Excelling in Generosity - Lectionary Reflection for Pentecost 5B (2 Corinthians 8)

 





2 Corinthians 8:7-15 New Revised Standard Version

Now as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you—so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking.

I do not say this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love against the earnestness of others. For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. 10 And in this matter I am giving my advice: it is appropriate for you who began last year not only to do something but even to desire to do something— 11 now finish doing it, so that your eagerness may be matched by completing it according to your means. 12 For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has—not according to what one does not have. 13 I do not mean that there should be relief for others and pressure on you, but it is a question of a fair balance between 14 your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance. 15 As it is written,

“The one who had much did not have too much,
    and the one who had little did not have too little.”

*****************

                Is it time for a stewardship sermon? The COVID pandemic proved to be a challenging time for congregations financially. Many church members were out of work. Because there is a tendency for people to share their offerings when they are in attendance, the fact the churches were shut down for more than a year also affected giving levels. So, perhaps, this text in which Paul speaks about generous giving could stimulate a conversation about giving to the ministry of the church. Because I gave my retirement sermon a few weeks back and am not in the pulpit for the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost I won’t have an opportunity to deliver that stewardship sermon. It would be appropriate to note that Paul doesn’t speak here of raising money to pay the congregation’s bills. Rather, he is asking the Corinthians to participate in his effort to raise support for the congregation in Jerusalem, which had been suffering.

                The context for this reading is Paul’s attempt to support the mission he had sent Titus to complete. That mission was to raise funds from among the churches so that they could be sent to Jerusalem. In his effort to support Titus’ work there among the Corinthians, Paul highlights the generosity of the churches in Macedonia, who gave even though they were experiencing adversity themselves. Though they experienced great poverty, they overflowed with generosity and joy. If they can give joyfully, even though they were experiencing their own poverty, then surely the Corinthians could give generously out of their abundance. (2 Cor. 8:1-6)   

                Paul’s focus here is on developing a spirit of generosity. He claims he’s not putting pressure on them to contribute. Nevertheless, the mention of the fact that the Macedonian congregations responded positively despite their poverty, which would seem to put some pressure on the Corinthians, who he believes have an abundance of resources. Therefore, it seems to him, that it is important to share with those in need to achieve a fair balance.

                It’s worth noting here that in the first letter to the Corinthians, Paul emphasized a theology of spiritual giftedness that enabled the members of the body to contribute to the common good (1 Corinthians 12). You get the sense here that Paul is interested in that same principle. He notes that they had excelled in faith, speech, knowledge, eagerness, and love. Now, he’s calling on them to excel in generosity by participating in a financial drive that would help support the common good. By doing this they will contribute to a fair balance.

                Note the quotation our passage closes with: “The one who had much did not have too much, and the one who had little did not have too little.” The passage is Exodus 16:18 (LXX). Contextually, the statement relates to the gathering of manna. Thus, the reading from the Hebrew is:  “But when they measured it with an omer, those who gathered much had nothing over, and those who gathered little had no shortage; they gathered as much as each of them needed.” Paul takes that word and expands it to encourage the Corinthians to live generous lives. Thus, he creates a moral principle that in our day might be reflected in calls to deal with income inequality. Why does the 1% control so much of the nation’s wealth? Why can’t we move to a fair balance? Now, some might say that Paul is speaking here about charity and not government programs. That may be true, but in a country that claims to have Christian roots, shouldn’t we take seriously Paul’s words here and commit ourselves to bring about that fair balance in our nation? Isn’t it the moral thing to do?

                Following up on that, might we expand the reach of Paul’s vision? Remember that he’s asking the churches in Macedonia and Achaea to make a sacrifice not just for their own communities, but for those folks living down in Jerusalem. Aren’t there enough suffering folks in Achaea? Why take care of those folks down in Jerusalem?  After all, the majority of Christians today live not in Europe and the United States but in the Global South and Asia.

                Now, I acknowledge Paul doesn’t have the government in mind here. After all, the Empire wasn’t listening to members of this little Christian community. But again, what Paul say to us who live in a land of abundance and have influence over our government through our voting patterns? Would Paul support an anti-immigrant or America First platform? Or, if he had the influence, would he push for something broader? I don’t have the answer to the question, but it’s worth pondering. After all, the Christians in Macedonia and Achaea probably were majority Gentile, and the Christians in Jerusalem were Jewish in background. There was tension between these communities. Might an act of generosity build bridges?  Beyond that, doesn’t Paul envision a true partnership that is symbolized by the sharing of goods in a fair and balanced way where the wealthy have enough and the poor don’t have too little.

                Yes, excel in your generosity! So ends Paul’s stewardship sermon!

Comments

Popular Posts