This Sunday at ORUMC we wrap up a series entitled "Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations" by looking at EXTRAVAGANT GENEROSITY.    In the Bible we are told about the poor widow who donated two pennies to the offering at the Temple.    Just two cents!   How could this be an account of extravagant generosity?     Jesus tells us that because this poor woman gave from her heart - the right motive, which Jesus could see, and because she gave sacrificially (actually she gave all the money she had) she had given more extravagantly than the wealthy around her that day who had  probably given hundreds of dollars!

It is not how much we give; but, instead how we give and how we give out of how much we have.   The wealthy that day gave out of their abundance.   They had plenty left over after they gave to the Temple work.     The poor widow by faith put her last two pennies into the Temple treasury.  She gave her all.    

We may or may not be called and led to give all financially (although Christian stewardship calls us to remember that all we have belongs to God and should be used in a prudent and responsible manner), but we are all called as Christians to give from the heart - out of the proper motive which is love of God and others - and we are called to give sacrificially.  Giving sacrificially out of love is practicing extravagant generosity.    Can you recall a time you have practiced, or observed, extravagant generosity?    A number of years ago I was part of a mission building team to the country of Haiti.  Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.    The average annual per capita income is around $500!     We saw abject poverty and severe malnutrition all around us as we worked.    I was privileged to mix mud and carry concrete blocks beside Tumah (a young Haitian man) all week long.   We developed a relationship and communicated through the help of an interpreter located on the worksite.    At the end of our days of working together, as we were preparing to share goodbyes with the local residents, our interpreter came up to me and said,  "Tumah would like to say some words to you."   And so we approached Tumah and he shared some words of appreciation and I reciprocated.   And, then, he handed me a dozen eggs.    Do you know what a dozen eggs means in Haiti?   It is for some Haitian families a couple days' worth of groceries!     And he was presenting this gift to me as a sign of his appreciation for what we had experienced together on the worksite.    That was extravagant generosity witnessed firsthand!     And it has made a lasting impact upon me and I pray upon my wallet.     May we practice extravagant generosity as we remember, and receive,  what God through Christ has done for us....and given to us in the greatest gift in the world - the gift of Jesus Christ our Savior!    And, as we give, and give generously, may we also be reminded that the act of giving is its own reward.     We are never more like God than when we give.    So, let's give of our time, talent, and treasures with generosity.   As we have received extravagantly and generously, let us give with extravagant generosity.