THE CHEERFUL GIVER
Introduction
1. This year our stewardship emphasis has been “Holy (H-O-L-Y) obligated.” We are focusing on what it means to be a Biblical – Chrsitian steward. A steward doesn’t own anything – a steward manages what belongs to someone else. And the text we have been using is 2 Corinthians 12:14, “What I want is not your possessions, but you…” But, what does this mean? In part it means that the one who is holy obligated is the cheerful giver.
2. Not like the old joke about the Roman Catholic priest, the Baptist minister and the Lutheran pastor. They were discussing how they decided what portion of the offering should come to them personally. The Priest said, “Well, I draw a circle on the ground – step away ten yards and then I toss the collection at the circle. Whatever ends up in the circle is mine.” The Baptist minister said, “Well – that’s almost what I do – but I keep whatever falls outside that circle.” The Lutheran pastor then spoke up. “You are doing it all wrong” he said. What I do is I throw all the collection up into the air – and let God keep whatever He wants.”
3. Paul’s second letter to the Christians at Corinth addresses, among other things, a collection he has been taking. The church in Corinth (Corinth was the capital of Greece at that time) was made up mostly of gentile Christians. The collection was to go to the Jews in Jerusalem – where a severe drought was causing starvation. But this was a time of strained relationships between Christians and Jews – and these gentile Corinthians weren’t very eager to participate. Furthermore, some in the Corinthian congregation were accusing Paul of wanting the money for himself!
So Paul writes to them, “Each of you must give as you have decided in your heart – not reluctantly or under compulsion – for the Lord loves a cheerful giver,” (2 Corinthians 9:7). The Cheerful Giver is (I submit to you) the one who is holy (h-o-l-y) obligated.
I. If you want to be “holy obligated” – if you want to be the Cheerful Giver - then three things are required: give out of joy , give without expecting anything in return, and give more than expected.
1. The Cheerful Giver gives out of joy. Not reluctantly. If you cannot be joyful about what you give – give God less – or maybe more. Some studies show those who give more are more joyful.
United Healthcare surveyed 4,500 American adults about their volunteer time. 41 percent of Americans volunteer an average of 100 hours a year. 89% of those reported that "Volunteering has improved my sense of well-bring." 92% agree that volunteering enriched their sense of purpose in life. 72% characterized themselves as "optimistic" compared to only 60% of non-volunteers. Does giving more make us more joyful? It would seem so.
The Jewish leaders in Jerusalem could not get over their angry fights with Paul When Paul took the money he had collected and brought it to Jerusalem – he was arrested and ended up in jail. But, even from jail, Paul could write to the Philippian Christians, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice.… Do not be anxious about anything.” Paul put together a great gift – and that gift was rejected – but he could still be joyful. What about you? Are you anxious, or joyful in giving? In life?
*The cheerful giver gives out of their joy – and thankfulness for all they have received.
2. And the cheerful giver gives without expecting a return.
The 12th century Jewish physician and philosopher Maimonides described one way to give to the poor, “Do so without knowing to whom one gives, and without the recipient knowing from whom he received. For this is performing a good deed solely for the sake of Heaven. This is like the “anonymous fund” that was in the Holy Temple (in Jerusalem). There the righteous gave in secret, and the … poor profited in secret.”
Jesus says it this way, in Luke 6, “And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend expecting nothing in return,… and you will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. “
*The cheerful giver expects nothing in return. And you – is that how you give? Expecting nothing in return?
3. The cheerful giver gives out of joy, gives without expecting anything in return, and gives more than is expected.
Marischen Nordmeyer was right. Last week I explained the pledge cards that we put in with the bulletin – and said that the average Christian gives back to the Lord 2% of the blessings God entrusts to us – but that the Lord asks us to return 10%. Afterwards Marischen sought me out and corrected me. She reminded me that the tithe, giving 10%, is something recommended in the Bible in the Old Testament. In the New Testament the Lord wants us to give Him 100% - that means remembering that all we have, everything, is a gift from God – to use wisely – to serve Him- not ourselves.
We remember the sacrifice of Veterans this weekend. I was not in the military – but my dad lost the hearing in his right ear during WW II. And I was reading the other day about Army Gunner Ross McGinnis. McGinnis was born on Flag Day in 1988. His dad says Ross knew from early on he wanted to be a soldier. He enlisted on his seventeenth birthday – the first day he could legally do so. After basic training McGinnis was sent to Iraq. On December 4, 2007 he was on patrol in Baghdad – when a grenade sailed through the window of his Humvee. Instead of diving out the door – McGinnis hurled himself on the grenade. He died, but he saved the lives of the four other soldiers in the truck with him. His country posthumously awarded him the Medal of Honor. He did not do it for that reason. Those who knew him said it was instinctual. He gave more than expected. He gave his life for his friends. Would you have done that? Humans find it hard to give themselves totally to something.
*The cheerful giver gives out of joy, gives without looking for a return, and gives more than expected.
II. But let me suggest that The True Cheerful Giver – the One who gives more, the One who gives out of joy, Who gives without demanding a return– is God. God is The Cheerful Giver.
1. In Hebrews 12:2, St Paul says,”(Jesus) for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross“ The joy?
This joy was not any joy in suffering – but it was His joy from realizing all those who would be saved from hell and the grave and brought to heaven. Jesus suffered and died in your place – and mine – because we have trouble giving joyfully, without expecting anything in return and giving more than is expected. By doing that He opened the door for us to eternal life with God. This is what Jesus focused on. This was His joy. Not the suffering, but knowing He was opening the door to heaven!
*God is the Cheerful Giver - Jesus gave His entire life for you – and He did it out of joy.
2. And God gives without demanding anything in return – simply out of His love. HE IS LOVE
There are seven petitions, or requests, in the Lord’s Prayer….
The fourth petition says, “Give us this day our daily bread.” “Daily bread” Martin Luther explained was everything we need to sustain life – food, shelter, clothing. And then in his explanation of the fourth petition Luther says, “God certainly gives us these things without our prayers – even to evil people.” And Luther says in his explanation of the first article of the creed, “He does all this purely out of fatherly divine goodness and mercy – without any merit or worthiness in me.” For this He wants our thanks – but He does not demand it – He continues to gives the world these gifts unconditionally.
*God is the Cheerful Giver – He gives out of joy – and without demanding anything in return.
3. And, think about it, God gives us more than we could ever expect or deserve. What we need in this life – and more than what we need to enter eternal life. That’s a good thing for most of us. For me. And for Robert Robinson.
Before the sermon today we sang a hymn, “Come Thou Font of Every Blessing.” That hymn was written by the poet Robert Robinson near the end of the 18th century – when he was just 23 years old. He had been living a life apart from God until an evangelist shared the love of Jesus with him. He was so moved by knowing the love of God that he wrote this hymn. Sadly, Robinson later fell away from the faith. For years he turned his back on God. Then one day he was riding in a stagecoach – and there was a stranger, a woman seated next to him who was intently reading a book – she turned to him and asked him what he thought of these words she had been reading, “Prone to wander, Lord I feel it – prone to leave the God I love.” They were the words that were in the hymn he had written. He was cut to the heart and began to cry –He was reminded of the undeserved love of God – Who forgives every sin – Robert Robinson remained a faithful Christian for the rest of His life.
*God is The Cheerful Giver – He is the One who gives joyfully, gives without demanding a response –– the One Who is ready to give us more than we ever expect. God doesn’t want your possessions – doesn’t need them, won’t demand them – God doesn’t want your possessions - He wants you.
