So You're a Priest: Grace that Abounds

This is part 21 of a sermon series through 2 Corinthians. The more time I spend on chapters 8 & 9, the classic Scriptures for preaching on stewardship, the more I am convinced that these passages are poorly preached. I think most preachers, zealous to change the hearts of their parishioners, miss the mark on these texts. On the other hand, the parishioners know it—even if they cannot articulate why—and so nothing changes: God’s word has landed on hard ground and, having been preached poorly, it is simple for the evil one to snatch the word from our hearts before it has a chance to work in us.

But what if there was more to this passage? What if the kernel of truth contained in this passage was bigger than stewardship, generosity, and charity? What if seed of truth in this passage had the power to change our hearts (and as a byproduct changing our attitude towards charity)? Would that be okay?

2 Corinthians 9:6-9

Commentary

This passage contains a lot of 2 Corinthians vocabulary that should be getting familiar by now: reluctantly (v7, elsewhere translated as grief: 2:1-7; 6:10; 7:8-11); compulsion (v7, elsewhere translated as constraint: 6:4); abound (v8: also translated as overflow: 1:5; 3:9; 4:15; 8:2,7,14; 9:8,12; 10:15). However, there is also some new vocabulary of note in this passage:

v6 sow … reap. An agricultural metaphor; however, remember that this method of sowing casts seed about it what appears to be a careless and haphazard manner (Matt. 13:1-9).

v7 decided. More precisely, thought through in advance. The time for deciding to be charitable is not during the moment of the appeal, but rather ahead of time; will you decide to have a predisposition towards charity?

cheerful. The Greek word, hilaros, comes into English as hilarious. (Would you say you have ever been a hilarious giver?)

v8 scattered. The other places the verb is used have a reckless, perhaps violent, aspect to the dispersion (Matt. 12:30; Luke 11:23; John 10:12; 16:32).

Application

There is a phenomenon in psychology called cognitive dissonance: the uncomfortable act of holding two contradictory ideas simultaneously. A classic case is smoking: on one hand everyone knows that smoking is associated with a variety of health risks; one the other hand, everyone, even smokers, want to live a long life. People solve cognitive dissonance by either changing their attitudes and behaviors or rationalizing away the disturbing, uncomfortable evidence. Smokers either quit smoking or rationalize away the perils of smoking (e.g. “Only heavy smokers are really at risk, and I’m only a social smoker.”)

I think most sermons on this passage cause cognitive dissonance. The (hopefully) well-intentioned preacher says something like, “v7 says you should have a plan for giving and give cheerfully and not reluctantly. Now, give 10%!” The preacher is using the very strong arm tactics that v7 says are the wrong basis for giving. The preacher is sending mixed messages, [1] and the typical parishioner will solve the contradiction by doing nothing, continuing in the old behavior, discounting the message and the messenger. [2]

The key to the passage is not found in v7, where so many preachers spend their time, but in v8. Nothing will change in our behavior until the heart changes; thus the question is, “Can you really trust God to come through on his promises?” Is God really ready to shower us with blessings? Is he really going to be working all things for good for us (Romans 8:28)? Can he really be counted on to give us all that we need (James 1:2-5)? Life seems so hard as it is; can it really be that a way of life that looks like losing ground is really the way to get ahead (Mark 8:35)?

The flippant answer—also badly preached from the passage—is be cheerful: “Don’t worry. Be happy.” We can’t just flip a switch, changing from fear to joy; however, we do believe that God can change the driving force in our lives so completely that—even though the circumstances in our lives may not change—our responses to life’s circumstances are completely changed. However, God cannot do it entirely on his own; he needs your help to change your heart; he needs you to trust him and take one step towards becoming that new person. Taking a step in faith is the hallmark of authentic faith.

“Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it” (Malachi 3:10)

Cheerfulness in v8, I believe, does not describe so much a state of happiness as a lack of concern or worry. The cheerful giver is the one who does not worry about whom is being blessed by the gift, whether the recipient deserves a blessing, whether the gift will be appreciated and used wisely. The cheerful giver is the one who does not worry about being blessed in kind, being taken care of, or winning, or losing.

This lack of concern on the part of the cheerful giver is apparent in v6 and v9. In both verses the verbs used describe gifts distributed with an almost reckless abandon. The sower doesn’t plant each seed individually; rather, the sower broadcasts the seed widely, and it falls on the good and bad soil alike. The gifts to the poor are likewise broadcast.

But we are talking about more than money, more than material gifts; we are talking about a heart attitude:

But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? (Matthew 5:44-46)

Points to Ponder

God can work this change of heart attitude, but it begins by us letting him in and giving him a chance to change us. What is one thing you could do this week to be a cheerful giver? A cheerful lover? A cheerful forgiver? A cheerful encourager?

Our attitude towards giving is determined by how much we trust God with the circumstances of our lives. Where and when do you think God let you down? Could it be that God’s plan and your plan were different? Could you give God another chance?

End Notes

1 - Other examples of mixed messages:

Now, apologize for hitting your brother … or else I am going to spank you!

I’d like to order a pepperoni pizza and a diet soda.

Where do you see cognitive dissonance in these messages?

2 - Don’t confuse cognitive dissonance with hypocrisy. A hypocritical preacher preaches a message that he/she does not follow. The one preaching cognitive dissonance is preaching two messages—one of which is in direct contradiction of the other. (I believe most preachers are not hypocritical in their generosity, but they can cause cognitive dissonance in how they try to cultivate that same generosity in others.)

So You’re a Priest: To be Prepared is Half the Victory [1]

This is part 20 of a sermon series through 2 Corinthians. In chapter 8, Paul mentioned his plans for taking a collection for poorer churches and told the Corinthians that Titus and others would be coming to being taking the collection in Corinth. Paul spoke of the zeal of Titus and the others—a passion that translates into action (not just words and feelings). The implication was that Paul desired the Corinthians to have such zeal as well.

We tend to think of zeal as a passion that takes control of us and drives us irresistibly forward. However, most zeal can begin more simply as a commitment and a determination to live a certain way before God, neighbor, and self.

2 Corinthians 9:1-5

1 There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the saints.
2 For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were prepared to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action.
3 But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be prepared, as I said you would be.
4 For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to say anything about you—would be ashamed of having been so confident.
5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and prepare for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.

Commentary

v1 service. Humble ministry (the same word, diakonia, seen last week, translated as “administration”).

v2-5 I took the liberty of tinkering the NIV translation which translates the same word groups as “ready” (v2,3) and unprepared” (v4). (In v5, a different verb is translated in the NIV as “arrangements”—this verb means something more like “prepare in advance”.)

v5 generous gift. Literally, a blessing.

Application

“To be prepared is half the victory.” Sadly, that is not how we tend to live. We tend to wing it, flying through life by the seat of our pants, and wondering why we seem to be falling behind, failing to achieve our dreams, and fearing the growing divide between the lives we desire and the lives we live.

To be unprepared is half the defeat. To not think through one’s standards for dating and intimacy is to fall to the pressure of the moment in the back seat of a parked car. To not think through one’s standards for wholesome speech is to yield to the passion of a fiery tongue. To not think through one’s standards for forgiveness is to forever feel the pain of one’s own wounds without regard to the pain of another. To not think through generosity is to be shackled to an illusion of poverty and to lose the joy of giving to another.

One might think this passage is all about commitment to giving more to church; however, once we see that the emphasis of the passage is on preparation for giving—not the giving, per se—we see the truth of v5: we are created for the outpouring of our lives to be a blessing … not something grudgingly given.

Points to Ponder

To be prepared is half the victory—where has this been the case in your life? How does it feel when you know that you are a blessing to others? How much more likely is that to happen when you prepare for those difficult situations in life (versus encountering them without any preparation)?

To be unprepared is half the defeat—where has this been the case in your life? Most of your troubles are familiar to you. Can you now, in the peace of this moment, resolve to act differently when that trouble arises again? Can you resolve to persist in this new course of action even if you don’t immediately get the results you want?

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the Lord (Jeremiah 29:11-14a)

End Notes

1 - Miguel De Cervantes.

So You’re a Priest: Living Before God AND Men

This is part 19 of a sermon series through 2 Corinthians. After writing briefly to the Corinthians about charity and giving to others, Paul now turns aside to validate the men he is sending to collect the monetary gift raised for other, more needy churches. Given current events in Washington, D.C., these verses appear very relevant! We want those to whom we entrust our money—tithes, taxes, or savings—to be above reproach!

2 Corinthians 8:16-24

Commentary

Last time I said that the eagerness that Paul describes refers to a heart attitude that translates into action. We might call a person with this kind of attitude a zealot; we might say that they’re “on fire for the Lord.” This type of person is characterized by action, not by words or feelings. The men that Paul is sending to collect the gift from the Corinthians are this sort of men: full of concern (v16), much enthusiasm (v17), eagerness to help (v19), and zeal ... now even more so (v22).

v19&20 administer. We think of administration as a high-ranking or supervisory function; however, the word used here is the verbal form of diakonia (from which we get the word deacon) and refers to humble acts of service.

v20-21 Although these verses do not explicitly refer to eagerness and zeal, the verses are a picture of that zeal in action. Their zeal is not just to distribute the gift to others, but to distribute it fairly, and to distribute it in a way that is completely above reproach.

v21 in the eyes of the Lord [and] men. We all play to some audience; we all try to impress somebody with how we act. The Bible is full of passages that speak of coming before God. Do you remember a time when you felt that God’s eyes were on you, that you had an audience with God?

taking pains. Distributing the gift in the correct way is as important as distributing the gift itself (perhaps more so). The verb refers to keeping something foremost in mind, making provision & thinking actions through in advance.v24 the churches can see. The sense here is the same as in v21 where one is living before God and other men. The onus is on us to encourage the church and for the church to affirm (or correct) us.

Application

Living before God and men: The mind is an infinitely deceitful organ, and tricks us into failing to adhere to this standard. When we spurn God and play to a human audience, we become hypocrites, living a lie as we appear one way to others. When we spurn humans and play to God, we become either legalistic or overly-spiritual. On one hand, we become Christian Pharisees. On the other, we become so heavenly minded that we’re no earthly good; in becoming overly-spiritual, we believe the lie that strong feelings alone (feelings that don’t translate into action) can validate who we are. (Read James 2:14-26 & 1 John 3:16-18.)

One might think that spurning both God and men leads to nihilism, the rejection of all authority; however, your true God is the one you do serve zealously (with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength—Mark 11:20). Is that your self, your fears, your cravings? Come before God; come before him and be willing to surrender to God the false god you have been serving; ask God to give you zeal to live for him instead. He will hear you!

Points to Ponder

Do you think your elected officials in Washington D.C. are living to the standard set in v20-21

Another word on eagerness—I could also have said, “We might call someone that eager a fanatic.” Where are you fearful of being eager to do God’s will? Are you afraid it would change who you are at your core? Are you afraid of criticism? Are you afraid you won’t get what you want from life?