Christ Church Moreton Hall

 For me this week the news has been dominated by two stories.

The first is the plight of 100s of thousands of Burmese people, dead and dying after the cyclone with millions of tons of aid, just a plane flight away, and yet their own government is reluctant accept  help, because they are afraid of western influences on their country. 

The second is about this country. Every year in Britain 3.6 million tons of food is thrown away un-eaten, 60% of it has not gone past its sell by date and is still unwrapped. We spend £10.2 billion on food we never eat. That means ever year each man woman and child spend nearly £170 each on food that will never get to the table let alone to the mouth. 

What does Jesus think of us? And that on top of Zimbabwe, Kenya, Somalia, Palestine, Tibet, North Korea, Pakistan and Indonesia, I more sobering thought is what is God the Father going to do about it on judgement day?  

There has never been a time when there was more need, and the work of all the charities have never been more vital especially that of Christian Aid.  But whenever Christian aid comes round I guess most people have a slight feeling of dread or even of fear.

We don’t like doing this because... it can be hard work going round all those houses ...and then we find no one is in. 

We don’t like calling on strangers at the best of times. But to call and ask for money... even for a good cause is hard. It is very hard because we know what it like, to be called on by a charity at the wrong time. You know how it is. We all have just been sitting down at lastto watch our favourite TV show, or write that letter you should have done two weeks ago. And then “Ding dong” the bell goes and it some stranger at the door asking for cancer relief or the life boats or the guide dogs for the blind or help the aged or love a leprechaun or ankle warmers for the Andes and there is nothing in your pocket ...And then you have to find some money and if you do it’s either a £20 note or loads of coppers from the children’s piggy bank.  So we feel so embarrassed when we are the ones banging on the door and causing all the hassle.

We think: “What must they think of us? Sometimes people are rude, especially if you call on the Saturday of the FA cup final like I did one year. 

No matter what holds us back, I have to say to you, that in 32 years a Christian, and with 23 years of ordained ministry under my belt, I have yet to meet anyone who has come up to me and said “I am really looking forward to Christian aid week this year.”

“I am counting the days to getting out there to get some money so people in Africa don’t starve to death.  When I go banging on the doors I know it means, some child won’t have to sit there and watch their parents die of aids.”

“Every penny I collect means someone will not have to watch their children die of a curable disease because they only have dirty water to drink.” 

All those things are true - yet we never say them ....or even think them.....maybe we should from now on. 

While we can have bad experiences -  most people come to the door with a smile , sometimes a big smile and are really pleased you have called. They even say things like:

“I know I don’t come to church but thank you for coming round so I can do my bit.” And: “I am so glad you came you have made my day.” And: “You are so good to care ..........and do something about it”

If you think about it.... in a way you have preached the Gospel to them and you have been a messenger from Jesus to them and you have helped them play a part in God’s bigger plan. 

When know Jesus has a lot to say about this. We have just heard him say:19"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,  21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. You cannot serve both God and Money. 

John says exactly the same when he says 15Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

Now what they both mean is while we have to live in this world ...we must not let it control how we think and what we do.For while we live in this world ....we are called to bring in the next world. Tom Wright in his brilliant new book “Surprised by Hope” reminds us that Gods new kingdom is already breaking in to this world.

While it is not yet fully here yet we are not supposed to sit around doing nothing while it comes. We are all called to do everything we can to bring it in. So in our context it means on the one hand not being so wasteful

i.e. don’t let the lust of the world make you buy thing you don’t need and will never use. On the other hand doing the best you can to make a difference.Jesus expects us to make the world the best place we can... while we are here. 

He also explains that while power and fame and riches can help the kingdom. Most of the time the kingdom is really built by people doing simple things, little acts of kindness saying simple prayers and doing un-seen but important things like collecting Christian aid envelopes.

And no matter how tired we are, no matter if we don’t see an outcome Jesus comes with us, and I don’t know about you, but every time I do something simple like clean out a bin, cut some church grass or call on a person I have at the end of it a greater sense of peace and joy. I also know I have grown in grace and God kingdom has come more fully into my life.

So Today know this when you give to Christian aid and when you collect for Christian aid, it is not in vain, you helping people here as well as people far away. And while you may never know how much good you do in this life, you can know that Jesus is so pleased with you and loves you and has been with you every step of the way, and finally you have gather for yourself a treasure in heaven that is better than any pension plan investment power or status the world can ever give. Amen