“Shiny Gods: Be Faithful, Save, and Give” 2 Cor 9: 6-12

John Wesley, the founder of the early Methodist movement, had advice about everything. Some was more sound than others, but what he taught about money has rung true through the ages, “Earn all you can. Save all you can. Give all you can.” He lived into his own words, living off of the same wage from the time he began his ministry, allowing him to give away accumulated wealth over his lifetime to the glory of God.

When I think of John Wesley, the words abundant life ring out. What does the abundant life look like for you? Is it about having everything you want or having a certain amount of money in the bank set aside for a rainy day? Is it about what you will have to pass on to your children and grandchildren as an inheritance? Or is it about how you live your life, here and now? 

We all need to think through what it means to have the abundant life for us. In this mornings scripture lesson, Paul points out the abundant life for each of us is based off of what we sow. That old adage that you reap what you sow? It’s biblical. The truth is that God provides for us through work. While some of us may dream of winning the lottery, or having an older relative leave us an inheritance that would make us comfortable, God’s plan for creation involved work. 

Think back to the garden of eden. Before it was corrupted by sin. Even then work was part of the plan. Adam and Eve tended the land and looked after the animals. They walked with God in the garden. It was their purpose. God provides each of us with different talents, gifts, and resources that enable us to work. That give us a unique calling and purpose in our lives. Not just so we can pay the bills, but rather so we can have fulfillment. In the words of Rev. Mike Slaughter, “Work is a gift from God and all of us are called to contribute to God’s creation and to serve God’s people through it.”

The second part of what Wesley taught was to save. In 2005, Americans went into a negative savings rate, spending $1.22 for every $1.00 they earned. We were living by impulse instead of saving and it caught up with us during the recession. Unfortunately, there are many people who are still spending more than they make, either because they don’t realize it or out of necessity, causing much uncertainty and anxiety around money.

The Bible speaks about saving. Remember that in Biblical times, especially during the times of the Hebrew scriptures, money wasn’t necessarily the paper and coins that we have today, but rather crops and craftsmanship. Think back to the story of Joseph. Many folks know the part of Joseph’s brothers being jealous because of how their father lavished love upon him, especially in the form of the coat. But sometimes we forget the rest of his story. Joseph was sold into slavery, but through a series of dreams and wisdom given to the Pharaoh, he was given the position of overseeing crops in the land. During a time of abundance, a seven year stretch that God had revealed to him in a dream, he saved grain. He set some aside, knowing that the seven years of famine were on the way. 

While others may not have understood Joseph’s idea about saving in a time of abundance,  they lived as if it was to last forever. Only Joseph knew it wouldn’t. When the famine hit, Egypt had people from other countries coming in search of food, because they were one of the only places that had any! Joseph exchanged livestock and other goods for grain and food. His saving plan helped the country not only survive the famine, but prosper. 

Too many Americans live like folks in the seven years prior to the famine. We don’t save. We spend what we have here and now. Saving requires us to live below our current means. Many of us don’t like the particular concept. Why should we save for later if we can spend it now? Because far too many Americans don’t even have $500-$1,000 set aside for an emergency. What happens when you need an expensive dental procedure, a major appliance breaks in the house, or something happens to our vehicles? We charge it, going back into debt or even further into debt, because we didn’t think of a plan to save. 

However, saving does not mean hoarding. Remember Wesley’s last piece of advice about money - give all you can. The apostle Paul urges the Corinthians to prayerfully consider what they are going to give. Not to give what is left over or compulsively pull out a few dollars to put into the offering plate as it goes by - but instead to be intentional about what you are giving. In the words of Rev Slaughter, “Our giving, as an act of worship, should never be sporadic or unprepared. Don’t just toss your leftovers into God’s offering plate. Plan giving ahead of time and make it a priority in your life.” Now there are many ways to give, but I first and foremost want to talk about the tithe. The word some church folks dread. A tithe is the first ten percent of whatever we have earned that we give back to the glory of the Kingdom of God. For me, this is the first check written out (or rather checks - one for each church I serve) after cashing a paycheck. Some folks are not in a financial situation where they can give ten percent, and that’s fine. The question is two fold - one are you being intentional about the percentage that you are giving and two are you working towards a tithe? 

But when Wesley and Paul are talking about giving, they are not only talking about the tithe, though that is surely address, but additionally, giving to those in need. Those who give to the poor. Who provide seed for the sower. In addition to my tithe, there are a group of charities that I work through giving to every year. Non-profits, some in the church and some outside, who I want to partner with through my finances to lift up the amazing ways they are transforming people’s lives. Places like Thistle Farms, which takes women who are struggling with addiction due to past traumas and gives them a place to live and a job. And the United Methodist Committee on Relief, which is often the first agency in after a natural disaster and the last to leave. I give because I believe in being generous with what God has gifted us with. In the words of today’s scripture lesson, “God is able to provide every blessing to you in abundance, so by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.”

We are to be channels through with the generosity of God can flow to others. In the words of Mike Slaughter, “Generosity is evidence of the Spirit’s work in a person’s life.” Think back to some of Jesus’s teachings about money. In Matthew when Jesus is speaking to his disciples about how to give alms. He didn’t say if you give, he said whenever you give. The assumption is that we should be generous to others because God has been so generous to us. 

Giving is a spiritual exercise. Think about exercise. Do you always want to do it? Probably not. So it is with spiritual exercises. We may struggle with doing it sometimes, but through repetitive practice, something changes within us and we grow closer to God. This spiritual exercise teaches us to trust God - especially when it doesn’t make sense to give. We have to trust that our God will provide of us so that we can provide for the work of the Kingdom in ways that bless others. Let us live our lives in a way that magnify the teaching of the Apostle Paul and the words of John Wesley - earn all we can. Save all we can. So that we can give all we can. Amen!