2 Corinthians 9:6-15.                         Harvest Thanksgiving                        16/2/14

 (6)  Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. {7} Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. {8} And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. {9} As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." {10} Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. {11} You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. {12} This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. {13} Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. {14} And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. {15} Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

 Today as we look around us [at the display here, as well as the countryside and society around us] we are surely reminded again of the fact that we have a lot to be thankful for. This harvest thanksgiving day we here need to be exceptionally grateful. Our reading here reminds us of just how good God has been to us and how richly he has blessed us.

 But - but we had such a hot summer and terrible bush-fires, and there is climate change; and Holden and other manufacturers are closing down; and more, I hear some saying. The Aussies are not winning the medals at the Olympics. The Governments are racking up our debt levels. The population is aging. And the list goes on. So where is this great blessing? Why should we be all that thankful?

             
Well let me remind you again of what God has to say here. Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Think about that. Remember also, that there, he is not just talking about farming and gardening. He is talking about the whole broad range of life. So perhaps we here need to think a little more deeply and honestly.

 The attitude today in Australia seems to be, that it is our right to have the good harvest, a good, high-paying job, good food, good health and that everything should go our way. We think that we should be healthy, wealthy and happy, whatever our vocation. The worker still expects his substantial cheque at the end of week, plus superannuation, workers comp and all the rest, even if the company is doing badly; it is the unemployed’s right to receive all the benefits that they get, even if they don’t seriously want to look for employment. And again the list could go on.

 So yes, we today believe that we deserve to have all of this and a great deal more. But at the same time we cheat and scrounge in order to avoid paying tax; we put very little back into our communities in the way of service and assistance; we want everything for ourselves, but are prepared to do very little for anyone else; and then we wonder why we have these tough times and that things go so horribly wrong in our society. We are planting only a couple of seeds, but expecting a bumper crop; then when we don’t get it we whinge and complain.

 With this attitude throughout our nation – the droughts, financial and other problems we are facing; they are all reminder of our selfishness and our lack of taking God seriously. And it is high time we all wake up. And we need to look again at what we really deserve. For our attitudes so often today, we don't just deserve the fires and droughts, and other kinds of problems that we are facing; but we deserve the worst that life can throw at us. We deserve be even worse off than those suffering in Africa at their worst.

 We have no right to cry poor. Instead we should be mighty thankful that things are nowhere near as bad as they could be or should be. And before we start thinking that we are not as bad as next person or many others around us; and so why me, we need to remember that we are all in this together. It is just that kind of attitude which isolates us from others and creates many of these problems. The attitude which says that we are free to think and do as we please; and that I am not responsible for what is happening around; is just the sort of thinking which indicates a sowing of only a few seeds on our part. Along with that attitude is the fact that God doesn't rate a very high mention by so many today as well: Far less a little of our time and commitment to him and his kingdom, or to living as he would have us live.

 So really if we think honestly about this issue, we have received much, much more than we deserve. For a few fires or whatever that we have had we are still doing very well as a nation. We all still have got food on our tables and are able to have more than a few luxuries as well. This is not because of our management or goodness, but because of God's grace and goodness. This we need to remember over and over again. God is the giver of all that we have - even though we don't deserve it. It is simply because he loves us and because he wants us to share with one another; not just so that we can sit back and enjoy ourselves in luxury and selfishness.

 This is the big point of this reading: God has richly blessed us – he has given us a great deal more than we deserve; and he has done so for a purpose. He has saved us and given us all these goodies, not primarily so that we can simply enjoy ourselves; but so that we can enjoy our God and enjoy our life with others as we share with them God’s gifts. We are here now as Christians to carry on the work of our Lord and Saviour: to bring the Good News of God to those around us: to use that which he has given to us out of his goodness, for the benefit of us all here in this community and world. But most importantly of all, so that others may know of his saving love for them also.

 This reading reminds us that the more we use our time, treasures and talents for God's kingdom the bigger and better the harvest will be. The more we use that which God has given to us, the more we will have – and the more we won't have to worry about going short ourselves. God is able to give more than we need for ourselves and for every good cause. In his generosity, he gives more so that we can be even more generous. Now that surely is a challenge for us.

 But all too often that is where we start backing off. We are not so confident that this will happen. Too often we think that we are battling ourselves at the moment. So when we get a bit more time and money then we will think about it. Or we think, why should we help them out there when they won't make proper use of it – they won't appreciate it – or they will keep on expecting more. So often we think that there are plenty of others out there who are better off than I am, that can help them out. In other words, we are not sure that God will come to the party and keep his side of the bargain. And when he does, we want to keep it all for ourselves, so that we can keep up with the Jones and for our own selfish enjoyment. After all it has been given to me because God has blessed me for being who I am.

 The challenge however is for us to take God at his word. Instead of looking to ourselves and to those around us in an envious way, we need to look to our God and trust him. After all he has kept his promise to us up to this point. Now even though things may be a little tough for us from time to time, he has not let us down. Even though we may have tough times, we are not dying of starvation. In fact compared other droughts, fires and tragedies in other countries we have come out very well. God has still taken good care of us.

So as we look to the future we can go forward confidently. We can plant many seeds and have the assurance of a large crop. Seeing what has happened when, despite our sowing sparingly, God has still given us much more than we deserve, imagine what would happen if we were to sow generously. My mind finds it hard to grasp how much God would give and how richly we would be blessed. Then with that amount of blessing the thankfulness and praise that would go to our Lord, from not only us, but also from those who receive those gifts that we share with them would be just unbelievable.

 Here we are reminded that this thanksgiving begins as we share what God has given us. Our thankfulness will be shown only as we share generously with those less fortunate than ourselves. Then the more we share the more that the thanksgiving and praise will increase. What does Paul say here; This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

       
Now that gives us an indication of what is possible. So as we look and think today about how richly God has blessed us and at how much his goodness is there in our lives, let this be the beginning of an increase in praise and thanksgiving to our God. Let us learn from what is happening around us and start trusting a little more that God is true to his word: that we can sow generously and still reap a rich harvest. After all, God promises that he will give us far more than we are prepared to expect of him in order that we might share his love with those around about us.

 Finally, remember, Jesus gave his life on the cross so that we have that which is most important of all - eternal life with God. That should surely inspire us no end to give our all and to be thankful, no matter what. Knowing how important he views everyone’s soul’s salvation and knowing that we can't lose ourselves, because Jesus has gone before us and won the victory for us, we surely are motivated to thankfulness and generosity. That being the case then, surely this is a great harvest thanksgiving day. We have so much to look forward to as we face the future. So let us thank God for his priceless gifts, now and always.  AMEN

Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish