Giving. In the New Testament there is a letter written from Paul to the church in Corinth.
About a year before this letter was written, the Corinthians had made a commitment to an offering that Paul was collecting among his churches to help the “mother” church back in Jerusalem through a time of economic turmoil and poverty. The Corinthians had made their initial commitment with much enthusiasm, but over time, their enthusiasm had faded.
So, Paul wrote to them to rekindle their passion for giving toward this special cause.
It seems to me that any discussion of the spiritual habit of the heart called giving has to begin where Paul began, with God, the giver.
Think about what God has given you? Would you say that God has given to you abundantly or sparingly? Has God’s giving enriched you or diminished you?
Now, Paul had a lot to say about God, the giver. For Paul, God is an extraordinary giver. God gives to the poor because God’s justice and righteousness endure forever. God supplies seed to the sower and bread for food. God supplies and multiplies our seed for sowing which makes possible the harvest of our righteousness and every good work. God gives an indescribable gift of amazing grace – the Good News of God’s inclusive love and a ministry of great generosity that enriches us in every way; supplies the needs of others; overflows with thanksgivings to God and produces mutual concern and prayer for one another.
Before we can say a word about giving as a spiritual habit of the heart, we have to start with God the extraordinary giver.
But then the question quickly becomes: How will we respond to this God of extravagant generosity?
Well, Paul encourages us in this way. Sow bountifully, not sparingly and then reap in abundance. Give as you have decided to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, but cheerfully, because God loves a cheerful giver.
What is Paul saying? Claim the abundance of God’s blessings and then share them generously in every good work. Participate in this ministry. Supply the needs of others. Share with others in obedience to the Good News of Christ as a means of glorifying God. And then always, in everything, give thanks to God.
So what’s Paul doing here? He’s urging us to embrace giving as a spiritual habit of the heart in response to God the extravagant giver. And when we do this, our lives reflect the very glory of God.
Here’s another question: What does this kind of life look like?
Let me give you a contemporary example. It’s a story from Pastor Andy Langford about a woman named Edith who was a member of his first congregation.
He writes, “Edith was born in a family of tenant farmers and worked at a textile mill all her life. She never owned a car. At her retirement, Edith’s wealth consisted of a four-room mill home, plus her Social Security check. Each month when she received her check, Edith cashed it and walked from store to store paying her bills. Each month, Edith also gave ten percent ($40) of her Social Security check ($400) in cash and placed it in the offering plate at worship.
“One month, I took Edith’s gift back to her, saying, ‘Edith, you need this money more than our congregation.’ Edith then told me. ‘If you won’t take the cash, I’ll just send it straight to the church treasurer.’ She went on to say, ‘I’m not giving this money for our church, or for you, or for me, but for God. It’s my way of saying thank you to God. Don’t take away my chance to give.’ I concluded I was wrong and Edith was right.”
For Edith, giving had become a spiritual habit of the heart. But there’s something more here. Giving as a spiritual habit of the heart makes a difference in the world – it can meet needs, relieve suffering and enrich the lives of others. As Paul says, giving is a way of sharing in every good work. Giving is a way of changing things for the good.
My dear friends, we know how much God gives. We’re on the receiving end of that giving, day in and day out, every moment of our lives. So when we open our hearts fully and completely to this generous God giving becomes a spiritual habit of the heart for us and we sow bountifully and the harvest multiplies and great good is accomplished.
P.S. You are invited to attend the wild and crazy Follies at The Met Saturday, Oct.15 at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the door ($15) and a spaghetti dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. ($10). It will be a fun time.
Rev. Dan Koeshall is the Senior Pastor at The Metropolitan Community Church (The Met) in San Diego, California, themetchurch.org.
