February 08, 2009 - Pastor Tim

LIVING LARGE GOD’S WAY

2 Corinthians 8:1-15

I was raised in a home in which a constant theme was “always do your best.” It honestly was a great lesson in the stewardship of life—making the most of what God gave us. And “always do your best” was applied often to the matter of schoolwork. I suppose that might have come from a dad who was raised with the mantra, “get all the education you can”…which pressed him on toward a doctorate degree and pressed all three sons to complete doctorate degrees in their chosen fields. And as Cindy and I were raising our children and as we encouraged them through their days of education, what was often forefront in my encouragement was the theme I was raised on: always do your best—whatever your best is, that’s good enough!

It really is a matter of stewardship of our lives, and I believe it’s consistent with biblical counsel. I want us to turn this morning again to 2 Corinthians—chapter 8. There was a matter about which the Apostle Paul felt compelled to challenge his Christian brothers and sisters in Corinth. He was challenging them to “do their best” in a particular dimension of Christian living…and I believe our Heavenly Father wants you and me to hear that same challenge this morning.

[Read 2 Corinthians 8:1-15, NIV]

Let me explain what was taking place here. Paul was trying to raise money to help the Hebrew Christians living in Jerusalem. The need was evidently tremendous. It wasn’t the first time Paul had mentioned this need to them, for he was at this point only following up on what had been begun earlier.

We don’t know for sure why the Hebrew Christians in Jerusalem were struggling as they were, but we do have some ideas. Primarily it was likely that, after their conversion to Christian, many of these Jews in Jerusalem would have been ostracized socially and economically. There is also historic documentation of persistent food shortages in Palestine about this time, and, as the mother-church of Christianity at that point, the Jerusalem church was obliged to support a proportionately large number of teachers and probably to provide hospitality for frequent Christian visitors to the holy city—that on top of a crippling twofold taxation there to both the Jews and the Romans.

Paul was motivated to raise this money by brotherly love and compassion for these people—whom he clearly acknowledged as his brothers and sisters in Christ. And with a great degree of tact and wisdom, Paul began this part of his letter by citing an example rather than simply making a plea. The example was that of the Christians in the province of Macedonia who begged for the opportunity to give to this cause—despite their own poverty.

The paraphrase of Scripture called The Message says it better than I can, beginning at verse 1—

Now, friends, I want to report on the surprising and generous ways in which God is working in the churches in Macedonia province. Fierce troubles came down on the people of those churches, pushing them to the very limit. The trial exposed their true colors: They were incredibly happy, though desperately poor. The pressure triggered something totally unexpected: an outpouring of pure and generous gifts. I was there and saw it for myself. They gave offerings of whatever they could—far more than they could afford!—pleading for the privilege of helping out in the relief of poor Christians. (2 Corinthians 8:1-4, The Message]

Here was the truly Christlike example of Christians who did not allow their own poverty to repress their generosity. And Paul saw in these Macedonia Christians the life-changing influence of God’s grace.

When I read these descriptive words about the Macedonian Christians from The Message, I wrote in the margin of my notes, “Doesn’t this describe our economic times well?” “Fierce troubles” have come upon us economically, too—and many of us have been terribly impacted by it. We’re hearing reports every day of the growing numbers of persons unemployed and the tremendous rise in home foreclosures. Many of us have seen our stocks and our retirement accounts plummet in value in just the past six months. And some of you feel like you’re about to go under for the third and final time! And my heart goes out to you today.

Some might even suggest that this is a tacky time for a pastor to be preaching on cultivating the “grace of giving”—but, judging from this example in Scripture, perhaps it’s a very good time for me to do so (even though there are those who get uncomfortable and edgy anytime a pastor preaches on anything relating to money!). Our Heavenly Father wants us to learn the grace of giving. I was particularly struck with Paul’s words to us in verse 7 of this chapter—

But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. (2 Corinthians 8:7, NIV)

Paul was saying to the Christians in Corinth, and I believe God is saying to us today, “You do so well in so many ways—you trust God, you share the Gospel well, you’ve got great insight and wisdom, you’re passionate about the Christian life, and you’re full of love for others. Now learn to do your best in this matter of giving as well.”

Why did Paul make such a big deal about this? (Why didn’t he just mind his own business?!) Because he had learned that an important dimension of growth in Christlikeness is learning to excel in the grace of giving. Unless we learn to do this, our Christian growth will be stunted.

I remember a summer when our son Justin was likely entering 7th or 8th grade. In the spring he had played baseball, as he always did in those years, and he wore cleats that were size 8. That year he also played in a fall baseball league, and complained that his cleats were too tight. We went to buy new ones and had to buy size 11! His feet had grown that much in a few months! He still hadn’t had his growth spurt in height, and I remember teasing him that with his feet growing so much if he didn’t get some height on him now he was going to look like a duck! I doubt Paul had a duck in mind, but he certainly recognized that the spiritual life of the Corinthians Christians was going to be out of proportion and thus overall thwarted if they didn’t learn the grace of giving that the impoverished Christians in Macedonia had obviously learned so well.

At the heart of the grace of giving is love. Christ’s love in our hearts is where it begins. Paul wrote—

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9, NIV)

As abundant as the love of Christ is for each of us, so should be our love for others. Christ is our ultimate example of generous love! And when we love others as Christ loved us, such love compels an eagerness to address their needs in any way that we can. It presses us to inconvenience ourselves, even to sacrifice in order for their needs to be met.

The generosity of the Christians in Macedonia inspired Paul! And they didn’t limit their contribution to financial aid. “In keeping with God’s will” they dedicated themselves first and foremost to Christ, but also committed themselves as partners with Paul to address these needs. These people begged Paul to let them have a part in financially supporting those who were worse off than they were. They understood hard times—and it compelled them to do everything they could to reduce the heartache and suffering of others.

I couldn’t help but think here of those who say that they don’t have enough to give financially so they serve instead. I don’t find any biblical support for that logic. Paul was speaking here of people who had fallen on terribly hard times themselves, and yet had embraced the grace of giving of their means. Regardless of our financial status, an important dimension of growth in Christlikeness is learning to excel in the grace of giving.

I had a conversation with someone out in the community the other day that impressed me. I met this lady perhaps a year ago when I was trying to find a barber or hair stylist that I liked. She’s really tried to please, so I keep going back to her—though I’ve wondered how she makes a living at it because it doesn’t seem like she has a lot of customers. Habitat for Humanity is currently building a new house for her and her special-needs son to live in. She’s been so excited about it as the house has taken shape. But I learned this week that she saved up her food stamps so that she could serve a really nice Thanksgiving meal to the prisoners who come from time to time on work release to work on her house. She figured they probably wouldn’t get a nice Thanksgiving meal otherwise. She seems to have an inside scoop on what charities one could donate to that best gets those items to the people who need them. She has a tremendously giving spirit about her, even though she clearly doesn’t have much herself—and I couldn’t help but be inspired by the way in which she has learned the grace of giving.

Poverty is relative, you know. Even those who are struggling the most among us have homes to sleep in and food to eat and clothes to wear. The truth is that the poorest among us is still among the wealthiest minority worldwide—we’re just so used to having it nice and comfortable! Go visit Mexico or Ukraine or China or Haiti or Uganda or India or even the poorest sections of our cities and see how millions of people in the world live today! Perhaps then we’d let loose of what we have—however meager we might feel it is!—and let God cultivate in us the grace of giving.

That’s an interesting phrase, isn’t it? “The grace of giving.” Paul wrote, “See that you also excel in this grace of giving.” Paul was longing to see every dimension of Christlikeness cultivated in the lives of his friends in Corinth and beyond. By using the Greek word “charis”—which means “grace”—of the virtue of giving, he’s making it clear that generosity stands alongside faith, knowledge and love as expressions of God’s grace in us. Already excelling in Christian virtues and gifts of the Spirit, the Corinthians were to make sure they also lived out the grace of generosity in their lives as well. And Paul wasn’t barking orders or trying to lay on a guilt trip as much as he was trying to compel them by Christ’s own love for them to extend such love to others by practicing generosity.

Several years ago I was pastoring a church that was raising money to build a much-needed addition to our facility. In challenging our people to give, we used the theme, “Not equal giving, but equal sacrifice.” And I recall the sacrifices we made in order to participate in that cause, and the tremendous sacrifices others were making. Oh, yea, it could get a little discouraging now and then to consider the fact that some hadn’t embraced the “not equal giving but equal sacrifice” part. I remember letting it get to me a little when I happened to learn that one of the leading couples in the church who I knew were likely the wealthiest people in the congregation were giving less than we were giving…but I also had to sadly acknowledge that their tight grip on their money was really hurting them more than it was hurting anyone else.

You see, it doesn’t take great means to excel in the grace of giving. It just requires a generous heart. Every person is challenged to give. I can’t help but think of the poor widow who gave all that she had and Jesus’ comments about her gift—

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.

Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” (Mark 12:41-44, NIV)

God wants to teach each of us the grace of giving. It’s a part of His character that He wants to cultivate into the fabric of our lives—and in His great wisdom, He knows that our lives will be better too if we learn to give and that the needs of others will be met at the same time. It can’t be coerced or manipulated, and we can’t cultivate it in our human strength and wisdom. But, if we will submit ourselves and our resources completely to the Lord, He will teach us this grace of giving.

Did you know that God actually created you in such a way that you are healthier, happier and more fulfilled in life when you learn to truly love others and when you give of yourself and of your financial means to help them? Isn’t that an amazing thought? Scientific studies even reveal that you’ll live longer! Proverbs 11:25 says,

A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. (Proverbs 11:25)

It’s written into the fabric of who we are to become and how we discover life at its best! Giving to others is the way to “Living Large God’s Way.” Hoarding what we have never brings the satisfaction we anticipate.

I heard a well-known scholar share some interesting scientific data this week that validated that. Imagine…science confirming the goodness of God’s plan for our lives! Scientific studies done by people who may not acknowledge the existence of God conclude that materialism doesn’t make people happy.

* Science magazine concluded in 2008 that our happiness is not related to our income, but that those who give more to others and to their churches and to charities were happier people. They even noted that making a donation for just $5 can improve your mood!
* A 2005 Time Magazine poll revealed that 75% of people identified that giving to others is a source of happiness in their own lives.
* A study in 2006 revealed that making a donation activates chemicals in our bodies that make us feel happy—the same kind of chemicals that are often used in anti-depression medication.

Loving others and giving to them go with the grain of how we are designed and created rather than against it! Giving is good medicine—it’s good for your health and well-being.

In our churchy language we have said, “It’s a blessing to give.” But however we express it, God’s way of learning to live large includes increasing our willingness to give to others regardless of how much or how little we may have ourselves.

I suppose this has been one of the eternal benefits of people of all ages being involved in Work and Witness projects. Our young and our old have seen firsthand the great needs of people near and far, and we’ve also witnessed the great joy of Christians who live in the midst of such poverty and yet radiate the joy of the Lord in their lives despite it! They’re inspiring though they have so little!

Do you believe God wants you to experience joy in life? Do you believe that God wants to enrich your life—not by material things by those things that increase our joy and our fulfillment in life? Then learn to live life large His way—by learning to excel in this grace of giving. Let Him teach you how to do your best in this important dimension of spiritual growth. Let Him stretch you to give more than you might think you can give—just as the Christians in Macedonia had modeled for the more economically stable Christians in Corinth.

But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.