Footsteps #187

  2Cor8 Continued.

Generosity is judged not by quantity but by attitude. (12)  When giving to the poor, the goal is not to make the rich poor or the poor rich. The goal is some kind of equality (v14). We who have been raised in capitalism tend to bristle at such passages and do our best to massage them to say something else. But the fact is that there is an ideal of economic equality presented in this passage and several others. It’s not required, for Paul clearly says, “our desire is …, ” not “I command you.” And the Bible never goes as far as humanistic socialism goes in denouncing private ownership or confiscating personal property or eliminating personal freedoms. But we should not ignore the ideal that the Christian community not be made up of two distinct classes–the haves and the have-nots. To give is universal. The way leaders handle money is as important as how believers give it. (16-24) The general theme of this section is quite obvious.  

Chapter 9 continues Paul’s presentation of generosity. The Bible speaks often about the various benefits in a life of generosity–not only for the recipient but also for the giver. Read 2 Cor. 9:1-5 Now this may seem is strange in some respects. It seems almost as though Paul is playing the Macedonians off against the Corinthians–the northern Greeks against the southern Greeks 

Generous giving benefits the giver as well as the recipient. (6-11) Look at the paragraph, beginning with v6: This paragraph raises some very interesting and even hotly debated issues relative to stewardship:  God rewards generous givers. (6, 8-11). The westernized materialistic version of this passage is that God wants you wealthy and healthy, so please put more money in the offering!  

In health/wealth theology God is obligated to deliver the goods; He becomes a utilitarian genie who grants every wish to the faithful. I think it is one of the most dangerous and damaging heresies of the 20th century. And yet I want to be careful not to throw the baby out with the bathwater, which is what we will discuss tomorrow.