Crazy like God

Genesis 17:1-22 – 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

Begin this message by singing "Pass It On."  Voices United 289.

Today, I’d like to invite you to do that. To pass it on.

You see, as people of the Christian faith, there are certain core beliefs and understandings which we hold. One of the most important of those is, “since God created it all, everything belongs to God.” EVERYTHING.

Which means that everything you like to think of as “yours” and I like to think of as “mine” is actually God’s. Whoa.

Now I believe this says a lot about God.

Think about it. Isn’t it amazing all that God has given you? How much God must love and trust you? Incredible!

That’s grace!! Getting what you don’t deserve and not getting what you do deserve. Grace. Incredible!

The Creator of the universe trusts us, you and me, with the creation. Hands it over to us and tells us to use it as if we were God. But it’s our choice.

Says a lot about God.

It also says a lot about us. Or it should.

If everything I have belongs to God, and if God has graciously given it to me, to each of us, to you, and if you really believe that, then thankfulness and gratitude have to abound. It’s quite a gift we have been given. Everything. Like our (examples)

This in turn says a lot about what we do with what we’ve been given. Or at least it should.

If it all belongs to God and is a gift from God and I am truly grateful for it, then shouldn’t I use it the way God would use it? Shouldn’t we? Shouldn’t you?

Shouldn’t each of us be crazy like God?

I mean what kind of God goes around making promises to people; like “I’ll give you this land.” Or “I don’t care if you’re 100 and your wife is 90; you’re going to have children!” Or “I need you to circumcise yourself and all the other males in your family. Trust me. It’ll be OK. You'll like it.”

What kind of God gives away a universe? Or gives us God’s son, and forgives us when we kill him? That’s some crazy, foolish, God.

Shouldn’t each of us, also, be crazy like God?

Even better! Shouldn’t we be crazy together? Gracious. Loving. Generous to a fault; with everything we have been given. Loving and forgiving. Just like God. Shouldn’t we pass it on?

Imagine what could happen through this congregation, because of this congregation, if # of you chose to pass on say 10% of your worth to the _______ programs. Because _____ is important here. Or to the ________ program. Because ___________ are important here. Or to the outreach programs and organisations with which you are in partnership. Because you have discovered that you are part of a larger community into which God has placed you to make a difference and they are just as important.

What could happen? Is that crazy like God?

If 10% excites you, imagine 20%. Imagine if you arranged to leave 50% of your worth, after you die, to support this congregation. What kind of difference could this crazy bunch of faith-filled people make, in this community, with resources like that?

And that would still leave you with another 50% for the larger Mission & Service of the United Church.

That’s my invitation for you today. Pass it on.

Leave a legacy.

A legacy of faith and action. Show them who’s boss. Be crazy like God. Give it away.

Pass it on.

AMEN.