Give to the Most High

Seven-fold

In this passage some may struggle to find this book. Not all Bibles have this as a canonized book although in the past, at least in the West;

For most of the history of the Church, the apocryphal books were deemed part of the canon, particularly in the west. Books such as Tobit, 1 Maccabees, and Sirach were quoted by early church figures and likely also influenced the New Testament. Historically, these books help us understand the various forms of Judaism in the second temple period and they are indispensable for our understanding of early Christianity. Micah D. Kiel is Associate Professor and Chair in the Theology Department at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa.  He received a B.A. in Music Performance from St. John's University in Collegeville, Minn., and the M.Div. and Ph.D. degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary. 

But more importantly than what the book is and where it can be found, we should look at what the book reveals to us. This book is a book of wisdom and from wisdom we can learn how to live life fuller and better. Look at the first verse in this chapter. (NRSV)

12 Give to the Most High as he has given to you,

and as generously as you can afford. What a blessed week we had last Sunday. One of the things that make it a blessed week is great giving because of what this passage alludes to, good living. We should always give to the Lord, the Most High, generously as you can afford. Now many of us will say, I always do that and I am sure that is correct. But many will often say, I give enough, or something to that effect.

But then why would anyone tell us to give more? I had a congregant who used to clean for the church and for the pastor in my home. She always told me that she couldn’t afford to give to the church so she gave of her time. Now I know that the church paid her to clean the church and I know for sure I paid her to clean my house. But with her meager income she often shared with me that she could not pay a tithe. One day while cleaning my house she overheard me talking to the mechanic who was working on my car, and she understood that it was costing me more money than I could pay. She told me after I got off the phone that I was not to pay her until that debt was settled. A couple weeks later she came to me and said pastor you won’t believe what happened two days after I promised to pay your bill, I received 500.00 from my farmer who farms my little patch.

(NRSV)

13 For the Lord is the one who repays,

and he will repay you sevenfold. My wife and I were struggling to pay our tithes as we transitioned from the secular world and into the service of the Lord and one day when we were getting ready to move from one church to a new church, I asked my wife if we could make a change and begin to pay our tithes. A new start so to speak. We did, with some pain, and amazing things began to happen. My wife told me one day, I do not understand how it is happening but we give more to the church than ever, you don’t make more money, and yet somehow we are paying off our debts.

(NRSV)

15 and do not rely on a dishonest sacrifice;

for the Lord is the judge,

and with him there is no partiality. We were being honest with giving and we were being blessed.

(NRSV)

16 He will not show partiality to the poor;

but he will listen to the prayer of one who is wronged. God does not work in such a way as to only help the poor. In many ways he helps the rich, and the rich in turn help the poor.

(NRSV)

17 He will not ignore the supplication of the orphan,

or the widow when she pours out her complaint. That being said, those who truly need help from the Lord should continually pray for help. Just as we learned last week in the parable of the persistent widow. God hears the complaints of the helpless. He also gives to those who will share their gifts with others. (NRSV)

18 Do not the tears of the widow run down her cheek

19 as she cries out against the one who causes them to fall? Ask yourself, who would make the tears fall down the cheeks of the widow? Perhaps those who are not faithful to give to the orphan and the widow. Remember in the early church, the church was so busy tending to the widow and orphan that they created a group of seven to meet the needs. (NRSV)

Seven Chosen to Serve

6 Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. It was important the Hellenistic Jew and early Christians that the widows and orphans were taking care of.

Yes I went one verse farther than intended but I think it is important that we realize that we hurt others when we do not give as we should. Sirach shared wisdom with those who would listen and those who will listen and follow such wisdom will be blessed. (NRSV)

13 For the Lord is the one who repays,

and he will repay you sevenfold. Figure out seven-fold and get back with me. The lady who cleaned my house was repaid dollar for dollar. In other words here gift to me cost her nothing, not even her time. The devil will convince you, if he can, that you can not afford to give generously to the Most High. He will tell you, you already do enough. If you do the math, this is not about your cost this is about your reward.