2 Corinthians 8:1-9, 13-14 * July 20, 2003 * Pentecost 6 * Matt Kiecker

Dear Friends in Christ,

Have you ever heard of Christmas in July? To be honest with you, the whole concept of Christmas in July was completely foreign to me until about six months ago. It was at the time of last actual Christmas when I made the comment, “Well, Christmas only comes once a year.” I was informed, however, that it does not come only once, but actually there is another “Christmas” time each year. The exact opposite of December 25 on the calendar is July 25. At this wonderful time each year stores celebrate with sales to bring people in at a time when, often, there is not much business. Now, whether you have experienced the magic of this season before, or if this morning is the first time you’ve heard of jingle bells being rung in the middle of the summer, I doubt any one here has given or received an actual gift for this celebration. Yet giving gifts at anytime of the year is not at all strange to us. Most often we give gifts as part of our regular offerings.

This morning, our lesson talks about gifts. The Macedonian Christians—the ancient area of northern Greece today—as well as the Corinthian Christians—ancient southern Greece—were collecting an offering of gifts to send to their fellow Christians in Jerusalem. This lesson, however, talks about more than just the giving of physical gifts. It reminds us of the greatest gift of all, a gift already given to all people in the death and resurrection of our Savior. Now, whenever talking about gifts, there is always a giver and a receiver. There is always one who has something, and one who needs something. Most often when we honestly consider it, we can count ourselves in the number that has much. Yet there may be times when we find ourselves in need of much. But this is the truth: whether we have much or need much as we consider our present situation, we are all Christians who face a great need. And our lesson this morning repeats the wonderful message of relief. Our need has been met! We see this happening through the rich becoming poor and the poor becoming rich.

The Macedonian Christians were by no means physically rich. As a matter of fact, they were just the opposite. They were actually suffering much. Verse 2 describes the Macedonian churches as being in the circumstances of “most severe trial.” Their financial situation? They faced “extreme poverty.” None of this lends itself to a situation of lavish giving. No, the Macedonians were certainly not rich by any measure we normally use as the standard.

Yet the Macedonian Christians most certainly considered themselves the wealthiest people on earth. The Macedonians knew their Savior and they had trust in their salvation secured for them already. And this knowledge and trust welled up inside them. The love they had been showed by their God, so undeservedly, the richness they had been given so freely, burst forth from them in “overflowing joy.” This showed itself in the Macedonians generous giving. It was this richness, not their physical poverty and trials, that overflowed in their giving. The devil and world could take all their physical and earthly possessions away; they could never take away the victory that was already won. In joy over this the Macedonians gave just as if they were rich.

And in the giving that the Macedonians displayed, we see the extremely spiritually rich putting themselves in risk of becoming extremely physically poor. Verse three says: “For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.” We might not even consider it wise to do what the Macedonians were doing here. They were giving more than they really could to be safe. Yet this giving shows godly trust. The Macedonians were not squandering their gifts; they were, as verse 4 says, serving their fellow believers in a way that is a privilege for believers to do for each other. They had the privilege of sharing their gifts.

And in order to do this they did not simply start in their pocketbooks. They did not have the childish attitude that they could do their duty, pay some money, and all would be square. No, verse five says that “they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will.” Their giving started with the God who gave himself for them. That love was the love that led them to give themselves wholly to God and his service, and this showed itself in the gift they were giving.

The Macedonians knew where each and every one of their gifts comes from. And they placed the burden of supplying those gifts to fit their needs in the only hands that could provide for them. And trusting God to provide while giving boldly in his service is no gamble at all. The God who provided for the greatest need, the spiritual need, likewise will provide for all other physical needs. He has promised to do so.

And we see the Macedonians trusting that promise and giving with a trusting heart. Paul rightly used the Macedonians as a good example of Christian giving (the rich becoming poor to supply a need for others). There is always a need for Christians to give. Christians give to relieve fellow Christians from the burdens they are experiencing. Christians give to promote the spreading-out of the gospel. Christians give out of love for their Savior and the love he has shown them.

Yet, hidden behind Christian giving is the lurking danger of falling into foolish pride. We might be tempted to think that we are able to bring something worthy enough for our Savior. As the Macedonians did, we may indeed bring godly gifts and lay them before God’s altar. Yet this giving is not credited to them or us as something that has any merit. Their sacrifice, as well as ours, even though it may come out of difficult times, when compared to the sacrifice of our Savior, is no sacrifice at all. For no matter the gift, attitude or sacrifice, even the most righteous acts done by sinners are still completely ugly and dirty, covered with sin.

It was in spite of this—even because of this!—that our Savior laid down his sacrifice. He chose to set aside and not make use of his glory as true God, he literally emptied himself of all those things, to become one of us. And more than this, he became our servant, so that he could offer the perfect sacrifice in our place. He lived our perfect life for us; he died our death. He set aside all his richness for us. The perfect example of richness became perfectly poor. And he did this so that he could give us the gift of being pleasing to our God. In this our need has been met. The rich became poor for us.

However, our need has been met in another way. Not only did the rich become poor for us. In doing so, the poor become rich.

The overall theme that runs through these verses is clearly pointed out in at the end of our lesson. Verses 13 and 14 speak about equality. Equality is a comforting concept, indeed! It is God’s will that equality be maintained. This is why in verse 13 Paul writes: “Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed….” God is not calling for the Corinthians, or any Christians, even us, to be put under undue pressure. Instead, as the Corinthians recognize their outstanding wealth in blessing from God, they will realize their ability to relieve others of their need.

The Jerusalem Christians were a prime example of those in need. They were persecuted and poor, the dirt of the earth in their society. It was the privilege of the Churches of Paul’s missionary journeys to supply for the physical need they were experiencing. The Corinthians were able to be a part of giving which provided a way to make the poor become rich.

And God always provides for his people. Remember our O.T. lesson today for example. Jeremiah trusted God to provide. And the account of the widow’s mite. In the face of every temptation not to trust, the widow gave everything, and it is God who would provide what she needed.

Yet there is a reciprocal action going on here. Notice verse 14. The Corinthian Christians presently are supplying for a need in the Jerusalem congregation, but in turn the Jerusalem congregation supplies for the needs of the Corinthians. Some commentators see this is simply Paul’s way of saying “watch out”. They say that Paul is warning the Corinthians that they better give because the tables may be turned one day and they may face the same need from the Jerusalem congregation that they now face.

However these words have a richer sense. The Jerusalem Christians were the first recipients of the gospel message. It actually was a message that was passed down from the first promise to Adam and Eve, through their chosen nation, and down to them. Finally, the promise was fulfilled. As bearers of the promise who witnessed its completion, they were the first to go out and share the message with others. They indeed were supplying a need to the poor, first among their chosen nation, then to the ends of the earth. Their message was one which took sinners, Jews, Gentiles, US!, people stricken in the worst poverty and is a message that makes sinners rich.

And we have a guarantee that our God will supply what we need, supplying for the greatest need first. This guarantee is made possible by our Savior. He provided in his becoming poor for us the only way that the message that we are spiritually rich could be true or powerful. He has promised to keep us in his care while still on the earth. At times he uses others to do this for us; at times he uses us to do this for others. But most importantly, in our greatest need, when confronted with the reality of our debt of sin, impossible to make amends or pay-off, when on our death bed and about to meet the creditor at his judgement seat, when looking honestly at a sinner’s empty account, we do not see debt. We see that God has provided richness beyond all belief to suddenly fill our accounts. We have comfort and hope in this truth on our death bed. We have everlasting life.

In our Savior’s becoming man, the truly rich became poor in our place. That poverty, perfectly completed, takes sinners lost in their own poverty and makes us rich beyond all comparison. Our need has been met.

At Christmas time we often hear the sentiment that our Savior’s birth is a celebration to last throughout the year. And then, by this time of the year, our minds and hearts are far away from our meek King, born of lowly birth, to serve and to save the likes of us. This July we celebrate once again a true Christmas celebration. The greatest gift has been given. Merry Christmas! Amen.