Saturday's Times of India had an interesting article entitled "It Could Even Be A Glass of Water." This article became the basis of my Message at our Worship yesterday. In part the article says...

"The nationwide Joy of Giving Week [is] to be held from September 27 to October 3, 2009... The Joy of Giving Wek is a new national movement that aims to engage every single Indian in giving back to society in a way that she or he chooses--money, time, skills or resources. So far, 35,000 schools, hundreds of colleges, governments, corporates, celebrities and sportspersons have signed up, and the fellowship is growing every day. Why do we need this?"

The article then tries to answer its own question in four ways: Because giving "unites people"... because giving is an "eclectic function" (allowing people to do whatever they are able)... because India "needs more Bill Gateses and more Warren Buffets" (more wealthy philanthropists helping the poor by addressing justice issues)... and this fourth reason--"the Joy of Giving Week is an opportunity to redeem ourselves."

As Christ-followers, we know better. We know no amount of giving--joyful or grudging--can amass enough tally marks to redeem ourselves. We know redemption comes solely through the shed blood of Jesus on Calvary's cross... redemption is solely the gift of God's grace to undeserving people like you and me...

As Christ-followers, we know the true Joy of Giving--because God first gave to us His only-begotten Son, we can joyfully give anything and everything to others. We can live giving joyfully in the spirit summarized by former President Jimmy Carter--"My faith demands--this is not optional--my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can with whatever I have to try to make a difference."

This "demand" of faith is not Law. It is the purest response to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Because Jesus first loved us... we love one another... and as the title of the article says, "It Could Even Be A Glass Of Water."