Today our scriptures come from Paul’s 2nd letter to the Corinthians.
Paul sounds a little like some people I know. You know the type, the ones that volunteer other people for things. I have been blessed to be the one that had his time, effort and occasionally money offered generously to a project or a cause.
It was probably my dad that did it the most. I have known my dad to boast about how much I know about computers. Then volunteer me to spend my night and weekends helping someone with their problems.
I guess I should feel good about what my dad feels about my abilities, but was it really his business to set me up appointments. Was it ok for him to place me in apposition where he would be embarrassed if I did not show up and fix the problem?
In a way that is what is happening in this scripture. In the verses after today’s reading, Paul tells the church at Corinth that he is sending this group of men to assist in the generous offering that He (Paul) has told everyone they will give.
Sounds a little presumptus does in it? Later he even gets really direct saying that he knows that they can afford it.
We have friends, a couple and when we have been out with, the wife, being a very affirming person. She tries to never raise her voice and to always speak with love . She corrects her husband by saying “ Honey, I love you!…But…and there is where the ax fell. She would correct her family about some issue, using what I termed the I love you But.. technique. I love you but your behavior is terrible. I love you But I disagree with what you want to do.
We were in a bible study together when this lady found her biblical justification. As we studied the letters to the Corinthians she found her technique for giving a loving statement then a correction for bad behavior or to call people to action to be well documented by Paul. Paul is the expert when it comes to building up a person or group and then pointing out where they may be missing the mark.
In today’s scripture, Paul picks up his praises toward the Corinthians, faith, speakers, knowledge, enthusiasm and love for Paul and the work of Christ.
Have you ever had someone that filled your ears with complements? They just don’t seem to be able to say enough good things about you. I am afraid that most of us have become too cynical. We just don’t trust someone who complements us, especially if it seems a little too nice. I end up asking, at least on the inside, what do you really want?
As I read the text I started asking myself what does God want? What is Paul saying here that I should be paying attention to?
The situation he is describing, a group of people, in this case believers that are living where there is a drought. They need help in buying food. They are down and out and will have to leave their homes and land if they want to survive. The critical time is coming when the money and food is going to run out.
Whenever we go to a Mexican restaurant, one of my Kids, I won’t name which one. It embarrasses them when I talk about them. Ask to order Cheese Dip to enjoy with the chips. I usually ask for a large one, because I want some too. On more than none occasion the cheese arrives the child pulls the bowl directly in front of them and starts enjoying the dip.
If I try to dip my chip into the bowl and I received a response. ” It’s Not Yo Cheese!”
My response is I guess it is, the same as on the nachos…. And the statement again is It’s Not Yo Cheese! And hands cover the bowl protecting it and keeping me from even a singe taste.
My dear child is telling me that they will not share the large cheeses dip that I ordered on their behalf. The dip that I plan to pay for along with the rest of the meal.
What makes this cheese dip theirs in the first place? What right do they have to claim the whole thing for themselves? How selfish have I let my kids become?
What I believe Paul is saying to the Corinthians is that I know you guys. I know that you want to be involved in this special offering for the people who have really deep needs. I know that you can afford to give something.
He calls on their faith in Jesus, their understanding that he was the Son of God, he was rich beyond all imagination and he gave all that up so that they, the Corinthians and all the other believers could have the same wealth - eternal (heavenly) wealth.
Paul then reminds them to pick up on the project they started a year ago. He actually gives the people of the church in Corinth the credit for starting this special offering for Jerusalem idea. Someone in that church heard about the problems, and suggested that they do something. Now Paul is calling them to finish what they started. He is suggesting that they act on the feelings and give generously and happily.
How about us, are there things that we have started that we have not finished. Are there things that we have felt called to do that we have dropped?
Perhaps because they seemed to big, or too expensive or we don’t have enough help. Are there projects, physical and or financial that we as individuals and as a church said we would do, that we have neglected to finish?
I know that there are. It is just like at home. There are always project on the list that we never quiet get to. Some might be on the wish list and others just postponed.
We don’t know if the church in Corinth forgot, maybe lost their enthusiasm or changed their mind. For all we know they could have been ready. But Paul is encouraging them to consider their giving and to have it ready to send when they arrive. Paul is telling the church at Corinth that giving is another spiritual gift, that generosity comes from the Holy Spirit.
He is talking about using all the gifts that they as a church already experience and now adding the power of a generous heart.
I wonder how many of us really know the joy that comes from true generosity? I know from personal experience the generosity that is in this church.
The gift of generosity is probably one of the hardest to maintain. We all have limited resources. I would venture to uses that none of us has unlimited funds.
I have been blessed to be in the position from time to time where I had and could share it. When I did, there was a different feeling, maybe Joy or perhaps satisfaction that I was doing the right thing.
Having Joy in giving is even harder than the giving itself. Many feel that the church just wants our money. That it is not interested in Us. And we will submit and give but we are not really happy about it. If you are not happy about giving to the church or to a special project or even to some other charity in the first place, you will not feel the sense of joy that should come with your generosity. It will really leave you with an unpleasant feeling.
Other situations can kill our Joy, Maybe fe feel we are the only ones giving to something and we are doming more than our fair share. Natural
As a church we are doing things together. We are all to help with the load that we have. This is what Paul is describing in that many individual churches are giving based on what they have.
I guess I get to play that part of Paul today. I get to complement you on all you have done and all the ways you have stepped out to do things for God. And then remind you of a question, Are you forgetting something?
In the past was there something that if you had the resource, or talent that you would have acted? Has the resource come to you now? Do you have more time to do that thing….?
Paul clearly tells them in the letter that they don’t have to do this. They don’t have to be as generous as the poorer people, the ones with fewer gifts, less money. It is up to them as a church and as an individual. In fact he tells them directly that God does not expect them to do more than they can afford.
When my child covers the cheese dip and won’t share what I provided. I feel a little hurt and even can get a little angry.
It was my love and caring that let me pay way too much for a little bowl for melted white cheese.
Ordering the large bowl was a way of providing excess to the child’s need and I had expected or at least hoped that they would let others share in the cheese.
God gives us all our order of cheese, especially here in the United States. To me the cheese is not just a representation of money. It is also talents like having time, and imagination and strength and most importantly love.
It all comes from having an understanding that God gives us a vision and an understanding of needs and we are to use what we have already been given to help with as many needs as possible.
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Some of us are called to use our talents as outreach. That might be visiting home bound, writing notes and letters. Some of us are called to do financial things, to make the money available that we can help people with needs or that more children are reached through new programs. We maybe called to plan mission trips or support a missionary.
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Perhaps you might be called to give to the special offering in your bulletin today.
In today’s lesson Paul is reminding the church of a particular call to ministry. To a specific understanding they decided to support as a church the mission of the church.
He is using the I love you But technique.. he is reminding them that everything they have was purchased by Jesus. And when they put their hands over the bowl, blocking the sharing of time, talent and money they are saying to God,
“It’s Not Yo Cheese!”
Consider whose Cheese it is? Who provided it and at what cost?
When you were provided your portion, did you ever have the idea that you might be expected to share the gift, with others, supporting our church or a special offering to help special needs?
I don’t guess I know a single person that claims to know or totally understand exactly what God intends for them to do. Most of us I believe are willing to at least try to respond but we don’t know when generosity turns into waste. Fear of bad stewardship, mistrust of the projects and feeling we have to absolutely know God’s will can also lead to bad stewardship, because we are not cheerful givers. Sometimes we just have to turn loose of our control and let God handle the big stuff.
Paul explains that is not God’s intention that one or two of us do it all, God expects us to give what we have with a since of balance and fairness. We are to share when we can, sometimes sacrificially, giving up extras but not to the point where we are in need.
Today, I am talking about stewardship. Being a good steward of your God given cheese. How are you being called to share what God has Given you. Is some of your time, talent or money to support this church and the missions that we might do here? Or special offering helping persons in need that we could never help alone?
I know more than one family that have hurt their own finances and used up vacation time in response to the feeling that the promises made by God to people in need must be kept. Way too often, some of them have gone without their own needs because they were so sure that it was their job.
-They made up the difference from their cheese because others failed to share. God’s expectation of for all of us to respond, and when we do, the job gets done and the load is light.
When My dad gave promises of my sweat, my time and my skill, it was not as if I did not owe him for everything I had myself. My parents gave me my life and my support and occasionally asked me to share out of my talents and abundance.
That is the exact same picture as our heavenly father. The gift of his Son for our need is a far greater gift than when we share with Christ like generosity.
All glory be to God.
