Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

Generosity
2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27
2 Corinthians 8:7-15

I gave some consideration to talking about the Old Testament reading today. Discussing the relationship between David and Jonathon. Speaking about Jonathan, noble King David says: “Greatly beloved were you to me; your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women…”

But instead of preaching on human sexuality I decided to preach on something really difficult—money. And money (unlike human sexuality) is something the Bible actually mentions frequently, forcefully and clearly.

The epistle reading appointed for today from 2 Corinthians is all about money. And Paul has some powerful things to say.

A little background is helpful to understand this passage.

Chapters 8 and 9 in the Second Letter to the Corinthians are a direct appeal for financial contributions. This is often called “the appeal for Jerusalem.” Paul is appealing to the Christians in Corinth to give money to the Christians in Jerusalem. At the time Corinth was a bustling port town of merchants and tradespeople. At least compared to the poverty in Jerusalem, the Corinthians had material abundance.

The Corinthian church was founded by Paul. These new Christians had received the Gospel from Paul. They were Greeks and Gentiles. Remember, this is still the first decade or so of the Christian movement. The Christian community in Jerusalem grew out of the kernel of Jesus’ own disciples. They were Jews.

Why was Paul so committed to this particular relief effort? Especially looking at it from the perspective of those of us who know the challenges of fund raising, why would Paul put so much energy into this? One commentator speculates on Paul’s motives (Ernest Best, Interpretation Commentary).

Paul had been to Jerusalem. He had certainly seen the need first hand. But his own missionary work was elsewhere. Perhaps he saw this as an opportunity to express unity within the early Christian movement. The first really big struggle within the church was over whether or not to include those Gentiles. And if it were possible for Gentiles to become Christians, under what circumstances? For the Gentile Christians to assist the church in Jerusalem might help heal the strain.

Also, perhaps it could solidify the standing or legitimacy of Paul himself and the Gentile movement in the eyes of the Jerusalem church.

Paul mentions none of these motives in the text. At least one more possible motivation will emerge as we explore the text.

Interestingly, even the need is not played up by Paul. The poverty was evidently real and dire and Paul had seen it. But he does not highlight the need as a fund raising tool. How different is that from most current fund raising efforts! There are no pictures of starving children in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. No four page letter with fake handwritten script in the margin about how your $20 gift can help this hollow-eyed girl get a meal or go to school or receive vaccinations.

Writing to the Corinthians, first Paul commends their faithfulness. You excel at faithfulness! And then he points out that generosity is a quality of faithfulness, and encourages them to excel at generosity as well. Generosity, not giving. Generosity, it seems to me, is more about attitude than amount.

Paul reminds these new Christians that Jesus’ coming was a profound act of divine generosity. Jesus generously gave up the riches of heaven to come to earth, so that we might gain the riches of heaven. He became poor so that we might become rich.

Paul is clear that he is not asking the Corinthians to give what they do not have. Give out of what you do have, he says. This should not be a difficult struggle for you. It is a question of fair balance. Fair balance between your present abundance and their need.

The quote that Paul cites at the end of today’s reading is from Exodus. “The one who had much did not have too much, and the one who had little did not have too little.” The reference is to God’s gift of manna and God’s concern for fair distribution.

Paul’s appeal continues through chapter 9. We’re not going to hear that part in the lectionary. As Paul nears the conclusion of his appeal, he writes, “you will be blessed through giving.” And here is another possible motive for Paul’s investment in this project. Somewhere along the way I read that Paul was perhaps less concerned about the threat facing the church in Jerusalem than he was about the threat facing the church in Corinth. He had brought the Gospel to the Christians in Corinth; he had established their community. He was worried about their ongoing faithfulness and salvation. Generosity was essential to the ongoing life of the community in Corinth. Generosity, as a component of faithfulness, was crucial to the vitality and life of the Corinthians Christians.

Finally, he concludes: “Your great generosity, [and he is confident of their generosity] will produce thanksgiving to God through us. For the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God.” Your generosity will overflow into the world as a witness to God’s glory.

When I first read this passage this week I was really struck by Paul’s phrase “fair balance.” It’s so clear, so practical. I gather for Paul, it’s a theological statement as well as a mathematical or ethical one. God’s desire for the fullness of creation is for fair balance.

I’m reminded of the archetypal story of the last cookie. A story played out in many families. There is one cookie left in the cookie jar and two siblings who really “need” a cookie. A brother and a sister both craving the last cookie. So the wise parent says to the brother, “You divide the cookie in half.” And to the sister, the parent says, “You pick which half you want.” Fair balance.

For God, the context is not two siblings in a kitchen craving the last cookie. God looks upon the whole world and its abundance and yearns for fair balance.

What if we could keep God’s perspective in mind as we ponder our own abundance?

To stay with the cookie metaphor for bit…. For young children cookies come from heaven; they just miraculously appear in the cookie jar. Never mind the adult who earned the money to buy the butter and sugar, who put the time and care into mixing and baking. For a child, God provides cookies. It would be good if we could see our own metaphorical cookie jars that way. We tend to cling to our abundance as OURS. We worked for and earned every cookie in that jar. But actually, all abundance comes from God.

And when it comes to fair balance, it’s not our sister who wants some of our cookie. It’s people we don’t know. The Jews and Gentiles were separated by geography, nationality, ignorance and suspicion. The people who need our cookie may be as different and suspicious of us as the Jews and Gentiles were of one another. But we are called to seek fair balance.

Remember, generosity is a quality of faithfulness. Acting generously enriches our faith as individuals and as a community.

And it would glorify God and would reflect God’s generosity out into the world if we would share a generous portion of our abundance with others in need.