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Enthusiasm—it’s one of the greatest words in the English language! It is a word that is built deeply into the victorious spirit of humanity. The word enthusiasm is derived from two little Greek words, en and theos, with theos being the Greek word for God. So "enthusiasm" literally means, in its root concept, "full of God." Maybe that’s why enthusiastic people are so often creative and joyful! The Bible uses several different words for this idea of being filled with enthusiasm: ardor, zeal, whole-heartedness. My personal favorite is “eager.” When you are eager, you are enthusiastic about your service to God and others. This idea is taught again and again in the New Testament. We are told to:

  • Be “eager to serve” (1 Peter 5:2)

  • Be “eager for the gifts of the Spirit” (1 Corinthians 14:12)

  • Have an “eager willingness” to finish the work of faith we’ve begun (2 Corinthians 8:11)

  • Wait in “eager expectation” for God (Romans 8:9)

  • Be “eager to do what is good” (Titus 2:14) Guideposts.com

Our traditional word for today is from 2 Cor. 8:7-8, 11-12

Now as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you—so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking.

I do not say this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love against the earnestness of others. Now finish doing it, so that your eagerness may be matched by completing it according to your means.  For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has—not according to what one does not have. 

We are continuing our sermon series on Spiritual Pathways to God and this week is about The Enthusiast. Enthusiasm is a great way to experience God and to love God. It is not just about giving, although that is included. It is about enthusiasm in loving God, serving God, being at church, learning more, growing in the faith, and bringing that kind of enthusiasm to the church!

My friend, Dr. Sharon Watkins tells of an experience she had in Africa. “Years ago, I lived briefly in Congo as a short-term missionary. One Sunday I was in a town called Bolenge. And it came time for the offering. Now in some of our churches, well, let me say it straight, particularly in some of our Euro-American churches, the offering embarrasses us a little bit. We keep it subtle and reserved. We take care that no one knows how much anyone gives – or whether anyone gives.

But not in Bolenge. In Bolenge, it was during the offering that worship really got cranking. Instead of passing the trays quietly down the rows, a deacon stood up front with a bag on the end of stick. The pastor called for the men to come forward and give their gift. This was going to be a bit of a competition, he said – men against the women. The men came forward, and I noticed the bare feet, the worn clothes. And I remembered that most people there didn’t make enough money in a month to buy an aspirin for a head ache. Yet they came forward to give. Then it was the women’s turn. Four women walked up to stand near the deacon, and they started clapping out a rhythm.

Within moments, every woman in the place was on her feet, singing, clapping, smiling, worshiping, rejoicing in the Lord – and coming forward – no! Dancing forward – with offerings. None of us could sit still as the women danced and gave (the Apostle Paul says the Macedonians gave like that, ‘their extreme poverty overflowing in a wealth of generosity’). For this congregation of materially

impoverished people, trusting in a God of abundance, the offering had become the most joyful moment of worship.

But wait! There’s more! They asked the visitors to come forward. We did – in a more reserved manner. We put our offering in the bag. But – wait for it – there was still more. The pastor announced that there had been a hurricane in Central America. With much damage and loss of life. Now, said the pastor, ‘Let us bring forward our offerings again for our brothers and sisters of Central America.’ And so they did. So we did. All coming forward again. To give again. This congregation of Congolese Christians wearing their one extra outfit set aside for the Lord’s Day. This congregation now came forward in bare feet to give an offering for brothers and sisters in need.”

Can you imagine that kind of enthusiasm at Riverside CC? Especially during the offering? The sounds of coins and the rustling of paper bills? The whisper of agreement as a check is written for more than planned – for no other reason than joy? Clapping to the upbeat music and moving forward to participate? I actually can see it!

It takes a certain spiritual discipline to learn to see the world this way. It takes practice; you’ve got to do the reps:

  • dwelling on stories of God’s abundance in scripture;

  • noticing the evidence of God’s abundant life all around us;

  • in the joy we take in the presence of beloved family and friends;

  • in the rotating seasons bringing life anew each year;

  • in the mercy that God shows to us again and again.

It takes practice, but when we focus our minds on gratitude, we begin to find our attitudes and our lives taking on more joy and enthusiasm.

When I think of an enthusiast, I think of Don Killian. He was a member of one of my congregations. He was a brilliant mathematician. Even at 90 years old, his mind was sharp. Each Sunday, he came into church with an enthusiastic joy, ready with some quip to share with me. It was obvious that he had prepared a story, a book, a joke, or some small thing to talk with me about before church. He came early enough that it was not an imposition. There was a sparkle in his eyes as he asked me if I had heard about, or read about, or known this ____. I loved talking with him. He loved to hear my sermons and was ready to discuss theological or historical truths.

When I think of enthusiasts, I also think about the children who have come up to the front over the years, for children’s messages. Some santer slowly. Others nearly fly to the front steps, ready to hear or talk about what the speaker has to say. One young boy liked to bring whatever he was reading, ready to pop up with a science question that he thought might stump the theologian!

A Christian enthusiast doesn’t need to don cheerleading outfits and pom-poms. Living in expectant hope doesn’t require exuberance every moment of every day. Believing the positive doesn’t involve a Pollyanna attitude. It’s not any of those things. Christian enthusiasm indicates a deep faith. As the poet wrote, “Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark.”

I would like to close with a quote from author Deepak Chopra: ”The mystery of giving is revealed only when you crave the ecstasy that has been glimpsed. Then a realization hits you with full force.  I must give myself away. Without realizing it, you have been trying to do that all your life. In giving away yourself, you open a conduit for the kind of happiness that no one can ever steal from you. Someone once said that permanent joy results when you can give away your last penny. Actually, the penny is only a symbol. Permanent happiness results when you no longer have a personal stake in the world. When you see through the constant needs of I, me, and mine, no more needs will remain. There is only Being, and then every breath is bliss giving itself to bliss. That's the rhythm of life. I'm sure you've felt it. It came over you the last time you truly gave yourself away. You joined reality once more. You entered the space where holiness resides.”