1 Timothy 6:6-19
Luke 16:19-31
“Our Motivation for Sharing”
On this Sunday when we are invited by The Presbyterian Church in Canada to highlight the ministries that we share through “Presbyterians Sharing,” the lectionary has helpfully provided two great texts about giving and sharing.
First, Taeyang read a passage from the Apostle Paul’s first letter to the young, Christian leader, Timothy. It’s full of good advice for Timothy regarding how to think about and deal with money, and that personal advice is supplemented with suggestions for Timothy’s preaching and teaching, especially his preaching to people who are rich.
Paul warns Timothy and his church members to avoid the love of money for their own good. He reminds them that they “brought nothing into the world” and they will “take nothing out of it,” so they should try to be content with food and clothing.
“The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil,” Paul warns. And we might think of the endless desire to have more and more that overshadows any sense of meaning or purpose in our lives, the injustice and oppression that results when our first priority is always our own comfort and wealth, and the brokenness in relationships that we experience when money is more important to us than people.
Timothy is encouraged to hold steadfastly to his faith, likely through times when money would be scarce and the temptation to seek riches would be strong. And for those Christians who have wealth, the following instructions are given: “They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.”
Although it may seem like having plenty of money would provide you with a sense of security, peace, and perhaps happiness, Paul suggests that real fullness of life comes from giving, sharing, and serving God’s good purposes in the world.
I wouldn’t say that our congregation is rich. The people who make up our congregation have a wide range of incomes and assets, and we do struggle to make our budget each year. We rely heavily on the gifts given to us from past generations – bequests and memorial gifts that we have invested and draw upon regularly to fund our ministry and mission.
Nonetheless, we continue to share generously with the broader church, supporting communities that have fewer resources than we do, and contributing to ministries that support the whole church and our shared mission in the world. For many years, First Church has budgeted to give $22,000 per year to “Presbyterians Sharing,” and we often give a little more than that amount.
So, I want to pause now so that The Presbyterian Church in Canada can say thank you to you for your generosity and commitment. Watch carefully, and you might see a face from our congregation in this video about Presbyterians Sharing.
Watch the 2025 Presbyterians Sharing Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=17QTrtUONAw
Did you see the familiar face? That was Ciel Roh, participating in Messy Church here at First Church. I wonder if you knew that our Messy Church program, which is organized by the Rev. Devon Pattemore is financially supported both by the Presbytery of Assiniboia and through a small grant from Presbyterians Sharing. Even as we give generously to our denomination’s shared ministry, we are receiving from it as well – not only with that grant, but also with the many resources, programs, and supports that the PCC offers to all congregations.
As I was thinking about the Scripture texts for today, and considering the ways that we give to support ministries beyond our own needs, I began to wonder about what moves us to give. What is our motivation for giving?
In Jesus’ parable about the rich man and Lazarus, we meet a wealthy person who seemed to have no motivation to give or share during his life on earth. Although he witnessed Lazarus suffering with hunger and ill-health at his gate day by day, he wasn’t moved to give or do anything to help.
After the rich man discovers that in the afterlife things will be turned upside down and he’ll be the one suffering, he wishes (too late!) that he had lived differently. He begs Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his brothers who are still alive. Abraham declines to send them an additional motivation to live generously in the world, pointing out that they already have the Law and the Prophets exhorting them to kindness and care for their neighbours in need.
In other words, their motivation for giving shouldn’t be self-preservation or greed – only giving to others to guarantee a good afterlife for themselves. They should give in obedience to God’s commandments, in thanksgiving for God’s love, and in authentic care and concern for others who are also precious to God.
In our Presbyterian Church, there’s a simple formula for how much congregations are asked to give to Presbyterians Sharing each year. It’s 10% of what we spend on our ministry at home – It’s a tithe. And perhaps some communities give their 10% because that’s the rule and what is asked of them, but I would like to think that we give our 10% or a little more because we want to be a part of the good things that God is doing in the world through our shared mission as a denomination.
It’s not about securing our future in heaven, nor is it about simply following the rules. But, as Paul said, it’s about “taking hold of the life that really is life” – the life of joyful generosity and giving that adds meaning and purpose to our lives.
You heard in the video about some of the ministries that are supported by Presbyterians Sharing. You know that it supports our theological colleges, our General Assembly meetings, and our National Office and all the work they do to equip congregations across the country.
But on this Sunday before the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, I want to highlight the Indigenous Ministries and reconciliation work that are funded through our gifts to Presbyterians Sharing.
Since 1994, the Presbyterian Church in Canada has been intentional about supporting efforts of confession, truth and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and communities. As a result, Presbyterians Sharing provides funding for eight ministries that operate in and for Indigenous communities in Canada. These eight ministries comprise the National Indigenous Ministries Council.
Each ministry operates under a minister, director, or representative who meets with the Council for mutual care, encouragement and discussion. Though the relationship between the Presbyterian Church in Canada and Indigenous peoples is wrought with history and pain, in part as a result of the Residential Schools, the church is committed to the ongoing process of healing and reconciliation. This is one of several efforts to recognize wrongdoing and prayerfully restore right relationships. The National Indigenous Ministries Council operates to uphold ministries engaging in this important work of sharing the reconciliatory action of Jesus in word and deed.
Two of the Indigenous Ministries are located in our province, with the Saskatoon Native Circle Ministry in Saskatoon and Mistawasis Memorial Presbyterian Church on the Mistawasis First Nation. Others are located across Western Canada in Vancouver and Duncan B.C., Edmonton, Winnipeg, and Kenora Ontario.
The Mission Moment for this week highlights Place of Hope Indigenous Presbyterian Church in Winnipeg, which it describes as “planting seeds of faith in the hearts of many children.” These young ones grow up to become disciples and leaders, sharing and nurturing the love of Jesus in the lives of other children and youth. Sunday School lessons focus on the Seven Sacred Teachings and the Fruit of the Spirit, guiding children and youth to apply these important principles in their daily lives. Despite the challenges many of these children face, including family and friends struggling with addiction and illness, these lessons help cultivate resilience, hope, and the understanding that no act of kindness is too small. Whether it’s offering a smile, carrying a bag of groceries, or helping a friend, everyone can share God’s love.
It sounds nice, doesn’t it? I remember visiting Place of Hope in October 2019 when I was Moderator, and the church was overflowing with children and youth, as well as adults and elders who came together to worship the Creator and find supportive and loving community in the family of the church.
But just below the surface of what you could see, there was a community of people deeply struggling to live with the effects of intergenerational trauma caused by colonization and the Residential School System. I remember their minister, the Rev. Margaret Mullin showing me a banner covered with hand prints (not unlike the handprints on our banner here at First Church) except that each hand print represented a community member who had died.
And the people memorialized there were not old people who had lived long and happy lives. They were mostly young people who had died from drug overdoses, suicide, or even violence from others. The banner was a physical reminder of the brokenness of the people served by the church, and the critical importance of ministries like this one to support people who carry such heavy burdens day-by-day.
Visits to communities like Place of Hope or Mistawasis Church have clarified my motivation for giving to Presbyterians Sharing. I don’t give because of the rule of 10% or because I think it’ll increase my chances of going to heaven. I give because I am well aware that our country and our churches caused much of the harm that Indigenous people in Canada have experienced and continue to experience.
It’s the same reason that I give both my time as a committee member, and my gifts to the PCC’s “Honouring the Children Fund” that provides grants for initiatives associated with searches for unmarked burial sites in communities where schools were operated by The Presbyterian Church in Canada. With the guidance of Indigenous people and affected communities, responses may include searching for graves, responding to trauma and supporting healing initiatives.
And it’s the same reason that I participated in the PCC’s Apology Committee, preparing a new apology from the Presbyterian Church to Indigenous people which was completed in 2024. The Apology makes it clear that we understand the depth and severity of the harm done by the church and state, and it calls us to do all that we can to make amends for that harm, to support opportunities for healing, and to give generously because we can and because it is the right thing to do.
One reflection that I read this week on the Gospel text pointed out that the rich man and Lazarus were neighbours. Lazarus used to sit right outside the rich man’s gate, and the rich man knew him by name. Still, he failed to assist him or to ease his suffering in this life.
But we still have the opportunity to acknowledge our neighbours, to have compassion, and to attend to their needs. One of the ways we can do that is through our gifts to Presbyterians Sharing. As Paul encouraged Timothy and the early Christians, let us “do good… be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for [ourselves] the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that [we] may take hold of the life that really is life.”
Learn more about The Presbyterian Church in Canada’s ministry with Indigenous People:
- The National Indigenous Ministries Council: presbyterian.ca/ccm/indigenous-ministries/
- The Honouring the Children Fund: presbyterian.ca/2021/07/02/honouring-the-children-fund/
- The 2024 Apology to Indigenous People: presbyterian.ca/justice/apology-colonization-schools/