"IT'S YOU I LOVE"

(Sermons on 1 Corinthians - 16)

10/21/01 - The Rev. Alan Jackson

SERMON

Today we end our studies in Paul's first letter to the Corinthians. We began this series fifteen weeks ago by noting that this is certainly one of the more provocative books in the New Testament. Paul has challenged his readers to reexamine a number of our most time-honored prejudices. He has dealt with factionalism and scandal in the church, lawsuits among believers, sexual immorality, marriage, the balance between religious freedom and responsibility, the role of certain women in worship, the administration of the sacraments, the uses and abuses of spiritual gifts, the reality of the resurrection; and today he ends it all with a very pointed personal request for money. I told you when we began this series that it wouldn't always be easy reading, but that the rewards of diligent study would be well worth the investment. I trust that has proven to be true.

And speaking of 1 Corinthians not always being easy reading, it's probably a good thing that Paul made his living as a tentmaker. Reading Paul's material leaves me with the impression that if, for instance, he had tried supporting himself as a speechwriter, he probably would have starved. I say that because most of his writings, while obviously replete with flashes of profound inspiration, lack the kind of smooth transition from one subject to the next that you would expect from a polished rhetorician. But then, come to think of it, most of Paul's writings that made it into the New Testament aren't speeches – they're letters.

Everyone's letters betray a certain style. And one of the signature characteristics of Paul's style is the way he jumps from one topic to the next. He has just finished a superlative essay on the resurrection. He has taken his readers on a spiritual journey to the gates of heaven, then leaves them with a stirring admonition to "stand firm… because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." And with the hope of resurrection glory still ringing in their heads, he then writes, "Now about the collection for God's people…" Excuse me! I thought we were just talking about resurrection. Now we're talking about money? Where did that come from? It came from a man who was clearly equally at home expounding theology or talking about the most practical matters of life. More important, however, Paul was making it very clear that theology (no matter how sublime) is pointless if it has no useful expression in everyday life. Talking about heaven and money belong together.

Our Lord put the matter this way in Matthew 6, verse 19: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Then Jesus added, "You cannot serve both God and money." Later on, someone would offer this memorable commentary on Jesus' words: "He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep in order to gain what he cannot lose." (There's one for your refrigerator door.) Folks, that is the most practical kind of theology. We cannot talk meaningfully and fully about what it means to serve God without talking candidly about our attitude regarding our money.

I find it fascinating to think about the ways that different people approach what my friend Mac McEachron likes to call "The Sermon on the Amount." When it comes to talking about money and following Jesus, some folks will play on your religious convictions and emotions, especially any guilt you might feel over what you have in comparison to others. And frankly, some of them are very good at it. They have a budget to meet, and what they have to say about money is little more than fundraising. Please understand, I have nothing against fundraising, as long as the fundraisers are candid about what they're after – they want a piece of of your money. But there is a good deal more to Christian stewardship than simply raising cash.

Others approach the twin subjects of money and Christian faith on tiptoes. Concerned, lest they offend anybody's sensibilities about such a private matter as personal finances, if they talk about it at all (which they seldom do) they will probably speak in vague religious phrases that can be taken to mean almost anything and therefore mean almost nothing. Now, I sympathize with those who worry about offending people who don't want to hear talk about money – because there are certainly people like that. But that doesn't alter the fact that a Christian's attitude about money is an issue that the Bible faces squarely. So either we have to avoid those parts of God's Word altogether, or deal with them.

There are others, however, who are not aggressive fundraisers; but neither are they afraid to speak candidly about what it means to use your money responsibly as a Christian steward. Instead of manipulating the topic or avoiding it, they teach it – and I want to be that sort of person. In fact, I want us all to have a sound understanding of the fact that the way we handle our money is an essential discipline for spiritual maturity.

You may remember that Aristotle defined a virtue as "the mean between two extremes." That's a valuable lesson to remember. Because when it comes to our attitude about money, between the two extremes of miserliness and prodigality, between greed and foolish extravagance, is the virtue of generosity. Generosity is that spiritually mature attitude that allows you, as a Christian, to thoroughly enjoy whatever you have, but at the same time to hold all your possessions lightly.

Now, what can we learn about God's perspective on generosity from his Word? Well it seems to me that in these first few verses of the last chapter of 1 Corinthians, St. Paul lays out five guiding principles to follow on how to handle our money in a spiritually mature way.

1. The first principle of generosity is that it is a responsibility, not an option. Paul writes, "Do what I told the Galatian churches to do." He doesn't say, "Here's an idea. Consider forming a committee to discuss the relative merits of my proposal." He simply says, "Do it." Which is to say: If you have benefited from the ministry of others, then you have a responsibility to share your blessing with others. Why? Because that's how generosity works. It doesn't just take gifts; it reproduces them. In his second letter to the Corinthians, in chapter 9 verse 6, he would write: "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously." Paul is talking about a marvelous reciprocity that pays great long-term dividends – but only to those who invest responsibly. The first principle of generosity is that it is a responsibility.
    
2. The second principle of generosity is that it is for others; it's not for yourself or your family. Paul writes, "Now about the collection for God's people…" The focus here is clearly on caring for those beyond your immediate family. Now, that's not to say your generosity should leave your family without adequate resources. That kind of misguided thinking is irresponsible. In fact, in 1 Timothy 5:8 Paul says, "If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." So we have no business using our clear responsibility to be generous as an excuse for denying our family the things they need. Nevertheless, generosity obliges us to care for others, as we are able. In fact, back in the early days of Israel they had some remarkably progressive legislation already in place to care for those in need. For example, in Leviticus 19:10 the law says: "Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the Lord your God." God has made it clear to his people from the earliest times that generosity expresses itself in concern for others.
    
3. Here's a third principle of generosity that you find expressed in a mature faith. It is systematic. Paul goes on to write at verse 2: "On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made." That just makes good sense. Do you know why? It's because even a secular money expert like Suze Orman will tell you that, if you routinely put all your loose change in a jar, you won't miss it; but it will quickly add up to a surprisingly generous sum.
    
   Let's face it; if the folks in Corinth systematically set aside some money each week, that would provide much more help for God's needy people than if they waited until Paul arrived to take up a collection. Proverbs chapter 3 verse 9 says, "Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops." It doesn't say, "Honor the Lord with your wealth whenever you happen to feel like it." Paul will write in 2 Corinthians 9:7, "Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give." Generosity is a decision; it's not a feeling. So the bottom line, the deeper reason why your generosity should be systematic, is because a mature faith is generous whether you feel like being generous or not.
    
4. A fourth principle of generosity is that it is meant for everyone. "Each one of you," says Paul, "should set aside a sum of money… " No act of generosity is insignificant. Do you remember the incident in Mark, chapter 12, where Jesus was watching people place their offerings in the temple? "Many rich people threw in large amounts," says Mark. "But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny." Do you remember what Jesus said about her offering? He said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others."
    
   Was that true? Of course! "They all gave out of their wealth," said Jesus, "but she, out of her poverty, put in everything." Generosity doesn't say, "Forget it! My two-cents-worth won't make a difference." The generosity of a mature faith says, "I may only have two cents, but I want to make a difference anyway." Regardless of how little you may have to give, the Lord honors your generosity. So don't sell yourself short, because God doesn't. The discipline of generosity is for everyone.
    
5. And here's one last principle of generosity. It is proportionate. To those who are concerned that everyone do their part, Paul will write in 2 Corinthians chapter 8, beginning at verse 12: "If the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have. Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality."

Well, there you have a fairly simple and straightforward lesson on money and following Jesus. Now let's bring it home. We are a church that, at present, has been blessed with tremendous resources. The fact is that, with our growing commitment to ministries here and all over the world, we have only begun to sample the generous work that I am persuaded God is calling us to. I dare to say that because, as our Lord said, "To whom much is given, much will be required." But let me state it as clearly as I can: God doesn't need your money. But he wants us to use everything he has entrusted to us, so that we can grow up to that maturity of faith that expresses itself in generous service for the sake of the One who loves us all. God wants us to learn to love others the way he loves us – generously.

Paul Harvey told the story of a woman who was driving home from work when she snagged her fender on the bumper of another car. It was a new car that she and her husband had just picked out together. She was in tears. The driver of the other car was sympathetic, but said that they had to exchange insurance information. As she reached into the envelope to retrieve the documents, a piece of paper fell out. Hand written on it were these words: "IN CASE OF ACCIDENT… remember, honey, it's you I love, not the car." The Bible reminds us that God loves us, not what we can give. So let's learn how to give generously of what we have in such a way that others will hear God saying to them, through us, "It's you I love."
  

amen

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