2 Corinthians 9:6-12 for Sunday, March 9, 2008

Translation:
(9) And this is the point: the one who sows sparing also reaps sparingly; the one who sows bountifully also reaps bountifully. (7)Each person must decide in their heart, not reluctantly or out of a sense of duty, for God loves a cheerful giver. (8)And God is able to make every grace abound in you, in order that you always have a sufficiency and you may abound in all good deeds. (9)As it has been written, "He scattered abroad, he gave to the needy, his righteousness remains unto eternity." (10)And the one who provides seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and the harvest of your righteousness will grow. (11)You will be made rich in all things for your generosity, which produces through us thanksgiving to God, (12)for the service of this ministry is not only providing that which is lacking among the saints, but also overflowing with many thanksgivings to God.

Has anyone ever heard the words "God loves a cheerful giver" and then immediately felt glad to give away your earthly possessions? Somehow this phrase (originally from Proverbs 22:8) has been manipulated so that the person speaking it immediately guilt-trips the person hearing it, influencing that person to be generous. I think this only works because we assume that the logical opposite is "God hates a miser." In any case, at least when I hear the words "God loves a cheerful giver," I brace myself for some kind of moral flogging.

Though the Apostle Paul is known for his incredible rhetoric (don't believe me? Read a commentary on Philemon!), I doubt he intended for his audience to be immediately turned off by these six verses the way many of us are. Paul is asking for the Corinthians to support the Jerusalem Church with their financial resources. But, his plea is much more theological than the way we hear the phrase "God loves a cheerful giver" in our own culture.

I think ultimately the point is that our generosity cannot be motivated by guilt, or a sense of obligation or any kind of reluctance because that is not how God loves us. God does not love us out of a sense of guilt or any kind of obligation. God loves us freely, for who we are, even as sinners. The love God shows us, we should also show others. It is that selfless, unconditional love for others that motivates us to give so freely of our own treasure. That God loves a cheerful giver is not to say that God loves a miser less, but that God loves the miser too and if we are to emulate that love in our relationships with others, we must be as radical as God is.

The following verses can start to sound like works righteousness. It almost sounds like the more you give, the better Christian you are, the nicer you are to everyone, the more grace you get. I'm not sure that things work quite that way. The more you give and the harder you work at being Christ-like, the more open you are to receiving God's grace. Suddenly God's grace abounds--not because it wasn't there before, but because you didn't have the eyes to see it before.

So, this Sunday when you hear these words in worship, I hope your body won't immediately stiffen as you ready yourself for a moral beating. These words don't have to feel like someone is wrestling your wallet out of your pocketbook. Instead, listen carefully for how God may be calling you to be generous.