Okay, the title does make it sound like some sort of ancient world Ultimate Fighting Competition. I know, I know. I have a tendency to be a bit over-dramatic. But, every time I read through Chapters 8 and 9 of Second Corinthians, I often think of what Paul must have been feeling when he wrote it.
Let's set the scene: Paul was writing this second letter to the believers in the city of Corinth. Apparently, during this period, the church in Jerusalem was in great need, and Paul was working to muster financial support for the "saints in Jerusalem". Prior to the writing of this letter, the Corinthian believers had expressed interest in sending support, but for whatever reason, they had not followed through on their pledge.
Rather than try to browbeat the Corinthian church to "cough up" the money that they had been eager to give before, he decides to use a slightly different tactic: friendly competition. He begins in Chapter 8 by citing the example of the churches in Macedonia. The believers in this region had been living in what Paul describes as "extreme poverty". However, in spite of this turmoil, they had indeed followed through on their commitment to assist the church in Jerusalem.
In fact, Paul was aware of their dire situation, and it is clear that he had at some point tried to persuade them that they were under no obligation to give. In light of their desperate poverty, Paul felt that it must have been better for them to take what little they had and care for themselves. But, the Macedonian churches plead with Paul to allow them to give towards the collection. Paul even indicates that they gave what would have been proportionally appropriate, they gave well beyond that.
In essence, Paul was saying, "Hey guys! We've got these believers in Macedonia who, due to their extreme poverty, really have no business giving generously, and yet they have sacrificed tremendously in order to help the believers in Jerusalem. So, why haven't you all given as you earlier pledged? What gives?"
Maybe we need to ask ourselves the same question: What gives?
In America, even in the midst of some of the most turbulent economic times since the Great Depression, we are still one of the most affluent nations on the planet. And yet, when we hit an economic pothole along the road of our lives, one that makes us tighten our belts a little, what is commonly the first budget item to get dumped? Why, giving, of course.
I'm not saying that everyone sacrifices giving. I know a great many people who have remained faithful in giving, in spite of difficult circumstances, and I'm happy to say that God is still as faithful as ever in making sure their needs are provided. But, it cannot be denied that there is a large segment of the Christian population in America who have forsaken the grace of giving as a means of propping up their monthly budget. Sometimes, the reasoning for doing so is understandable on logical levels. Clearly, if it comes down to buying groceries to feed the family or giving to God, there is logical precedence for caring for the family. I'm not necessarily addressing those types of situations.
What I am addressing are those people who just simply don't want to give up their 24 Mbps high-speed internet in favor of a lower download speed. I'm addressing those people who don't want to cut back on their cable/satellite TV. I'm addressing those people who scramble desperately to hang on to two cars with enormous payments that they have no business trying to keep. I'm addressing those people who simply don't want to put forth the effort to cook a meal for dinner instead of dining out at a restaurant. I'm addressing those people who just can't bring themselves to stop dropping $5 per day off at their favorite coffee shop.
When we resist the Holy-Spirit-Inspired desire to give in exchange for some of these meaningless creature comforts, we are essentially telling God that He is not quite as important as ____________ (fill in the blank with whatever the stronghold is: nice cars, high-speed internet, television, eating out, Starbucks, etc).
Is that really what we want to say to God?
I think if Paul were alive today, every single Christian church in America would be getting a rather lengthy letter postmarked from somewhere in the Middle East. And a few pages in, would be a challenge to give like the Macedonian believers.
Something of a throw-down, I expect.
My curiosity lies in how that message would be received. Would we rise the challenge? Or would we continue to wallow in the mire of our complacency, ready to throw vital ministries in our community under the bus, just so our level of comfort can be maintained?
Learning to Give in a Getting World, by Marc Farnell and Jesse Greever, is available as both a paperback and eBook at the following locations:
Amazon.com (paperback, $13.99; eBook, $8.99)
It is also available to Amazon Prime members as a free eBook download as a part of the Kindle Lending Library. Pastors and church administrators can contact me directly at jesse@accidental-author.com to find out about discounts available for churches that wish to use this for teaching and small group curriculum.
You can also become a fan of the book at www.facebook.com/LearningToGive.
Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/JesseSGreever
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