Giving and Sharing

1 Corinthians 9:1-15

Paul has been put in charge of a fund raising operation. The Christian Jews in Jerusalem are suffering poverty. Their outspoken support of the church of Jesus Christ has made them a target and it has cost them greatly. Paul has taken it in hand to tell the surrounding churches that a collection will be gathered to help these brothers and sisters. He indicates that some preparation is necessary so that when the collectors come, they will find a generous offering has been put together. And so he sets about to remind them of the source of their bounty and the mutuality of their commitment to Christ. He expects generosity of heart.

Around Christmas time we all receive many appeals for financial help for the poor. Many of us pull out the address labels and free greeting cards and throw the appeals in the trash. Paul is making a point here. We are responsible to help the poor. Many of us do not come in contact with the poor during the normal pattern of our ordinary days. We know that they are out there, and we are not avoiding our responsibility we just don’t know the best way to go about it. Paul is underlining the necessity and benefits of giving to those intermediaries who can get the money to where it is needed. In this case ignorance is no excuse. Having worked two summers for the Salvation Army, I have been able to see the wonderful ways in which they serve the poor. They provide life saving service in the name of Christ every day. You know other agencies as well. Paul says give!

However having said this, giving is no excuse for opting out on sharing. Giving to a church, or giving to an agency does not free us from the responsibility to share with those we interact with every day. Sharing is different from giving. Giving can be done for all different kinds of reasons—tax benefits, responsible membership, or personal recognition. Giving does not necessarily involve any personal interaction. Sharing involves caring relationship. In sharing, I see your need and I know that I have something that will meet your need. I offer it not out of pity or superiority but because you are a fellow traveler and I feel a solidarity with you. I have been or might be in your situation and I would like someone to reach out and share with me. Not up to down but side to side. We are not talking only money here. We are talking kind words, encouragement, companionship in the dark days, some investment of effort in helping one to find a way out of difficulty, support as a sponsor, welcoming friendship and inclusion—you get the idea.

At Christmas time it is tempting to give and neglect the sharing. We are so busy with all the extra activity and expense that it is easy to ignore the silent cries of the grieving, the lonely, the worn-out ones. We have other things on our minds. We tell ourselves that we simply don’t have the time, money or energy to do any more than we are doing. Perhaps we might let go of some of the decorating, entertaining, gift buying in order to share our time and resources with others for whom Christmas is not a joyous time. There are those who have lost loved ones during the holidays and remembering is painful There are those homes where substance abuse makes the holiday one long drunk. There are those whose families live far away or have no connection with them. Sharing reaches out in the name of Christ to touch others with love of the Savior whose name we bear. Isn’t sharing as important as giving this season?