the city of Rome that was awash in paganism? How could they shine like lights in the dark shadow of a morally corrupt culture where love had grown so cold? Paganism with its thousands of gods and godlets didn't demand any ethical behavior among its followers. The pagan gods themselves were too bound up in their own moral crises themselves. Zeus (Juno) was a pedophile and famous for his erotic escapades, fathering numerous illegitimate children. Hera his sister and his wife also had her affairs. Isis had sexual intercourse with her twin brother Osiris while they were both in the womb and another brother, full of jealousy, murdered Osiris her twin. Murder, rape, kidnapping, bestiality and sexual immorality fill the pages of Greek and Roman paganism. These gods did terrible things to each other. Although they did demand sacrifices for their favors and powers they didn't have the moral credibility from which to demand any moral behavior of their followers.
Other than a small band of Jews who were returning to Rome after Claudias' band, Christians were the only ones who believed the world was created by a holy and merciful God. There was nothing like this in Asian, Greek or Roman religion. The classic philosophers regarded mercy as a pathological emotion. Since mercy by definition was unearned it was seen as contrary to justice. There was nothing in paganism like the Christian belief that one God, the Creator of the universe actually loves his creation.
How could the Christians be salt and light in this dark world? In Romans 12 Paul sets out to answer this question in very down to earth tangible ways.
I love the way he begins the chapter. "I appeal to you by the mercies of God to present your bodies as a living sacrifice which is your reasonable worship." For eleven chapters Paul has been describing the mercies of God. That was more than enough foundation for them to offer themselves to God to serve Him. Paul wrote, "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God but that the gift of God and the mercy of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ." Out of sheer mercy God gave his only son Jesus who lived a perfect life and then offers us the perfect record of His righteousness as a gift to all who will believe. Out of the depth of His mercy Jesus died in our place, taking the punishment for our sins on himself so that we wouldn't have to. By His mercies he calls us the children of God, heirs of God and heirs of Christ. By His mercies He gives us the presence of his Holy Spirit and sets us free from the law of sin and death. By His mercies he tells us that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. By His mercies he promises that all things work together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. By His mercies Paul tells them that nothing can separate them from the love of God in Christ. So, on the basis of all of these mercies the only reasonable response is to offer ourselves to such a merciful and good God for His praise and service. There was nothing like this in Roman paganism.
How were they to live in the darkness of paganism? It's the way you live when you have stood before Holy God in the brokenness of your sin and said, with Paul, "O wretched man that I am who will rescue me from this body of death?" And you hear his merciful answer, "Jesus will. Come unto Me, all you who are weary and over burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart and you shall find rest for your souls. And he takes you in strong arms and vows to never let you go.
You begin with bedrock truth that God has poured out his mercies on us in Christ which are boundless, measureless and free. You dive head first into the ocean of his mercies and drink yourself full of the mercies of His love, wisdom, grace, promise, forgiveness, generosity, faithfulness, and you just get so full of the wonder of these things until you realize the only reasonable thing for you to do is to offer yourself to such a merciful God and His purposes for you and the world. Then, you drink in this list of exhortations, you pray about them, and meditate on them. You ask God to conform your heart to them. This is what the early church did. These weren't mere slogans. They became life commitments that slowly and surely spread hope in Jesus Christ. May God make us shine like lights in our world as well.
Now, this morning we come to v. 13 and I want us to consider the two exhortations of this verse. He writes, "Contribute to the needs of the saints and practice hospitality. " What did these mean?
By the mercies of God live free of the love of money and practice a radical generosity toward those in need.
Now, it hasn't been our way here at Hope to talk a lot about money. One reason is that we're so embarrassed by the way so many do it that we shy away from the topic. That may not be wise. It was the generous sacrifices of the early church that made such a huge impact on the Roman world. Generosity still does this today. The historical record of benevolence around the world is a Christian story. Just think about organizations like World Vision, Mercy Corp, Red Cross, North West Medical Teams and the Salvation Army. Every major city in America has a Christian mission to help the needy. When I was traveling in Eastern Europe everyone knew that if you needed help it was the Christian mission that would help you. I was especially impressed with the mission in Zenica in central Bosnia where long lines of needy people cued up every Thursday to receive medical help and basic needs. Zenica was a recruiting center for the Islamic terrorism. When a terrorist was asked why he would come to a Christian mission for help he said that no one else would help his sick daughter. The record of benevolent aid in the world is the record of Christians establishing hospitals, missions and all over the world. One of our own missionaries is serving in South Africa where she holds infants and small children who have been infected with the AIDS virus and tells them about Jesus before they die. Please pray for Debbie Evans. She has just been diagnosed with Lymphoma.
Jesus & Money
Now, it's amazing how often Jesus deals with money. Someone said that 15% of his teachings related to money. That's more than his lessons about heaven and hell combined. Consider just some of his sayings: "The love of money is the root of all evil." "One's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you." "Sell your possessions and give to the needy." "Provide yourselves with money bags that don't grow old." Jesus saw a poor widow put two small copper coins in the offering and he said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them."
Why does Jesus care so much about what we do with our money? Mtt. 6:21 helps us. He says, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Money's important because what we do with our money signals what we value the most in our hearts. That tells us what we actually worship. Our check books tell us what is important to us. When the heart is set on something, it values it, prizes it and treasures it. That's what worship is.
So, it's important because you serve what you worship. And everyone worships something. Jesus said, "No one can serve two masters, for he will hate the one and love the other or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. Then he added, "You cannot serve God and money."
One aspect of serving here is to look to the thing you are serving as your benefactor the way a servant did his master. Money doesn't have a personality and it doesn't demand that we serve it. However, you will either look to God or you will look to money as your fundamental provider. The alternative Jesus gives to money is to look to God to be your fundamental provider and the source of your treasure. Money then represents an alternative to God as the treasure of our hearts therefore an object of worship.
Paul reasons that because God is the source of all our blessings and because he is outrageously merciful and generous to us therefore we can give to the needy among us. And then, bring people joyfully into your homes as well. Here's how you shine like lights in the dark world of paganism: give to those who are in need and draw others into the blessings of your home and prosperity.
Why? In this way they could bear a credible witness to the Gospel. Because in the gospel Jesus has contributed extravagantly to us. "See how great a love the Father has lavishly bestowed upon us..." (1Jn.3:1) Also, through the Gospel, Jesus has been more than hospitable to us bringing us into his home and opening wide his arms to welcome us not only as guests but as his adopted children where everything that is Christ's has now become ours. He who was rich became poor so that we would have the riches of Christ.
The family that led me to faith in Jesus took me into their home when I was sixteen. They had a nine-hundred square foot house with two children of their own Ricky and Rene. Ricky was fourteen and Rene was nine. Not only did they take me into their home but they welcomed in another high school senior Kenny Grey an African American. Kenny and I stayed in Ricky's small bedroom which was nine feet by ten feet. We slept in bunk beds on one side and Ricky had his bed on the other. Once I woke up in the middle of the night to get a drink of water. I found Marilyn in the kitchen mixing powdered milk in with the regular milk carton. They couldn't afford to feed us all and so she was cutting some corners to make life good for us. I've never met people more joyful. They believed that it was better to give than to receive. They did all of this because Jesus had given his all for them and because Jesus had welcomed them into his home and pledged to take care of them. They simply had no doubts about that and so they were liberated from the love of money. The fact that God had become the treasure of their hearts set them free for a radical generosity.
Jesus said, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroy and where thieves don't break in and steal."
Two Texts about Generosity
Let me draw your attention to two passages that are absolutely amazing with reference to generosity. The first is 2 Corinthians 8, where Paul uses the Macedonian churches as an example of those who lived liberated from the love of money.
And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 5 And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will. (v.1-6)
Notice several things. Paul is more taken by the grace of God than he is their generosity. He sees their sacrifices as evidence of God's grace in their lives. It always is. By nature we always attempt to be our own keepers. Notice the circumstance and occasion of their generosity. They were generous out of severe trial and extreme poverty and gave beyond their ability. How do people do this? How do you give beyond what you are able? In the book The Fellowship of the Ring, Sam won't leave Frodo who had chosen to destroy the ring by himself. Sam is so committed to Frodo that he jumps in the river to reach Frodo's boat. However, Sam can't swim. He almost drowns but Frodo rescues him. Out of a deep love and devotion Sam gave more than he was able. The believers at Macedonia gave when they couldn't afford it. They put themselves at risk or rather, they treasured the promise that God would take care of them. Notice that they gave joyfully not begrudgingly. If you can't give joyfully then don't give. If you can't serve Jesus joyfully then you must not yet know about His great love for you. Severed from this grace will only produce shame or pride. Also, they gave willingly, Paul says, "entirely on their own." No one had to coerce them, shame them or pry their fingers loose from their money. It's beneath Christian ministries to use such tactics. God doesn't need a dime. We're the ones who are needy. We need to be set free from the love and worship of money. Notice that they begged and pleaded with Paul that they could contribute to the needs of the saints in Jerusalem. They took the initiative and begged for the privilege. What is it about these people that makes them so? They just weren't bound to the love of money. They were free, oh, not to be irresponsible, but to be good stewards of God's resources. May his grace do the same with us.
One more passage from Jesus where every word is full of hope. Luke 12:32, "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. So sell your possessions and give to the needy."
Jesus wants us free from both greed and fear. He doesn't want us greedy for it or fearful of the losing the security and comforts it offers. The love of money can enslave us in both ways. Notice that it's your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. He loves to do it. It comes out of a Father's love which communicates a Father's affection and joy. It's not your employer or your slave master but your Father. Notice that the Father has prepared a kingdom for His children. He doesn't promise money. He doesn't promise fame, success or even security in this life; He promises to give us his kingdom. The king of the universe promises to be forever engaged on behalf of his children. He promises to use all the resources of His authority, power, and rule on our behalf. How safe does that make you?
Notice that we are his little flock. He knows we are feeble and weak. It doesn't depend on us being strong and big. Notice that he finds joy in giving us the kingdom. It's not for sale. It can't be earned. It can only be received as an act of extravagant mercy.
So, "Fear not little flock for it is my Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." And because of this, we can be extravagantly generous and open our homes freely to those in need. I love the way Emily Blair makes one application of this. She buys McDonald's coupons for hamburgers and gives to those who ask for help on the streets and onramps to freeways.
Babettes' Feast: A Story of Grace
One of my favorite little books is one called, Babette's Feast. It's the story about a French woman who, on one stormy cold winter night shows up on the doorstep of two aging sisters who live alone in a small fishing village off the coast of Norway. When she arrives she collapses at the front door and the sisters take her in. Even though they are very poor themselves they let her stay with them in exchange for her services as a house keeper and a cook. So, they teach her how to cook gruel which is dried cod and bread soup. Soon her skills at managing her duties began to save the sisters money and people in the village all seem happier because of Babette had come.
Now, these two sisters named Martina & Philpina are doing everything they can to keep the little church their father started alive in the village. It had become a strict, legalistic and petty group of about eleven parishioners. Since the minister had died the members had begun to bicker and quarrel. Freud's phrase, "the narcissism of small differences" applied to them as it can with us. They all wore black and ate gruel. One brother bore a grudge against another over a business deal gone bad years before. Rumors spread about a couple that was said to have had been involved in sexual misconduct thirty years earlier. A pair of old ladies had not spoken to each other for a decade. In spite of these things they continued to meet every Sunday and the sisters tried to hold things together.
After twelve years of working for the sisters, Babette learns that she had won 10,000 Franks in the French lottery. As it turned out her good fortune coincided with the 100th anniversary of the church founder's birth. So, Babette asked if she could make a meal (a real French dinner) for the anniversary service.
Although they were reluctant to eat anything French, they agreed. Over the next few weeks the villagers witnessed things never seen before. Boat after boat arrived with provisions. Workman pushed wheel barrels loaded with small birds, cases of Champagne and wine, the entire head of a cow, fresh vegetables, truffles, pheasants, ham, a huge tortoise still alive and moving from side to side all these strange things ended up at Babette's kitchen. The sisters began to worry if it was Christian to indulge in such things. They decided that for her sake they would eat the meal without criticism.
The night arrived. The small congregation showed up. Guests were invited including a famous general from Paris. Working feverously from the kitchen Babette brings out course after course of the most delicious, food ever prepared. She served the finest champagne. That was followed by turtle soup and other rare delicacies. The coup de grace was baby quail prepared en Sarcophage (that means they stuffed the cooked meat back into the quail's skin like a twice baked potato...yet, with the head still on it! The general commented that he had only seen such a dish in one place in all of Europe, the famous Cafe Anglais in Paris, a restaurant once renowned for its woman chef.
As each extravagant course kept coming like waves and as each one began to enjoy the most extraordinary foods they had ever tasted... and the finest wines in the world, as they started enjoying such delicacies and being served by this generous outsider at no cost to them, suddenly, the brothers who cheated each other years ago confessed and forgave each other. The two feuding women found themselves talking with each other kindly. The old couple that had been judged so harshly for their sexual sin thirty years earlier were looked at more forgivingly and with mercy.
The general rose to make a speech about the improbability of such a moment concerning both the meal and the way these people were now treating each other. He said, "mercy and truth have met together...righteousness and bliss shall kiss one another." After the desert the small band went outside and danced in the snow with great joy.
The final scene takes place in the kitchen piled high with unwashed dishes, greasy pots, gristly bones and empty bottles. Babette is sitting in the mess looking spent. Suddenly the sisters realize no one had spoken to her about the dinner. So, they go in and thank her for a nice dinner. She replied, "I was once the cook at the Cafe Anglais in Paris. I wanted to cook for you on this special night." One of the sisters said, "We will always remember this meal when you go back to Paris." Then Babette tells them that she has no plans to return to Paris. All her family had been killed and besides she couldn't afford to go back. In shock they say, "But what about the 10,000 franks you won in the lottery?" She said, "Oh, I spent all that on the meal. Don't be shocked, that's what a proper meal for twelve costs at the Cafe Anglais in Pairs.
Babette's feast isn't just a story about a fine meal. It's a parable of grace. Babette had received a gift of grace and mercy for twelve years and so she gave out of her abundance in return. It was a gift that costs everything for the giver and nothing for the recipient. The General said, "We have all us been told that grace is to be found in the universe. But in our human foolishness and shortsightedness we imagine grace to be finite...but the moment comes when our eyes are opened, and we see and realize that grace is infinite. Grace, my friends, demands nothing from us but that we shall receive it with confidence and acknowledge it in gratitude." I would only add with Augustine that grace funds what it demands. It is grace that makes you gracious.
Grace came to them in the form of a feast...a meal of a lifetime lavished on those who had not a way to earn it and who barely possessed the faculties to receive it. It gave birth to a new generosity in their hearts. Babette received grace and was liberated by love to be generous. When the village received her gift of grace they became liberated as well to be gracious to others. Beloved, no one has been more merciful and gracious to us than Jesus. He has promised more to us than we can ever imagine. May the Lord of all grace pour out His mercy on us and liberate us to do the same and therefore shine like lights in a dark world. Contribute to the needs of the saints and practice hospitality for His glory and for your great joy.