Is Love in Your Will?

John 13:31-35

Planned Giving Emphasis

What do you think is the least understood word in our culture? Okay, there are a lot of contenders; we live in a confused time. But my vote goes to Love as the word we use the most and understand the least. In Greek it’s a bit easier because there are four different uses for the same word love which means you can distinguish between friendship and romance, commitment and sentiment. But, in English we use the same word for loving ice cream, loving God, loving my cats and even loving this feeling called love.

All of which makes it a challenge for us hear Jesus’ call to love one another. He described it as a new commandment. But what is new about it? Certainly the Torah commands love. What makes this commandment new is the One who is offering it. Jesus is calling his followers to enter into love for one another in the same way that God entered into love for us by sharing his very life. Graciously offering his life for others in such a way that others would be lifted up is precisely the way of life that Jesus commands of his disciples. And, here is the shocking part, this way of life – loving one another after the pattern of Jesus – is the only evidence the world has to verify the disciples of Jesus.

Did you know that Mahatma Ghandi seriously considered converting to Christianity until he was turned away from a Church in South Africa that did not admit colored persons? Though he never became a Christian, throughout his life he described himself as a follower of Jesus. Indeed, his life may have been patterned more closely after Jesus than most who claim to be his disciples.

The challenge for communities of faith, who claim to be disciples of Jesus, is to pattern our life after the One who gave his life, that others will find life in God. Wouldn’t that mean paying attention especially to welcoming the lost, the least and the lonely into the community of faith, where together we become the disciples of Jesus? Wouldn’t it mean focusing our resources and ministries in such a manner that the world would have abundant evidence that the disciples of Jesus are here, offering hospitality to the stranger, befriending the friendless, nurturing the children, caring for the sick, loving even our enemies and welcoming all to the feast of forgiveness?

In the community of Jesus our love for one another is not about feelings or passing sentiments, it’s about patterning our life together after the manner of Jesus, much the same way that an apprentice learns how to lay bricks by working alongside a brick mason and doing precisely as he does it.

Today is designated Wills Emphasis Sunday so let me suggest that Planned Giving is another way the disciples of Jesus practice love. And by the way, did you know that over the past 10 years including this one this congregation has given a total of $70,000.00 to support the One Great Hour of Sharing, the special offering that funds disaster relief, emergency assistance and refugee resettlement? Now that is tangible love after the manner of Jesus.

So was the gift of Donald Salz, a quiet, unassuming member of Adas Israel Congregation, who gave a gift of $5 million dollars to honor his beloved wife Mozelle, whom he described as his angel. No one expected this and especially from one who has lived such a humble life. In the end it was a life of stewardship. When asked why, Salz said, “I figured, you don’t take it with you”, so why not let others benefit from my blessings?

What would you like to be the legacy of your love in this world? As I have said before, that is the only question that at the end of the day. How will you make plans now for your love to become a reality in the future, either while you are living or when you have died? Our Presbytery Stewardship Committee put the question this way, “Is God’s will in your will?”

Do you have a will? If not now, when? If you don’t have a will or some clearly defined strategy for your estate, the state will determine where your assets go. That is not something any of us wants. Right?

I want a portion of my legacy of love to strengthen future generations in the Church that has given me a rich life. I share the desire with you.

As John reminds us, “If you have resources but fail to share them with others in need then how is love within you?”

Planned Giving, like all Stewardship, is an expression of authentic, tangible love – leaving a portion of your life resources so that others in can benefit from your gifts in the future.

The most important question remains the most important, “when you are gone, what will be the legacy of your love?”

Amen.