What do you have to Give?

2 Corinthians 8:7-15
2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27
4th Sunday after Pentecost
Year B
What do you have to Give?



The more things change, human nature does not change. The story of humanity is always the same story.

The headlines remind us that the fights in the holy land continue – character have changed, but the conflict stays the same.

David uses the words
The mighty have fallen – David uses those words about Saul and Jonathon. But it describes the events of today – death of many mighty. Ed Mcmahon, Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson.

All who made great contributions to the culture, all very human. Have had their ups and downs in life, and their ups and downs in the media. And yet, no matter how great their contributions to life - the day will always come when they wil fall, and their life will end.


Many will grow tired of the stories that we will hear about Michael Jackson in the coming weeks to come. The autopsy results will not come out for six weeks. And we will go through this media attention for just as long. But It is the worlds way of mourning such a huge loss to the world. The only person in the world who has touched the entire world. No matter what we might have thought of him, we have to remember his contribution to us. That is the message David was giving to the world as he wrote this dirge acknowledging his former enemy, with the song of the bow.

I am struck with the way we remember people in death, different than what we hold against them in life. In life it would have been very difficult for Jackson to be portrayed in a positive light. Everything thing he did was wrong. But in death, we have put that all aside, and choose to remember the good things that he gave us.

David had a very rough time with Saul in reality. Jonathon his best friend, but Saul his worst enemy. Trying to kill him and is attacked and in exile.

Messenger thought bringing good news – but you killed the Lord’s anointed.

The story of David, is the story of his anointing. How he becomes King. Asked if it is really true – that events would pit them against one another, and David would win. David would rise and fall, make mistakes and become a hero.

But he remembers Saul and orders others to remember the greatness of Saul also

What does it mean to be anointed?

As we remember Michael Jackson, remember what he did for our culture and out time, and acknowledge that in his humanness he was called to be special. His presence made a difference to us all. Truly anointed – called himself the king of pop. Events of his death – a reminder that death comes to us all.

Reminder that life is a paradox – take the good with the bad. Paul talks about a thorn in his side – and we never know how it affects him, or how far he has to overcome it to do what he is called to do.

Important message on stewardhip – what it means to give. New testament concept of giving – is there is no amount of money that you have to give. But in how you give it.

Give out of what you have and not of what you don’t have. Giving is not intended to be a sacrifice – but a gift.

In spite of Paul’s suffering, he has a mission very close to his heart. He travels throughout the world – asking for money for widows in Jerusalem

A way to united the gentile Christians the jewish Christians. Show that we are in solidarity.

But he reminds those that the day will come that one day those in need will be able to give in return.

As he teaches churches the lessons of Christianity – his most important lesson is how they respond to giving.

Macadonians a small church like cornerstone – who did not have much money – but had a heart of gold and able to give to help.

Corinthian church a much larger church – an active dynamic church. You excel in everything you do – excel in this request. Excel in giving.

Reminded that what you have, intended to be used. The use of manna – everyone had enough for the day. Paul says that those who had much never had too much, and those who had little never had too little. They resources were just for the day and were balanced out and shared.

Our faith determined in the way we give to others.

Two brothers – There were two brothers who shared a room with each other. In the early years they shared everything. Each of them had free reign of everything that was there. They played with each other’s toys and got along perfectly. Until the day one of them got a play station for Christmas. And the brother decided that he didn’t want to share – it was his for his benefit. This started each of them as defining their property. And putting stipulations on using their stuff. At one time they got along, but this caused them to distrust one another and to constantly bicker. One day, they agreed to put a line down the middle of the room. And each were instructed to stay on their side of the room. Soon these two brothers became enamies, who not only refused to share, who not only fought constantly, but who eventually stopped speaking, and lived separate lives, even though they lived in the same room. They each were forced to fend for themselves, and faced life all alone. Both lost sight of what it meant to give and to help others.

The Christian faith means to be able to share what we have – so that we all can have just enough to live.

Pride as a church always judged by what we are able to give to others, not by anything else that we have accomplished. As a church, if we have not given to others, there is nothing that we have really accomplished.

There is a saying that we each have Two hands – one to give and one to receive. Like the two brothers, the Two are never intended to be independent of one another. Faith is one of balance – in this case Paul says to balance your abundance with those in need.

Read that Michael was one of the most altruistic stars of all times. Supported as many as 39 charities at one time. He went into the Guiness book of World Records as the star who has given more than any one else. Even in times of financial troubles, he still gave to others.

Teaches us it really doesn’t matter how much of how little you give. There is no set formula of how much to help others. Don’t have to go into bankrucpty to help others. Don’t have to go without, in order so that others will have. Give out of your heart.
Sharing with others changes the world, and is what we are called to do. If you can afford to share do so.

All in your attitude about what you have. About your attitude about your possessions. Did you earn them, or were they a gift from God. Was it given to you for your beneft, or was it given to you to empower you to benefit others.

Share with others, think of others, love others, serve others, help others, heal others.


That is the work of the Lord’s anointed – to make a difference in the world.

In the ends, it all goes back in the box. Even the anointed are human- and will experience the human fate. Only that in which we have given to others will outlive us.