Equity and Wisdom

Scripture: Psalm 130 sung as Psalter # 181 “Come Sing to God”

and II Corinthians 8: 1-15

With Celebration of the Lord’s Supper

Preached by Linda Jo Peters ~ July 1, 2012

Unity Presbyterian Church ~ Terre Haute, Indiana

INTRODUCTION TO SCRIPTURE READING

If you ever wondered where the idea of redistribution of wealth came from, you need to study Paul’s writings especially this fund raising letter in II Corinthians. Of course you could also study Jesus’ parables on generosity or the Talmud’s profound claim on care of widows and orphans.  The Bible is rife with claims for equity not only on those who are wealthy but on the nation as a whole.[1] The very last line in our reading is a reference to Exodus 16:8 where Moses reminds the people that when God gave them meat and bread in the wilderness, they were given what they needed not more or less.

We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that has been granted to the churches of Macedonia;²for during a severe ordeal of affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.³For, as I can testify, they voluntarily gave according to their means, and even beyond their means,⁴begging us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in this ministry to the saints—⁵and this, not merely as we expected; they gave themselves first to the Lord and, by the will of God, to us,⁶so that we might urge Titus that, as he had already made a beginning, so he should also complete this generous undertaking among you.

⁷Now as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you—so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking.⁸I do not say this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love against the earnestness of others.⁹For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.¹⁰And in this matter I am giving my advice: it is appropriate for you who began last year not only to do something but even to desire to do something—¹¹now finish doing it, so that your eagerness may be matched by completing it according to your means.¹²For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has—not according to what one does not have.¹³I do not mean that there should be relief for others and pressure on you, but it is a question of a fair balance between¹⁴your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance.¹⁵As it is written, “The one who had much did not have too much, and the one who had little did not have too little.”

SERMON

Equity is an obvious theme in Paul’s letter, but wisdom?  This life of generosity requires wise choices.   Daniel G. Deffenbaugh in his commentary on this passage say that Paul has wisdom for us as we continue to feel our way through a broken economy and an at risk environment. He thinks the natural tendency in these times is to turn inward and simply attend to our basic needs and not waste too much energy on what lies beyond our limited frame of reference. Facing the one in six people living with starvation, we prefer to deal with the problems of “Corinth” or Terre Haute and turn a blind eye to the poor saints of “Jerusalem” or the Democratic Republic of the Congo living a world away. But we, who have too much waste, need to hear the cries of those who have too little.  It would be better and wiser for most of us to have a little less so that those in need would have a little more.[2]   This is not new wisdom, but ancient wisdom that gives life to all. For Paul the same grace (divine generosity) which embraces us in our failure and sin also generates action as we become companions of this grace.[3]

How we use our resources -- time, money, talents, and attention -- is a reflection of what we believe about God and God's actions in the world.  We need to ask ourselves, are we using our resources in a way that model’s Christ’s life.  Paul wants the Corinthians' actions to be a reflection of the gospel in which they believe, so that others will be open to the gospel by witnessing their lives of generosity. [4]

Today we come to our Lord’s Table.  Paul reminds us that Jesus became poor that we might be rich.  The Lord’s Supper is a reminder that he died that we might have life and that life in abundance.  It is the sign and seal of eating and drinking in communion with the crucified and risen Lord.[5]  Here at this table through the power of the Holy Spirit we see the singular essence of the Kingdom of God: that "those who have much do not have too much, and those who have little do not have too little."  May it be so.  Amen.

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[1] See: Isaiah 58 & 59,  http://www.friendships.org/Scriptures.html

[2] Adapted from Seeds of Shalom by Daniel G. Deffenbaugh,  Associate Professor of Religion at Hastings College. See: www.seedsofshalom.com/2009/06/too-much-and-too-little.html

[3] William Loader,  Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.  See: http://wwwstaff.murdoch.edu.au/~loader/BEpPentecost5.html

[4] Adapted from Carla Works,  Assistant Professor of New Testament at Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, DC for WorkingPreacher.org

[5] See: http://gamc.pcusa.org/ministries/worship/sacraments-supper/