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?
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.)
No comments:
Post a Comment