First Kings offers us great insight into the way in which treaties worked in the Ancient Near East. Solomon and Hiram praise each other. They express their desire for one another’s goods and the initiate a way of producing and delivering the goods to their trade partner. At times verses like these are seen as not much more than interesting historical notes. But notice that the ability to execute this trade agreement was the direct result of the “peace” which “the Lord my God has given me.” (NLT v.4) Solomon had been blessed and because of this blessing he was in a place where he could fulfill God’s purpose-thus the agreement for the raw materials needed for the temple. Here’s a spiritual truth in this episode, Sharing is more than a business deal and sharing is more than simply a spiritual discipline. The first view fails to give us any sense of joy while the second allows us to trivialize our gifts.
God is the giver of all we have as well as all we are. Seeing this truth allows us to focus on how blessed we already are. And the reason that God has blessed us is in order that we will share with others in the name of Jesus. This adventure that Christ has involved us in is moves us along the road from caring to compassion and on to confession. Journeying along this road we end up touching others in powerful and life-changing ways.
God’s people in Macedonia discovered this type of sharing was an indispensable ingredient in their lives if they were going to faithfully live for Jesus. Philippi, Thessalonica and Berea had been three stops for Paul as he shared the gospel in a new place. In Philippi Paul and Silas are beaten and tossed in prison because they cast a demon out of a girl. In Thessalonica and Berea it’s the Jews who stir up problems claiming that the news of Jesus was “turning the world upside down.” (Acts 17:6)
Those saw Jesus as a new God by those who were Jews and as a rival King to Caesar. Because of this to live as a follower of Christ would be hard to do. In fact, there were those living in those cities that probably looked at the church like we look at some of the cults we’ve seen in our world. When Paul brought word that the church in Jerusalem was worse off than they were these believers were more than ready to respond. In fact, Paul tells us they were overjoyed at the chance to be a part of those who helped their sisters and brothers.
Corinth was a different case. It was a lot like Portland. It was a crossroads of culture. It was a major shipping hub for Greece. It was a city that lacked nothing and was open to almost everything. Paul even describes the church in Corinth as lacking no spiritual gift. Poor and wealthy believers alike were part of the house churches meeting in the city. Yet here this “strange belief”, this Jesus didn’t cause the stir he had earlier. The church didn’t stick out so much in the cosmopolitan culture of Corinth. It seems that the troubles faced by other believers didn’t find it’s way into the big city.
Paul shares with them in the chapter 8 that sharing goes beyond what is expected. The Macedonian Churches are held up as examples of what it looks like to give beyond what one expects. They weren’t satisfied with giving the minimum but were excited by the prospect of giving something more, something extra, to their sisters and brothers.
Their giving was a work of the Spirit not human manipulation. Paul didn’t trick them into giving. He didn’t use guilt or coercion. He told them of the need and they responded with a free and open heart. There is a sense in which they held nothing back but willingly poured themselves out for the sake of others. One can almost imagine Paul overwhelmed by their compassion as they begged to take the money that they had collected. He may well have reminded them of their own needs only to be met with the pleading of the people to take the gift.
This wasn’t a business deal or a political contribution for these churches. They didn’t give thinking that if they give God a campaign contribution they would get access to the big man when they needed it. It also wasn’t just a spiritual exercise in piety for the Macedonians. I once had a friend who told me that they gave because it made him a better person inside. No, these churches gave because their gifts were busy making a life and death difference to other people whom they didn’t even know; but whom Jesus did.
How could they do this? Quite simply it flowed out of the simple fact that they had given themselves to Christ. They had dedicated themselves to Jesus and in that commitment discovered the real owner of all they had. Giving themselves to Christ involved giving themselves to a different type of life. A life in which they sought out Jesus guidance and will. A life in which they listened to the voice of the Holy Spirit. A life in which the followed their Lord’s example of loving others in practical everyday ways.
I am amazed how a commitment to Jesus can take a job, marriage, home life, schooling, or friendships and cause them become something far different than before. Christ can take a broken relationship and bring about healing. I’ve seen adult siblings, brothers and sisters, reunited because of a relationship with Jesus that tied them together much stronger than their family ever did. I’ve known people whose jobs took a new importance as they gave themselves to Jesus. Suddenly it wasn’t just a paycheck but a place in which they could live for Jesus. Maybe you’ve already discovered this with yourself; a new deeper love for spouse, a new sense of calling to your career, or compassion you never imagined before for the street people you pass during your daily travels.
The Corinthian church had also known about the problems in Jerusalem and had pledge to support the church there. Now Paul tells them to make good on their pledge. If the Macedonians could do it so could Corinth was the implication. If, in the midst of their troubles, these churches could give how much more should the relatively peaceful situation of the church in Corinth move it to give.
But the crowning reason for sharing wasn’t competition or pride but the realization that Jesus had given them everything. Those who have faithfully given themselves to others for the sake of Jesus are like the Macedonians who new that Jesus, Son of God, became flesh and was executed for them. As an example, Jesus had no equal. As a sacrifice there can be none so effective. As a Lord there can be no other. Jesus, sharing himself with us is the reason why we share what we have with others.
One can care about situations and others without being involved. One can feel compassion for a person, be emotionally invested and concerned without demonstrating any sort of commitment toward them. But Christ calls us to move from just caring about a situation to making a commitment to do something about it.
Two practical examples of this commitment is seen in Northwatch this evening and in our budget. Both ask us to do something new and different. Both demand more than caring. Both ask for more than emotional investment. The ask for a commitment of the two most important things to us—our time and money.
Northwatch promises to put us in a place most of us have never been before a place of deep repentance for things others have done. It offers us an place not unlike a spiritual dentist visit or colonoscopy—not something we look forward too but something we know keeps us healthy. As uncomfortable as it is Christ’s promise from Matthew still remains, “I will be with you…” and that means he’s with us in the most uncomfortable situations we can face.
Most of you got a copy of our faith budget for next year and you found that stapled inside was a pledge card and envelope. If you didn’t get a budget or card they are in the back and you’re welcome to pick one up after worship. Next week will be our dedication of pledges to God. But we will continue to collect our pledges throughout the month.
Here’s what I’d ask each of us to do.
ÿ Pray—You may want to ask God what percentage to give or you may have to start asking God to show you He’s real. The first step is to get in contact with Jesus directly, one-on-one.
ÿ See—what God is doing in the North Portland and the world through your brothers and sisters here in Kenton. Begin to understand the difference that Christ’s congregation right here makes to others. If you need help with that we’d be happy to show the slide presentation again downstairs during our fellowship time.
ÿ Respond—It’s easy to pledge, take a card, figure out how much you have to spare or what your fair share is of the churches budget and write it down. Stewardship isn’t so easy. Because it involves sharing ourselves with others by God’s grace. Stewardship often presses us to move beyond what we think we’re able and to step out in trust that God will be there for us and honor our love for Jesus.
ÿ Commit—Take the steps to fulfill your pledge with joyfulness. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard people tell me how when they started tithing, giving 10% of their income, that God faithfully met their needs.
There is a joy that comes from sharing and a mutual benefit that we cannot hope to understand or experience until we’ve tried the sharing for ourselves. Join us on this road of faith. Join us as we move from caring about our neighbors and friends to a place where we’ve committed ourselves to be part of the solutions by means of Christ’s grace. I invite you to join together and honor Christ in our lives and in our giving.
