This Sunday many preachers who follow the Revised Standard Lectionary will use Luke 6:27-38 as their main text.  The words Jesus utters in those verses should convince anyone that being a Jesus follower is not just a matter of “believing” or having the “right” theology.  It involves living toward others, without exclusion, a life of love, forgiveness, and love.  “Love your enemies?  Do good to those that hate you?  Do to others what you would have them do to you?  Lend without expecting anything in return???  These are not “sensible” teachings.  That is not an easy, simple way of life. How can we do that?  Our society’s divisions and even church history demonstrate that we fall short of that standard regularly.

Christians understand that living that way is impossible without an abundance of grace and the power of the Holy Spirit.  It requires practicing spiritual disciplines and living a life of humility.  Most of all, it can only it can only flow out of a life grounded in the law of love as Jesus taught time and again- love God and love neighbor.

One practice of that kind of love is generous stewardship.  Discipline in using  the blessings of our lives to bless others is a necessary way of letting the spirit of Jesus Christ shape our attitudes and actions.  In a materialistic world, meeting the challenge of faithful stewardship is an essential tool of faithful living.  Tithing seems like an obsolete notion to many people, but scripture makes it clear that the tithe is meant to teach us what it means to live faithfully as people of love and grace.  Tithing is not a matter of 10% and then do what you want; it’s a way of taking on the life style of Christ-like behavior and attitude, of living the kind of sacrificial activity that Jesus said leads to life eternal.

Someone one said that, if you want to know a person’s real values, look at his or her checkbook.  Today it may mean looking at their Venmo or their credit cards.  Whatever, the reality is that Jesus made it clear, “Where your treasure is, there is your heart also” (Matthew 6:21).  Paul challenged the Christians at Philippi, “Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.  Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who…emptied himself, taking the form of a servant” (Philippians 2:4-5, 7a).

So, if our hearts are to be inclined toward our Creator, toward being faithful followers of Jesus Christ, we must follow the example of Jesus in acts of love and self-giving.  Today, I saw a lady from my home church in the grocery store, buying a basket full of supplies for Room in the Inn before the storms came.  As she checked out, I believe Jesus was smiling and thinking, “That’s what I meant.”

The next time a pastor preaches about giving, don’t think, “He’s just after my money.”  If he’s preaching like Jesus did it, he’s really after your heart.