Matthew 6:25-33

Thanksgiving Sunday – it’s sort of a ‘feel good’ time, isn’t it? Kids home from university, family gatherings planned… How many times, I wonder, have you heard the preacher talk about how much we have to be thankful for? – food, clothing, shelter, friends and family…freedom…We are very fortunate people, in a great land. And even today, when we’re feeling a little disappointed about the weather, we can still find something to be thankful for!

So…… I guess that’s all there is to it! We can pack up and go home!

Or, wait! Is there a bit more to it than that? …What about the gospel we just heard? “Don’t worry about what you’re going to eat, or drink, or wear”, Jesus says…God will take care of all that. Huummmm……

But those are real issues for all of us – and they’re actually quite a problem for some people. In this climate we have to have clothing and shelter, and food and water to just stay alive. It’s true that many people don’t have too much trouble getting those things for themselves and their families in this town. But some people do…

What’s in this passage for the poor, and the hungry and the homeless? What can you say to your friend who has just lost his job and wonders where the next month’s rent is going to come from? What can I say to the young mom who finds herself a single parent because she had to leave a man who was abusing her, and she’s out of money for groceries? Can we say, “don’t mind the cold: God loves you”; “don’t worry about your children’s empty tummies – God loves you.”

It doesn’t work, does it? I just can’t say that to someone who doesn’t have the basics for life, when I do.

We have to make sense out of these teachings in our own lives –folks. These are not just pretty words written 2000 years ago in a distant land – for other people. By coming here today you’re saying that you believe these words, and they make a difference in your life… so we’d better try to make some sense of it….

I think we need to go back to the verse before our gospel starts today: the last part of vs. 24: “you cannot serve God and wealth”. There’s a clue here for us. Don’t focus on accumulating more than we need (that’s wealth). Get our priorities straight: serve God first! And what do you think happens if we put God’s principles first, rather than our own wealth?

1. We pay fair wages to our employees, rather than trying to make bigger profit for ourselves.
2. We buy from companies that don’t use child or slave labour – even if the products cost us a bit more.
3. If we have enough extra to invest a bit, we support companies that practice ethical business – even if the profit, and therefore our interest, is a bit less than the companies that rape the land and destroy other people’s ability to raise their food and provide shelter for their families.
4. We share with others – we give our tithe, our 10% of what we receive, to the food bank, the clothing bank, projects that help equal out the abundance of creation amongst all God’s children.

It’s actually been my experience that the most generous people are often those who have the least to share – the least worldly goods. Generosity seems to come naturally to them. They seem to understand that whatever they have is gift from God, and therefore belongs in the economy of the Kingdom – the Kin’dom, as some people call it…reminding us that we’re all together in this as ‘kin’, or family.

“Seek ye first the kingdom of God” – practice a lifestyle that promotes equality, because you understand it! Because you truly believe that we are all beloved and equal in God’s eyes! And when we do that, of course people won’t have to worry about the details of daily life, because there will be plenty for all to share. God has provided abundance in this wonderful world and God invites us to take care of each other – I’m sure you’ve heard the expression that God has no hands or feet in this world except ours …

So when we give thanks today for what we ‘have’, let’s also remember that ‘having’ is not the important part. Life in the kin’dom – serving and loving and sharing – is what’s important! And when we get that right relationship with God and each other down pat, all the other details will be taken care of………

Amen!