2 Corinthians 9:6-15
Rev. Barry Hidey

I was 13 the first summer that I was in charge of taking care of our garden. Throughout the years I had an uncle who helped me for awhile, but pretty much it became my total responsibility to take care of the garden. It seemed that the older I got, the less time I felt I had available for the garden, the less time and effort I put into it. I would start planting a row, but the rows seemed so long and it was easier to quit than to start another row! And to be honest, my priorities were changing. Sleeping late on Saturday, or hanging out with friends in the summer, or reading a good book took priority. In high school girls became my focus, so I didn’t get planting like I should have.

We know how difficult it is in the beginning of the year or the season to get planting. Getting everything ready to get planting isn’t easy. You start by getting the ground ready, which involves tilling or plowing the soil, adding lime or soil enrichments. Once the soil is ready, you must get everything together like shovel, trowel, hoe, fertilizer, seed, or water. There was a cost involved in terms of money and in terms of time and energy. You also needed good motivation.

In April and May when I was doing my planting, I didn’t realize what I was setting myself up for. It came time to pick in June, July and August. We did not have the tomatoes or the cantaloupes or the beans that we usually had, which meant that we couldn’t do the canning that we did with the garden produce, and I wasn’t able to sell the extra that I had at the road side stand that we had as part of my grandparents’ farm. There was a consequence when I didn’t sow to the potential of what I had.

I think that’s what Paul is telling us in the first part of our scripture lesson this morning. In verse 6 Paul says, “Remember this--a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop.”

I lived out this verse and to be honest, I got used to it. I had convinced myself that I was fine getting by with what I was doing. Yeah, I had some potential, but I got used to leaving it lay there.

I guess I didn’t realize what I was missing until Holly and I moved into our first parsonage back in 1980 and not being able to have a garden because I was away at seminary and college. I just couldn’t wait to get back to gardening, but I looked at the yard and it wasn’t that big. The garden I had growing up was about 1/3 of an acre, whereas this whole lot was about 1/3 of an acre. So, I tried to find little places here and there to begin my gardening. So it was my goal to squeeze every last inch of space and get potential out of what I had been given. As the second half of verse 6 tells us, “But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.”

It’s been great to use all that God has provided. I look forward now to continuing it through the years. Every place that I have lived I’ve either started a garden or continued one that someone else had. I enjoy the fruits of that labor, not just for me, but the chance to give away the bounty.

Now, of course, Paul isn’t giving us a lesson in farming in 2 Corinthians. Instead, he is giving us a practical way to understand what it is like to be a giver, which is the next of our discipleship traits as we go through the Jesus Journey. It is important for us to understand the context, the background and what is happening in the life of these people, as Paul is giving them these words in Chapter 9.

We have to go all the way back to Chapter 8. I would encourage you to go back and read the whole passage this week and you’ll understand what is happening. Already, we’ve heard this morning it had to do with raising some money for the distressed Christians in Jerusalem. So far some of the other churches had given money, so Paul was saying “you said you were going to do something, but what are you doing?” We find the people who had been giving already weren’t in the best of situations. The church in Jerusalem was in dire poverty through persecution and some other things.

In 2 Corinthians 8:2, we find here the description of the churches that had raised up offerings, “Though they have been going through much trouble and hard times, their wonderful joy and deep poverty had overflowed in rich generosity.”

These folks weren’t any better than the Christians in Jerusalem, but somehow they had this motivation to give. One of the things that Paul is teaching is that it’s not about the amount. There is something more important than the amount we give – what is more important is the why and how we give.

Then Paul reminds the church at Corinth that a year ago they had said they were going to give and Paul is challenging them to act on that plan and fulfill the promise that they made.

This morning, I want us to walk through this passage together verse by verse. To be honest, as I think about this sermon, I can’t really take much credit for the preparation for this message. It is so straight forward; it is so embarrassingly simple.

If you hang out with me, you know that I’m not one to get into deep theological discussions. I just don’t get into that. Now, I think theology is important, but there are some things that are pretty hard to understand and we can spend all of our time trying to figure out what we don’t understand. My problem is that I have problems with things that are really clear and not doing them. As a matter of fact, as I’m reading this passage, I wish Paul was a little more subtle. I wish he wasn’t quite so direct; I wish he had made it more complicated for us because then I would have an excuse.

Of all the topics we are going to cover in this Jesus Journey, this is the easiest. Last week I shared with you my struggles with prayer that I am still trying to figure out. And worship. What is worship - This kind of otherworldly experience that is so beyond us? But I’m telling you that it really isn’t complicated when it comes down to the idea of the giver.

As a matter of fact, Paul really sets it in the proper perspective here. As a matter of fact, Paul doesn’t make it easy for us pastors. If we read this verse and understand it, Paul takes away the one thing that all of us know that works well - guilt. Now, we all know that guilt works, ask any child. As seen on a t-shirt, “My mother is a travel agent for guilt trips.” We know that guilt works. How many times have you been guilted into doing something? Guilted into giving money? In the end, guilt fails and Paul is letting us know that all of the pictures of starving babies will never be enough reason for the church to give to the poor in Jerusalem.

Let’s start at the top again…

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 says, “Remember this--a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each make up your own mind as to how much you should give.”

Now, when I read this I have some problems with it. First, of all Paul seems to trust the church and the disciples, the followers of Jesus, to make the right choices when it comes to giving. I wish we pastors were as trusting. To be honest, probably the hardest thing that I deal with in the church, and as a pastor has caused me to lose sleep in the more depressing times, had to deal with giving.

It’s not often a pretty picture when you meet with the Finance Committee in late November/early December when we’ve had these visions and dreams of what we feel God is calling us to do, and balancing it with our commitment to live instead of what you decide to give. Every year we count the pledges and look at the potential we have and we’re always cutting and stepping back. I have a solution. If everyone would come to my office and I get a chokehold on each person as they fill out their pledge card, we could solve this problem. But, Paul says, something important in the second part of verse seven, “Don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure.” I guess with my hand on your throat that you would feel a little bit of pressure.

Now, listen carefully – I am only going to say this once, because if I repeat it, you might remember it. And I really hope this isn’t the only thing you will hear today, but never give just because the pastor or the Finance Committee or the television evangelist told you to give. Never give because you feel obligated. Why? Because the last part of verse 7 says, “For God loves the person who gives cheerfully.”

Now, you have heard me say that I am waiting for the time, when everyone breaks into a smile when I call for the offering – I am the eternal optimist! Can you imagine if we had the excitement that the terrible towel folks will have when the Steelers are announced today! Can you see the church full of people just waving their offering, smiling and can’t wait for the plate to come their way?

I don’t think this is a stretch or that I’m taking too much liberty from what Paul has in mind here. Paul is trying to remind us to understand that giving with the right attitude is something that gets God excited. I guess anybody can be a grouch and give, but there is something mature about us, and our next step in the Jesus Journey, when we give with an attitude!

Now, this is where it gets interesting. Not only does God think its great what we give cheerfully, but there is also a promise that goes with this. In verse 8 we read, “And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need.”

Paul is dealing with the reality that the people of Corinth aren’t rich and if they give and help the people in Jerusalem, then they will have concerns about making ends meet for themselves. Paul is a realist here; he answers the same question we all ask. If I give this away, will there be enough?

Now, it is easy to get into the “if I Give and I Get” mindset. Or the “I give, so now God you have to bless me”. What is promised is that God gives and we have everything we need. As I read it, everything I need is not everything I want.

Now I think some of us get a little mixed up at this point. We try to figure out what it all means. What is promised here is that God gives and we have everything that we need. As I read it, everything I need is not everything that I want. We give and we get blessed and we have all we need and then some, but something happens at that point. We see this warning about money, about the love of money being the root of evil. I think it is because we never finish verse 8 that we can get confused. “Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.”

We want to think that there is plenty left over, but God is saying that he is going to bless us, so that we can bless others.

In verse 9, Scriptures say, "Godly people give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will never be forgotten."

We are blessed when we give and God provides, but the “beyond need” stuff is the stuff for us to share with others. I just don’t think it should be the government’s job to provide for the poor, and the needy in the world. As I read the Old and New Testament, I understand it’s the Christians job to be responsible and to go the extra mile. That is why we get the extra stuff; it is so we can give generously to the poor! So we can get planting!

There’s some good news around that. This week at the National Prayer Breakfast you might have been surprised that a rock superstar was the one to give the sermon. You wonder why Bono from U2 would speak. But God has been working in his life to mobilize the church and faith communities around the world to fight AIDS and hunger. He has some good words to commend the church for stepping forward in the fight against AIDS and hunger, but the work is not done. There is still much to be done. There are more seeds to plant. More harvests to be had.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-02-02-bono-transcript_x.htm

I think that is what hit me this week when I heard about the death of Coretta Scott King. For indeed, the work of Dr. Martin Luther King is not finished and we cannot forget his good deeds and the seeds that he planted in our society that have begun to bear fruit. But still there needs to be more seeds planted to grow equality and justice and fairness among all.

Listen to how Paul takes this reasoning back to the beginning of the passage, back to planting. In verse 10 it says, “For God is the one who gives seed to the farmer and then bread to eat.”

He’s reminding us where it all starts. That God is the one who we start out with and that God is with us along the way. God gives us many opportunities to do good. Now, Paul takes it home and says that God is the sower and we are the soil. In the last part of verse 10, it says, “and he (God) will produce a great harvest of generosity in you.”

So God is growing generosity in you and when you get planting, a cycle begins, just like the cycle in my garden. I sow seeds and the result is produce and then I can give it away. I still have more seeds than I have started with and if I plant them, then I will have an even bigger harvest. Then I will want to give away even more and I will have even more to plant the next year.

And verse 11 tells us, “Yes, you will be enriched so that you can give even more generously.”

God starts us on a cycle; a cycle that is addictive. When you understand that you can give generously and cheerfully, and that you enjoy giving and you give more. Sometimes it’s because we give more and sometimes it’s because we are willing to let go of more.

Paul has been clear to let us know how giving blesses us. That is the reality when we get planting – we get blessed. People will begin arriving back from Lake Charles, Louisiana today and tomorrow. People who went and gave of their time and talent this past week to those devastated by the hurricanes. If you read any of their comments in the e-Spire you will realize that they were blessed!

I am also sure when you talk to these folks this week, they will say the same thing that Paul says in the last part of verse 11, “And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will break out in thanksgiving to God.”

I heard in their comments about the appreciation of the people in Louisiana that people from Maryland would come and spend their time and give to make a difference, so they gave thanks to God.

Verse 12 tells us, “So two good things will happen--the needs of the Christians in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanksgiving to God.”

So the first thing to happen will be that when you give good gifts, God will get the credit and needs will be met. When we give away - God gets the glory.

In verse 13 “You will be glorifying God through your generous gifts. For your generosity to them will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ.”

Now this couldn’t get any easier to understand. It’s almost too simple. If we give generously and cheerfully, it’s one of the ways the world knows that we love Jesus. Now you’ve been around somebody who you know is just blowing smoke and that they aren’t genuine. But you also know that when somebody reacts to you then you can see their heart. You know the spirit in which it is given and in which it is said. Paul is saying that when we give generously and cheerfully, people can see something about us – something that is beyond ourselves and the only reason that we can do that is because Jesus Christ is at the center of our lives. It makes a difference in their lives. We are a witness to Jesus Christ. We make a difference in that way.

Verse 14 has an interesting comment. It says, “And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the wonderful grace of God shown through you.”

The benefit that Paul is saying is the people in Jerusalem are now going to be invested in you, and that they have seen what you have done and they are going to be praying for you. You know what it’s like when someone blesses your life and you want to bless them in other ways, prayers and words of encouragement.

As you know, we have this vision to build a medical clinic in a partnership with the United Methodist Church in Zimbabwe. We have a contact person, Rev. Lloyd Nyarota, and in the second e-mail back to us as we are sharing the vision of what we hope God will be able to do with us together, he writes, “I hope and am looking forward to a blessed working relationship. This I pray, that it is the beginning of great things to come, the Lord will bless us. The Church in Zimbabwe is always praying for you…. May God Bless you in all you do.”

They are already praying for us! And that’s how Paul ends the conversation with us about these people praying, and verse 15 brings it all together, “Thank God for his Son--a gift too wonderful for words!”

That’s what it’s all about; the first gift that came and walked among us. And we try to live out God’s generosity by giving. I want to end by sharing with you how the body of Christ touched my family and changed the course of our lives.

The Hidey family was active in our faith and in our little EUB church. We took our offering every week to church and Sunday school. There was a candy dish in the dining room, where change appeared every Sunday morning. My sisters and I would take a few coins and give them in Sunday School offering. Mom and Dad were faithful givers to the church. They modeled generosity to us, as there was never a time when Mom didn’t add a plate or two to the table when one of us would have a friend in the house near a mealtime. My Dad was a carpenter and despite having tough winters when he had little or no work, he was always willing to do some carpentry work for free and many times he wasn’t paid for other small jobs. He would tell my Mom, I guess they are worse off than we are – or they would have paid me. I guess I never realized how poor we were until Dad died. Then the reality hit. Mom worked part time as an aide in a day care center. Dad had very little life insurance – it was good that Dad had built our house, so we had a place to live.

Since Dad died nine days before Christmas, so many things were taken care of for us, as people brought the tree and food and gifts. We would find money in the mailbox; come home and find a basket of food on the side porch.

Yes, Mom did her best, working fulltime in day care and eventually becoming the director of that center. We all pitched in with jobs as we grew older, but we would not have made it through those early years without people living out what Paul told us about today. Family members would pitch in to pay bills and cover things that we couldn’t afford.

There is one person who does stand out, as I think about how we were blessed by someone who was a planter, a giver -- our family doctor. When my Mom and Dad first got married, they had a hen house on the property and raised chickens. My dad had an egg route in Baltimore City and one of the customers was Dr. Frye, who became our pediatrician. Well, long after they stopped raising chickens, our family still would make Friday night trips down to his house. After Dad died, we still made our weekly trips and in the summer months he would buy some of the produce from my garden – I set a price but he usually gave me a great deal more. It took a while for me to realize it, but he started giving Mom money every week - 25 - 50 dollars I think, and it was many years later that my Mom told me that he never charged us anything for his medical services.

Now, in our life, we praised God. Dr. Frye never made anything about it, for he was a cheerful and a generous giver. Yet God blessed him and through what God did in his life, my family and I were blessed.

Now, Dr. Frye didn’t give in order to be blessed. Dr. Frye gave because he realized that we are called to make a difference. Dr. Frye gave because he wanted to make a difference and he knew he could.

There are so many blessings happening through the ministries of this church because you are realizing that you are called to make a difference. You give because God has blessed you and you want to give back.

There are families that are going to be blessed today, this week, next week, next year, because you are going to continue planting.

There’s a phrase that I remember back from summer camp. A song, actually, that I won’t bother singing it for you, but it goes, “Oh the Lord’s been good to me, and so I thank the Lord, for giving me the things I need, the sun, the rain and the apple seed. The Lord’s been good to me.“

The Lord has been good. Where do we need to get planting? What seeds do we need to sow along the way? What gifts are we carrying that you need to give away?