Sermon for September 27, 2026
Stewardship Sunday
Luke 12:16-21; 2 Cointhians 9:6-15; Psalm 8
Rev. Karl-John N. Stone
When Beth Ann and I arrived in Oslo, Norway in May we stepped off the bus and were greeted by my mom’s cousin Vigdis. It had been 30 years since I’d seen Vigdis and her family, but I first met them when I was in high school. They stayed with my family in New York for a few days back then as they were on their way home to Norway. They had just spent a few years living in the country of Botswana, which is next to South Africa. Vigdis worked for Norad, which is the Norwegian government’s international development agency. Norad works with partners around the world to help them promote democracy, human rights, health care, economic development, sustainable environmental policies, and things of that nature.
As we chatted with Vigdis in her Oslo apartment about old times, we asked why they made the decision over 30 years ago to take their family—the three kids were middle school and high school age—and leave Norway to live in Botswana, a developing country with lots of poverty and lacking many of the comforts of affluent Norway. She answered right away: “When I went to visit Botswana and I saw how happy all the children were, I knew it would be a good place for my own children.”
Her remarks illustrate a great irony that many have observed down through the ages—very often those who have little find much joy in life, while those who have more than they need are often dissatisfied and believe they never have enough. This is like what Jesus was talking about in the parable we heard from Luke 12, where the rich man pulls down his barns to build bigger ones to store his crops, not realizing his life was almost over. God says to him “This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be? So it is with those who store up treasure for themselves but are not rich toward God.”
Now, we have to be careful not to romanticize poverty, and we don’t have to travel very far from the comforts of Franklin, Wisconsin to observe the very real struggles, suffering, and hardships that go along with poverty. After all, there’s a reason why the government of Botswana was partnering with the government of Norway to help improve their citizens quality of life. But it goes to show that when people—wherever they may live—feel an abundance of love and care, and have gratitude for whatever blessings they do happen to have in life—then even “small” blessings can feel really big; big enough to find reason for joy and happiness in life.
But why? Why have so many people been able to go through times of hardship and suffering, and still find reasons for joy and gratitude? It’s because God is full of abundant life, and the Holy Spirit’s abundant blessings of love and generosity are continually overflowing from Christ’s own heart.
We see God’s abundance first and most clearly in our Lord Jesus Christ. Through his life, death, and resurrection Jesus gives us an abundance of forgiveness for our sins; an abundance of hope for new life in the present; an abundance of salvation for eternity; an abundance of community with God’s people who come together in care and support to celebrate life’s joys and offer comfort to make it through life’s sorrows. Abundant life in God is so great that we even get to become part of Jesus’ own life through Baptism and Holy Communion. This love that we receive from God in our lives is the same love that Vigdis saw in the lives of the children in Botswana.
Because God’s love is poured out in abundance, we learn to trust. St. Paul reminds us about this in 2 Corinthians 9:10 when he writes, “God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.” We can learn from St. Paul’s own life, one that was filled with much hardship and also much joy, that having God’s love in our lives helps us trust that God will provide what we need for daily life. Things like food, shelter, clothing, and transportation; friendship, family, and faith. Even more than those basic needs of life, God also provides many things that we want (but that we don’t really need, when you think about it). And when you put together our needs and our wants, we receive an over-abundance from God, because God is the source of all that exists, and God is the true owner of all that is. And because God is generous, he doesn’t just want to “build bigger barns” in heaven to keep all the good stuff of creation to himself. Instead, God enjoys sharing with us everything that belongs to him. Now, humans often do not do a good job of distributing all that God’s provides, but you can look back over thousands of years to see that as earth’s population keeps increasing, God keeps providing enough that everyone should have their basic needs met.
Everything we enjoy in life is a gift from God’s own hand. And as Psalm 8 reminds us, God even honors us by allowing us to be caretakers of God’s abundant gifts. We return our trust in God by not hoarding or exploiting his gifts, but by being wise stewards, careful caretakers, visionary planners, and even responsible risk-takers as we seek to follow where the Holy Spirit wants to lead us.
Because of God’s generosity revealed through love and trust, we also learn how to treasure the things that are precious in God’s sight. Think of all the quilts our quilters made this year, and how many people will feel God’s love during a difficult time because someone gave them a quilt. Think of the handicap ramps our ramp builders built this year, and how much easier life will be when handicapped person needs to leave their house. Think of the meals provided at the Ronald McDonald House, or at St. Luke’s in downtown Racine, or at the Mitchell Street Food Pantry—each of these have people who struggle for one reason or another to receive their “daily bread”, but now have one less thing to worry about. Think of the produce that many have grown in their own gardens, sharing healthy, tasty vegetables with family, friends, and neighbors. Think of the health care and treatment people have received when they are sick, or struggling, or in a weakened and anxious state—yet now have a chance to prolong their life or have a better quality of life. Think of the concern, sympathy, and support for people when they are going through grief and loss—that they don’t have to face those times all alone. All of these example are “treasures” in God’s sight.
We can trust God’s abundance because of the love, trust, and treasure that the Holy Spirit pours out upon us, as Christ goes about his mission to bless and save the world. Because of what God has done, and keeps doing for us, everyone has gifts to share. We don’t all have the same gifts, but when our diversity of gifts are brought together, God blesses us in ways that are greater than the sum of the parts. And so, each year, as we reflect on God’s abundance, we ask of ourselves how God calls each one of us to be a steward of his gifts in the coming year.
One way to do this (it’s not the only way, but it’s a good way) is to consider making a pledge, which helps our Stewardship Team and Council make plans for the coming year. Similar to the method we recommended for the capital campaign, you might try something like this: 1. Pick an arbitrary amount, or a percentage amount. 2. Pray about that amount and say “God, I am thinking about giving this amount for your mission. Am I on the right track?” 3. Listen for God through prayer, scripture, conversation, or anything else that will help you. 4. Leave room for faith, and know that if your circumstances change, so can your giving. You can give less or more than you originally planned. 5. While a tithe of 10% is a Biblical and spiritual goal, it’s not a requirement; and it’s not only church that is included in a tithe—there are many worthy ministries and charities, so ask God to help you prioritize as you trust God’s abundance. Amen.
[Reference: “A Well-formed Stewardship Leader Trusts God’s Abundance” by Charles Lane in the booklet How Much Is Enough? A Deeper Look at Stewardship in an Age of Abundance, ed. Catherine Malotky]