Day 34—Friday, January 2

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
2 Corinthians 8:9B

EXTRAVAGANT GIVING

In a society centered on economics, finance and material goods, our first thoughts on the words “rich” and “poor” are quickly associated with money. Though Paul is mindful of collecting funds for the relief project for the poor in Jerusalem, he has infused much more in these words and the contrast between them. He desires for those in the church at Corinth to give, and to give generously. After all, compared to the poverty-stricken Macedonians (2 Cor. 8:2), who had given joyfully out of their limited resources, those in Corinth were prosperous and wealthy. Yet Paul is more concerned with the attitude of the giver than the amount of their gift. He aims at the heart of the believer and he does this most directly by bringing the readers’ attention to Christ.

God always does the initiating. Always. God the Father gives his Son, who in his heavenly existence was incalculably rich. The lowliness of Jesus’ earthly existence, however, amounted to poverty. He gave up everything and he gave everything. But in Jesus’ becoming poor, Christ followers become rich. Jesus’ gracious, sacrificial act of giving his life gives spiritual wealth—spiritual life—to us. This generosity was a demonstration of his love; he did this “for your sake.” This is where, as one scholar puts it, Calvary complements Bethlehem.

Paul reminds us to give and to give generously. Sadly, too often we offer the excuse “If I had more, I would give.” We experience the clash of two kingdoms: this world and God’s. This world tells us to hoard, that we’ll never have enough, or that we are entitled to have what we want. God’s kingdom is built on giving, and giving generously. We forget we already have more. We have been freely given abundant resources, including grace, forgiveness, love, care, and friendship, to name a few. The list goes on. God always initiates, and then we respond. When we realize our calling in Christ and how we came to be in him, we are compelled to live out in obedience, taking on the behavior of Christ, to give. As we enter this New Year, excel in giving of material means, but remember to excel in giving grace, forgiveness, love, care, and friendship. Give out of the abundance you have already received.

As you listen to Chanticleer's performance of In the Bleak Midwinter, pay special attention to the lyrics, especially the last verse:     

What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give him: give my heart.

As your heart has been filled with the abundance from God, give, and give generously.

As you interact with Tim Parsons’ Benediction, reading the italicized words, think about living from deep within our hearts, working on justice, peace, and freedom, comforting, and making a difference in our world by being generous, as we have been recipients of God’s generosity.

Lord of Heaven and Earth, Prayer-hearing God,
in your mercy and grace, forgive us for our forgetfulness, our ready excuses, and our siding with the world.  Our self-centered default is to be miserly or at least to give grudgingly. Help us to remember you, your sacrificial gift, and all that we now enjoy because of your generosity. We desire to be generous givers that represent your kingly rule and Christ in us. By your Spirit, may we be willing conduits of the abundance you’ve already poured into us. Thank you, Giver of all. Amen.

Joanne Jung, Talbot School of Theology