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.
[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/
