Bible Passage: 2 Corinthians 9:8-11
Pastor: Joel Jenswold
Sermon Date: July 28, 2024

Bulletin July 28, 2024

In the name of, and to the eternal glory of, Jesus,

We in America are confused.  We are confused about “means” and “ends.”  What do we mean by that?  Well, “ends” are where you want to be.  It is the goal.  It is the “end.”  It’s the destination.  A “means” is how you get to your end.  For example, when you go on vacation, you don’t climb in the car and yell, “Yay!  We’re here!”  No.  The goal of your vacation is not sitting in the car in the driveway.  When you arrive at the beach, or Mt. Rushmore, that’s your “end.”  That’s your goal.  The car is just a means to an end.

In America, we are confused about “means” and “ends” as it relates to money and material things.  Many people believe the goal, the “end”, is having money and using it to indulge their every desire.  When they finally have the big house, and all the toys they ever wanted, and their investments are generating a nice return, they believe they have reached the goal.  To have money is an “end” in itself.

But God would disagree.  Our text for today tells us as much.  You see, in God’s economy, having “stuff” isn’t an “end.”  It’s a “means.”  It’s a means to love and serve others.  In our text, Paul makes the point that we are Richly-Provided that We Might Richly Provide for others.

In 2 Corinthians 9,, Paul is writing about a collection he is gathering to help the Christians in Jerusalem, who are undergoing a hard time.  Paul has been collecting donations from the churches throughout Macedonia and now he is planning to come to Greece.  And here we simply have to marvel at how Paul approaches them about giving.  Paul does not harass or harangue.  He does not guilt them or shame them.  Paul is too evangelical for that.  Look at what he says.  God is able to make all grace overflow to you, so that in all things, having all that you need, you will overflow in every good work. (v. 8)

Paul uses the word grace.  Now usually we associate grace with being saved from sin.  The Paul who wrote our text is the same Paul who wrote to the Ephesians, It is by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:10)  Grace is often defined as “God’s undeserved love for the sinner.”  Psalm 103:10 says, He does not treat us as our sins deserve.  Just think about that!  What if God treated you as your sins deserve?  What if God treated you exactly the way you treat your neighbor?  What if God loved you only as much as you love him?

But he doesn’t.  He treats you with grace.  He sent Jesus for you.  Jesus, who took your sins upon himself and on the cross paid the debt you owe with blood!  I don’t deserve Jesus!  You don’t deserve Jesus!  But God gave you Jesus!  That’s grace.  Now, for Jesus’ sake, you get forgiveness instead of punishment; life instead of death; heaven instead of hell; a benediction at the close of every service instead of a curse!  It is by grace we have been saved!

But Paul uses that word grace to refer to all the other “stuff” God gives you in addition to Jesus!  Your home?  Grace!  Your paycheck?  Grace!  Your car?  Grace!  Your pension?  Grace!  Your sandwich and chips?  Grace!  Your health insurance?  Grace!  Your bowl of Fruit Loops in the morning?  Grace!  You get the point.  It’s all GRACE.  I deserve none yet have all.

Paul says God is able to make all these blessings overflow (v. 8).  When something overflows, it means there is too much.  When you fill a cup to overflowing, it means you are trying to put too much into it.  Paul says God gives us too much, so that those blessings will overflow to others.  They’ve got to go somewhere!  Paul then quotes from Psalm 112 which describes what a child of God does in response to God’s blessings:  He scattered.  He gave gifts to the poor.  His righteousness remains forever. (v. 9)

Paul also uses farming language.  And he who provides seed to the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your seed for sowing and will increase the harvest of your righteousness. (v. 10)  Paul mentions bread and seed.  When a farmer harvests his wheat, he will take some kernels, grind them into flour, make bread and eat it.  But he’s not going to eat it all.  Some of the kernels he uses as seed to grow more.  Paul calls on us to think of our blessings this way.  Some is bread to eat.  Yes, it’s fine for you to enjoy the blessings God has given you!  That is not sin!  But some is seed.  To be scattered.  To be given.  To be shared.  To help and benefit others.  You will be made rich in every way so that you may be generous in every way. (v. 11)

Consider for a moment the Lord Jesus.  Here was the Son of God in human flesh.  Residing in him was divine power.  Each time he performed a miracle, humanity got a glimpse of his divine power and glory.  How many miracles did Jesus perform just for himself?  Can you think of any miracle that Jesus did just for his own benefit?  When the devil tempted Jesus to turn stones to bread to feed himself, Jesus refused.  He who had it all used it all to serve others!

The take-home of this text is not that you go and give all your money to the poor.  Remember, some for bread.  That’s okay!  But some is for seed.  This text does make us think. Are we as generous as we think we are?  I don’t know.  That is for you to determine as you examine your management and stewardship of the blessings God has given you.

Only remember this.  GRACE.  Remember God’s grace to you in Christ Jesus!  Remember God’s grace to you in the many blessings you enjoy.  Be clear on “means” and “ends.”  Remember, your “stuff” is not an “end,” but a “means.”  God has not blessed you so that you can be a hoarder, but so that you can be a helper.  We are richly-provided so that we might richly provide others.

Amen.