Sermon
Sharing Our Wealth
Theme
Be content with what God has given you and share his blessings with others.
Object
A Tooth Fairy pouch or pillow. If you don't have one, there is a very simple pattern for one which you can make yourself. It could also be used as a craft activity for the children if you have the right age group. There is a link to it at the bottom of the sermon.
Scripture
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 1 Timothy 6:6-10, 18 (NIV)
Have you ever had a visit from the Tooth Fairy? I can still remember visits from the Tooth Fairy from my childhood days. When our son was a little boy, we had a little tooth pocket like this one in the shape of a baseball glove. When he lost a tooth, we put it in this little pocket and put it under his pillow so that the Tooth Fairy could easily find it.
I heard a story about a little girl whose name was Rachel. Rachel had lost several teeth and every time she lost a tooth, the Tooth Fairy brought her two dollars. Two dollars was quite a bit of money for a little girl Rachel's age and she was quite happy with what the Tooth Fairy had left. Then, one day Rachel was visiting in the home of one of her friends. Her friend told her that she had lost a tooth and the Tooth Fairy brought her ten dollars! Rachel turned to her friend's mother and said, "Mrs. Kraft, would you do me a big favor? Would you please call my mom and tell her which Tooth Fairy you use?"
Rachel had been quite happy with the two dollars the Tooth Fairy left her until she found out that the Tooth Fairy had left her friend ten dollars. All of a sudden, two dollars was not enough. Isn't that the way it is with many of us? God has blessed us with all that we need, but when we see someone else that has more, we are no longer happy with what we have.
The apostle Paul had something to say about that in a letter he wrote to a young preacher named Timothy. He told Timothy that we should be content with what God has given us. After all, we didn't bring anything with us when we came into this world and we won't take anything with us when we leave. People who seek to become rich often fall into temptation to do evil things, and when they stray from the right path, they bring much sadness into their life. Paul told Timothy to teach people that instead of seeking wealth, they should seek to be rich in good deeds and share what they have with others.
I don't know how much the Tooth Fairy leaves under your pillow, but I do know that God will provide for your needs if you will trust in him. And -- if he should bless you with more than you need, don't brag about it, share it with others.
Father, we thank you for your blessings. Help us to be grateful and to be generous in sharing what you have given to us with others. Amen.
The illustration used in this sermon is from Roxane Malecek in "Christianity Today."
