Pastor Rich's sermon to St. Paul's UCC, Sunday, July 30, 2006

Does anyone enjoy paying taxes? When Governor Corzine announced an increase in the NJ sales tax did anyone say, “YES! Praise the Lord!” Chances are you complained. Chances are along with the day’s weather it was the topic of conversation.

All I can say is that it is a good thing we don’t live in New Hampshire. They have taken taxation a step too far. New Hampshire has instituted a view tax. Home owners are taxed not only for the valley of their home and their property but they are taxed for the view they have.

It sounds crazy. It is one thing to be assessed for a finished basement, a detached two car garage, or improvements and additions you have made to your house, but to be taxed for your view is another thing. New Hampshire resident Bennert Nicholson lived in Winchester, NH. His house overlooked a valley through which the Connecticut River flows. In 2002 his house and land was appraised at about $98,000. In 2003 the tax assessor calculated a value for the view. His house and land was reappraised at $273,000. His property tax doubled.

As I reflected on this story I began to think what kind of view Paul must have had when he wrote this beautiful prayer to the church of Ephesus.

“14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family [a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

Paul speaks about the ‘glorious riches’ of God. He speaks about ‘grasping how wide and long and high and deep’ the love of Christ is. He talks about ‘being filled with the fullness of God.’ He talks about a God who ‘is able to do immeasurable more than all we ask or imagine.’

Where was Paul when he offered this prayer? What was happening in Paul’s life that would enable him to put some much faith and trust in God? Was Paul standing on Mt. Coressus or Mt. Pion in Ephesus looking out on the majesty of God’s creation? Was he standing in the ‘Great Theatre’ preaching and teaching about Christ? Is it possible that he was holding an infant in his arms just staring at the miracle of God that he was embracing? I am sure Rich and Sandy can relate to that.

The truth is Paul’s view was a very taxing view. Paul’s view was none of the above. Paul’s view was the inside of a prison cell. In prison and most likely in shackles Paul wrote this amazing prayer for and to the believers in Ephesus. The taxing view that Paul saw with eyes did not blind him to what he saw with his eyes of faith. His eyes of faith saw a God whose love is total. He saw a love of God that reached every corner of his experience. He saw a love that covered the width and breadth of his every experience. He saw a love that reached out to the whole world. He saw a love that would continue the length of his life. He saw a love that would rise to the heights of his celebration and a love that would reach the depths of his discouragement, despair and even death.

I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

What taxing view are you looking at? What are your eyes of faith telling you? Last week when I was on the youth mission in South Dakota at the Indian reservation we saw some taxing views. We saw views of poverty. We saw views of the consequences of alcoholism. We saw views of children desperate for love and attention. We saw views of children with hard hearts being obnoxious and cruel. We saw some children who did not deserve our love.

We were faced with the same challenge Paul was faced with. We were challenged to see the glorious riches of God, to see the width, length, depth and height of God’s love. The challenge was to see the opportunity that God was presenting us with. The challenge was to trust God. The challenge was to not put limits on God, but to believe that God can accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine.

What taxing view are you looking at? How do you see the taxing situations in your life?

Taxing situations can overwhelm us with fear, uncertainty, and pain. Taxing situations can also overwhelm us with the width and length and height and depth of the love of Christ who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.

We may not like taxing views just like the residents of New Hampshire don’t like to be taxed for the view. We can trust God that our taxing situations will provide you and me the opportunity to embrace the fullness of God. What have you asked God for with regards to your taxing situation? Are you asking God to do far more than you can imagine? If you aren’t you are selling God and yourself short.

“I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,
18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.