September 29, 2024
Indianola Presbyterian Church, Columbus
"God's Preference for the Poor"
Sermon by Rev. Trip Porch
September 29, 2024 Based on Proverbs 22:1-2, 4, 7, 9, 16-23
Unlike our previous Sundays, our scripture today is not in the lectionary readings. I picked it from the book of proverbs to conclude our series, because despite us talking about wisdom literature and the divine figure of Wisdom over the last month, I realize we haven’t yet actually spent any time talking about the actual “Wisdom” that Proverbs teaches. We haven’t yet spoken about any of the points these proverbs make. So with this being the last Sunday in this series… I figure we should probably start now by covering an important life teaching from the book of proverbs, just one specific focused piece of wisdom from a lot of different wisdom from this book:
how we are to live wisely …in regard to money.
This teaching comes to us in rapid fire snippets that seem all over the place. In fact, the reason our reading today is selected verses is because in between these teachings about money are more snippet teachings about other topics, which makes proverbs read less like a book, and more like someone’s pocket notebook where they write down quotes and ideas they come across that resonate with them. But it seems like the author’s ADD was overacting here.
One moment the author is talking about personal priorities, how we should prioritize establishing a good reputation over establishing wealth to have a good life. And then, the lesson immediately switches to say, “Also, don’t take out debt, because then you’ll be under the power of the rich oh, and speaking of power, don’t be unjust in your leadership, it’ll come back to haunt you, Oh and speaking of being unjust, don’t exploit people who have less than you while being generous to the those who have more than you, in fact be generous to those with less.”
Reading a passage in this book of wisdom straight through feels a bit like watching the ball at a tennis match. It’s a bit hard to keep up with as it moves so quickly back and forth. And yet, like much of the Bible, while you can draw wisdom from each individual smaller part, there is also wisdom in the overarching story that important to pay attention to as well.
So what is that wisdom?
I think what this chapter is saying at least, is that a life of faith needs to be considerate of your relationship with other people. That we need to be attentive to the ways our living impacts others.
Is our life helping to lift people up, or keeping people down, or worse, is our living benefiting those who are already up?
And then the teaching comes that living life generously, giving charitably, being in relationship with people experiencing poverty, and trying to do justice for them helps to lift people up, while doing the opposite of this, living unjustly, accumulating wealth only for yourself,
As you dive into it, an important theme becomes really clear across these snippets: that God has a big heart for the poor, the marginalized, and the oppressed, or as liberation theologians describe it: God has a “preferential option for the poor.” Or as Gustavo Gutierrez, one of the godfathers of liberation theology put it as he tried to look back and summarize his attempt at living a faithful life: “I hope my life tries to give testimony to the message of the Gospel: Above all that God loves the world, and loves those who are poorest within it"
And it’s not just a theme here, it’s a theme throughout all of scripture. When we draw closer to the poorest in life, we draw closer to the heart of God. And as children of God, as people called to live a life in God, to align our life’s path with God and follow God’s wisdom, it seems clear that our hearts should be where God’s heart is, our priorities should be where God’s priorities are, that in a world of options to give preference to, our preferential option should also be for the poor.
But what does that actually mean? What does this proverbial ancient wisdom mean for us today? How do we know when we are doing this faithful and well? Is there some measure where we will know we are getting it right? How do we know what we are giving our preference to? Is it where we spend our time? Is it the spaces we move in and out of? Is it where our money goes? When do we know that our presence is aligned with God’s, that our hearts are in the right place, that we living as we should.
My bank account has this tool in it, where it looks at all the purchases I’ve made and categorizes them, and then it automatically generates a pie chart to show you the proportion of your spending, how much is going to food and groceries, how much is going towards utilities and living, how much is going to entertainment… It’s clearcut data that shows your trends of spending, and what you have prioritized.
If God had a pie chart of priorities, what would it look like? What percentage would be for the poor?
And is there some pie chart percentage that we are aiming for to know we have centered our life adequately around the right place?
In short, I think the answer is no. There is not some magic number of generosity. There isn’t a metric to know that you are giving your time or money to the poor adequately. But what is clear from this wisdom is that when we move our lives in that direction, when we come closer to the margins, when we are more mindful of injustice and those who live in poverty, and we live generously sharing our money, our time, our energy, our advocacy, we are living faithfully.
I think this looks different for different people. I know a pastor who felt called to create a church specifically for unhoused people. For him, the wisdom of proverbs led him to the streets, to be in solidarity with those who have no housing. This meant a lot of different things for him personally. It means he spent a lot of time at encampments, going to be in community with people living on the streets. It also meant he was very thoughtful about what he wore, rather than dressing business casual which showed he was different and prioritized appealing to a different community, his uniform became a brown hoodie that he made himself and wore every day until it ultimately had holes that he kept mending to show his solidarity with the people he ministered with.
Is this what it means for us to prioritize the poor?
I know other Christians who have taken up this call by living in community and moving into the lowest income and roughest neighborhoods of town, to be in relationship with the people who lived there. To try to have their presence there be one that uplifts their community. Is this what it means to give preference to the poor as God does?
I’ve also heard of a food pantry director who used to serve at a food pantry in town who famously ended every meeting he took with the same call… He’d say “Here’s what I need from you, it’s either one of two things. I need you to give me your time by coming to volunteer with me, by meeting the clients of the food pantry, hearing their stories, and helping them out, or I need you to write me a big fat check so that this work can continue and so that it can grow, because the need is great” Are big fat checks how we show preference for people living in poverty? Is it our volunteer time? Is this what God wants from us?
Yes, and Yes, and Yes. All of the above. Clearly some of these are extreme examples of people who have fully rearranged their life to live faithfully but this isn’t that ask of everyone. For some people moving closer in the direction of God means caring for people who are poor, for some it means giving your money, for some people it means giving your time, for some people it means literally moving to be in community with people experiencing poverty, for some people it means spending your days hanging out in homeless camps and walking the walk. For some people it may even be a simple change like smiling at the person panhandling, saying hello and learning their name rather than rolling up your window and ignoring them all together.
It looks different for each person, but all of it is a faithful response to God’s wisdom. If we all do our part, if all move closer in our way, we are faithfully following God’s wisdom, and drawing our communities and our world closer to what God dreams about.
So what step might you take to follow this wisdom? What might you do today that’s different than before to give preference for the poor. How might the pie chart of your priorities grow the slice towards charity, generosity, and awareness of our neighbors who are living in poverty.
May we all draw closer to God in our own way, by taking steps towards the margins and living out the wisdom of proverbs.
Amen.
WE GATHER IN AWE AND PRAISE
PRELUDE “Many and Great” arr. Cathy Moklebust
The Sanctuary Bells
INTROIT “Enter God’s Gates with Thanksgiving” Nick Vangeloff
WELCOME Rev. Trip Porch
One: This is the day that the Lord has made
All: Let us rejoice and be glad in it
*CALL TO WORSHIP
One: We gather to worship God,
All: Who creates us and loves us;
One: Who gifts us with diversity and makes us for community;
All: Who sent Jesus Christ to show us how to live;
One: Who inspires people of all ages with the wisdom:
All: To seek justice, to share power, and live together in love and equality;
One: Who invites us to join the struggle for wholeness and wellbeing for all,
All: and whose presence, grace, and love sustains us in our living.
One: We gather to worship God.
All: To God be all glory, honor, and praise!
*HYMN INSERT “Who Comes from God as Word and Breath?” SALVE REGINA COELITUM
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION Rebekah Gayley
God of glory, we confess that we have not sought your face.
We ignore the needs of the poor and turn away from our own kin.
We allow the gospel to go stale and hide the light you have given.
Forgive us; give us grace.
By the renewing gifts of your Spirit inspire and empower us again
to show the wonder of your love in Jesus Christ our Lord
by following your way of wisdom in our life…Individual confession offered in the silence
*ASSURANCE OF PARDON from Psalm 145
One: Beloved, The LORD is faithful and gracious
All: through all words and in all actions.
One: The LORD upholds all who are falling
All: and raises up all who are bowed down.
One: Friends, Know that you are forgiven and be at peace.
All: Thanks be to God! Amen.
*RESPONSE OF PRAISE 659 “Know That God Is Good” MUNGU NI MWEMA
*PASSING OF THE PEACE
One: The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all,
All: And also with you.
WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S WORD
ANTHEM “Sing to the Lord a New Song” Robert Lau Emma Kelley, conductor
SUNG PRAYER FOR IILLUMINATION 174 “Come and Seek the Ways of Wisdom” MADELINE
All are invited to sing.
SCRIPTURE Proverbs 22:1-2, 4, 7, 9, 16-23 MSG & CEB
“A sterling reputation is better than striking it rich;
a gracious spirit is better than money in the bank.
The rich and the poor shake hands as equals — God made them both!
The payoff for meekness and the Fear-of-God is plenty and honor and a satisfying life.
The poor are always ruled over by the rich,
so don’t borrow and put yourself under their power.
Those who sow injustice will harvest evil; the rod of their fury will come to an end.
Generous hands are blessed hands because they give bread to the poor.
Exploit the poor or glad-hand the rich—whichever, you’ll end up the poorer for it.
Listen carefully to my wisdom; take to heart what I can teach you.
You’ll treasure its sweetness deep within; you’ll give it bold expression in your speech.
To make sure your foundation is trust in God, I’m laying it all out right now just for you.
I’m giving you sterling principles— tested guidelines to live by.
Believe me—these are truths that work, and will keep you accountable to those who sent you.
Don’t walk on the poor just because they’re poor, and don’t use your position to crush the weak,
Because God will come to their defense; the life you took, he’ll take from you and give back to them.”
Holy Wisdom, Holy Word
Thanks be to God
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE Trip Porch
SERMON Rev. Trip Porch
WE RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE followed by the Lord’s Prayer on screen
TIME OF OFFERING online giving is available at www. indianolapres.org/give
OFFERTORY “Adagio No. 1 in C Major” James Michael Stevens
*RESPONSE 709 “God We Honor You” ABUNDANT BLESSINGS
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
God of Love and Mercy, we bring these offerings with grateful hearts, honoring your enduring guidance in our lives. Just as Wisdom works with willing hands and provides for those in need, may these gifts be used to nurture and uplift our community. Inspire us to follow your teachings of kindness and generosity. Transform our contributions into acts of love and justice, spreading your light in the world. May we always give credit to your divine wisdom and grace. In your holy name, we pray. Amen.
*HYMN 773 “Heaven Shall Not Wait” HEAVEN SHALL NOT WAIT
TIME OF COMMUNITY SHARING
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
CHORAL RESPONSE “May God Support You All Your Days” Lee Hastings Bristol Jr.
POSTLUDE “Who Comes from God as Word and Breath?” arr. Charles Callahan
Acknowledgments: Unless otherwise indicated, all texts and music are printed and broadcast under OneLicense.net license #A-702452