“TRANSPARENCY & GENEROSITY”
(pacing) I don't know. I just never pictured Paul as a touchy-feely kind of of guy. The letters he wrote to the Romans and Galatians don't read that way, but 2 Corinthians – it's like he's all out there. As noted, as we started this letter, it's by far his most personal letter. He's utterly transparent as he openly shares his journeys and struggles with them. But some of his struggles have been caused by them. He felt forced to write a confrontational letter and be-cries there as he does here how hardened they've become. As he put it last week: “Our hearts ache! Open your hearts to us!”
(2 Corinthians 6:10, 13)
It reminds me of a certain six-year-old: “I'm in a very crabby mood right now so everybody just leave me alone! (pacing - looking around) Nobody recognizes my hints to smother me with affection.
The Corinthians likewise were needing additional hints. So, Paul sent his colleague and travel-ing buddy, Titus. He knew that they needed to be encouraged as much as he did. And Titus is just the guy to do so. When the tension and discouragement heat up, Titus shows up.
Paul writes: “When we arrived in Macedonia, (where Paul had planted churches in Berea, Thessalonica and Philippi), there was no rest for us. We faced conflict from every direction, with battles on the outside and fear on the einside. But God, who encourages those who're discouraged, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus. His presence was a joy as was his news of you.”
(2 Corinthians 7:5-7)
How rare for Paul to admit to being discouraged. Things must've gotten really ugly during those visits. We know that he spent time imprisoned in Philippi, was attacked in Thessalonika and chased out of Berea. Who wouldn't be discouraged? Since then, though, Paul has been encouraged and revitalized for the work ahead in five, distinct ways and wants them to be likewise encouraged as well.
First, as mentioned, Paul has been encouraged by the arrival of his friend, Titus. This is the same Titus whose name graces one of the books of the New Testament. He's one of Paul's go-to guys. Paul sends him in to calm the storm or to read his letters to the churches. He'll eventually be called to pastor the church they planted in Crete. But now, he brings encouragement simply by showing up. His presence is a direct answer to Paul's prayers. Sometimes it's enough just to show up!
The second encouragement comes in the news Titus comes to share. “He brought the encouragement he received from you. When he told us how much you long to see me, and how sorry you are for what happened, and how loyal you are to me, I was filled with joy!” (2 Cor 7:7)
Paul's third letter, what he called his “severe letter”, has produced the desired results. The church members in Corinth had acknowledged their mistakes, repented and were looking to make a clean start. It's all that Paul had hoped for them. There are still some among them questioning Paul's authority but it would seem that most were looking to Paul once again for guidance.
Third, in a humble spirit, they gave Titus a warm welcome. They treated Paul's ambassador with respect and kindness. Imagine how that made Paul feel – grateful and validated.
“We were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was about the way all of you welcomed him and set his mind at ease. I told him how proud I was of you – and you didn't disappoint me!”
(2 Corinthians 7:13-14)
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Fourth, Paul is greatly encouraged by their willingness to send a love offering to the mother church in Jerusalem. The church there is strapped. Political and social opposition is widespread and the Christians there are hard-pressed and financially impoverished. Paul's mission trip as late has turned into a fund-raising effort to support the church of the apostles.
“So, we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving. Since you excel in so many ways...., I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.” (2 Corinthians 8:7)
Paul is encouraged at their willingness to help and by their positive reply to Titus' plea. So, it is when one body of believers gives to support another. Everyone involved winds up being encouraged.
I received a letter this spring from a Lutheran pastor serving a church in Alaska asking for help. They are a small congregation like ours, seeking to make an impact for Christ on Kodiak Island. The pastor wrote, “We took the name St. Paul because that is the name of our fishing harbor and we, like our harbor, wanted to be a refuge for people. Sadly, the roof of our church suffered catastrophic failure from last year's severe weather and will need total reconstruction at a cost excess of $500,000. A repair of this amount is devastating to a church our size. Please keep us in your prayers.”
(Pastor Dave Baldukas)
Council voted this summer to do like the Corinthians and offer support. Your offerings enable this to happen. Will you please join us in praying for them in the future as well? Like the Corinthians we have been blessed in many ways and now we want to be a blessing to St. Paul's as well.
The fifth source of how Paul is being encouraged is the gem of this text, the golden nugget. Here Paul celebrates and brings to their attention the amazing example of the Macedonian churches. Since there's been some delay in the Corinthians sending the forementioned offering, Paul seeks to inspire them by calling to mind the gracious giving of the churches in Macedonia.
In doing so, Paul points out five ways the churches in Berea, Thessalonica and Philippi are modeling a spirit of gracious giving. One, they are giving out of their affliction. The resistence to gospels in these cities has been intense, as Paul already mentioned. “We faced conflict from every direction! Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches there. They're being tested by many troubles...yet overflow in rich generosity” (2 Corinthians 7:5; 8:1-2)
Even though they have so much on their plates, constantly being threatened, the people in these afflicted churches are eager to help. Paul says they actually begged him to let them help. They are of the mindset, what better way to counter the attacks of the enemy then to send support to another front. While Satan is trying to snuff out their church, they're helping another flourish!
Let it be said of Redeemer as it was of Philippi, we may be small but we are mighty in the Lord!
A second way the Macedonian churches are shining with gracious giving is that they are gladly giving to Christ's work elsewhere even though they themselves are impoverished. “Though they are very poor, they're filled with abundant joy as they overflow in rich generosity..., for they gave not only what they could afford, but far more.” (2 Corinthians 8:2-3)
It's what's called sacrificial giving. This was giving beyond a tithe. We can safely assume that the members of these churches regularly tithed on their income, giving 10% of their weekly wages to the work of the Lord. That was the biblical model but what they were doing went well beyond that.
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Though the Mill was bankrupt, work was scarce and the local economy hurting, these believers were eagerly looking for ways that God might want to stretch them to make the impossible possible.
I read of a boy whose teacher was diagnosed with cancer. He got himself hired as paper boy, he delivered papers and encouraged his customers to match his campaign to raise funds for his teacher's expensive treatment. Others, inspired by his giving all of his earnings, raised the funds needed. Rich generosity, sacrificial giving, has a way of spreading, making the impossible possible...
Third, Paul notes that they gave not only with abandon but with great joy. Paul compares the Corinthian situation with that of Macedonia, in hope that genuine love will grow in and thru them as they note the eagerness of these other churches. They were filled with abundant joy!
(2 Corinthians 8:2,8)
A fourth way Paul is encouraged by their genersoity is how freely they gave. They initiated it! Paul notes: “They not only gave far more than they could afford, they did it of their own free will.”
(2 Corinthians 8:3)
That's impressive. They somehow heard of the need in Jerusalem and took the initiative. They got the word out and started taking a freewill offering, and people responded. It's one thing to tell someone you love them when they tell you, it's another to be told that first. It's one thing for a child to clean his or her room when asked, it's another when they do it without being asked. It's one thing to be given a gift on your birthday it's another to receive one on your un-birthday.
So, it is with you and God. He's hoping you'll take the initiative....in being a gracious giver!
And fifth, Paul is encouraged by the way their giving is blatent expression of their all-in-faith in Jesus, who taught us the meaning and power of sacrificial giving by giving his all on the cross. Paul cannot contain his enthusiasm for the Macedonian example: “They even did more than we hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.”
(2 Corinthians 8:5)
In short, our offering should reflect our all-in-attitude and love for Jesus and one another. Paul ends the section with two additional thoughts about giving. “Give in proportion to what you have, not what you don't have, and whatever you give, do so eagerly.” (2 Corinthians 8:12)
Your tithe should reflect the increases and decreases of our income. You aren't asked to give until it hurts but that in giving generously you give joy more room in your heart. We acknowledge how generous God has been with us by seeking to live, like Jesus, as generous givers!