I have heard it said that “the most sensitive nerve in the body is the one attached to the wallet.” We do tend to get a little worked up about money—witness the big discussion nationally about whether or not the current state of the economy helps Republicans or Democrats in the various elections happening this coming week. The price of gasoline gets a lot of attention, as does the price of food, as does the price of housing—as does the minimum wage. Who should get what benefits—who deserves what benefits, and what benefits we all deserve—all of these are hot button issues. The sensitive nerves attached to the wallet can get irritated.
We at McKnight UMC are in the midst of the Stewardship Campaign, where the people of the church are asked for their promise to support their church financially. The statement we make when we join the church (at least in United Methodist churches—I suspect it is similar in most churches) is that we will support the church with our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness. Gifts is one of the five, and although it can mean talents and abilities, it certainly also means our financial gifts. That most sensitive nerve.
So we have a letter from the very early days of the church, as the Apostle Paul writes to the church in Corinth, talking about financial support of the church—and that particular church helping to financially support other ministries going on besides just what they are doing. And in the midst of it, he tells them—and tells us—this: “Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
A cheerful giver? We are expected to be happy when we are giving away our money? Is that even possible?
We know that it is. Think about the giving that we do. We may not jump with joy as we make charitable contributions, but we do find ourselves with a certain level of satisfaction when we support something that we believe in. Think of all of the “Go Fund Me” appeals that we see—people who need help with medical bills, people who have other financial challenges that are making life difficult. When we give to them, we do so because we WANT to—it is something that we feel really matters, and we are HAPPY to be able to help someone we feel really needs the helps. Think about the other support we provide—the Volunteer Fire Department, for example. We don’t know exactly where they will use the financial gift we make—uniforms? Equipment? A new truck? New dishes for their fundraising dinners? The specifics don’t matter to us; we trust that they will address a need with our gift, and we are HAPPY to do it. Does it mean we have less to buy our own stuff with? Yes. But do we begrudge them that it bites a bit into our own resources? Absolutely not.
Such “cheerful giving” to the church is what Paul is talking about here, and I pray what we’re talking about with making our estimates of giving so the church has some idea how to set up a budget—not only to keep lights on and heat working, but to provide space for a preschool that does amazing work in preparing children to be more than ready for kindergarten. Knowing we support that helps us to give cheerfully. Our giving supports ministries locally, regionally, and worldwide that make a significant difference in the lives of many. To know that our giving helps Africa University in Zimbabwe educate people who become leaders and significant contributors to society—doctors and nurses and engineers and computer technology people and teachers and pastors and business people and peacemakers and people who go into politics and government——that helps us to give cheerfully. Our giving matters in the world—our giving through the church has immeasurable impact. It brings us joy that we can give cheerfully to these things!
NEW TESTAMENT 2 Corinthians 9:6-15
6 The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. 9 As it is written, ‘He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.’
10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us; 12 for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God. 13 Through the testing of this ministry you glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ and by the generosity of your sharing with them and with all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you because of the surpassing grace of God that he has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
GOSPEL John 6:1-13
1 After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. 2 A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. 3 Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. 5 When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming towards him, Jesus said to Philip, ‘Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?’ 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. 7 Philip answered him, ‘Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.’ 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9 ‘There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?’ 10 Jesus said, ‘Make the people sit down.’ Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. 11 Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, ‘Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.’ 13 So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets.