“Everyone loves a cheerful giver” – love that scripture… Even though we are not to love the world and the worldliness of flashing lights etc, it is a joy to support the big fun “Camp out for Hunger” sponsored by a radio station and manned by the fun and giving DJs and producers and cheerful giving volunteer staff of their time and energy and talents. It is not a spectacle as much as it is a spectacular display of work and play.

Offerings of self comes in many ways – and these folks are in the right place for the right reasons – to use their energies to drum up donations and awareness for the food insecure and how efficiently to help thru the local Philabundance programs. If anything, the agency has learned how to reduce purchase costs and distribute volumes and volumes of necessary sustenance throughout a BIG region – and to do it with care and joy.

This morning we are also reminded that it is Veteran’s Day – a day to remember and thank those who serve – selflessly often – and with sacrifice of self comes the sacrifice of selfishness – these people who serve the military are often living at or below the poverty line – they say people in the active military are more often food insecure than normal citizens. WOW!

For the “Camp Out” – I try to make it each year – I loved the JOY of attending the event last night “after dark”, which the first time I have done that – was both the only time I could find in my busy work and life schedule it seems but also because it was the time when traffic is low, and the people glued to TVs for the out of town football game drew the traffic (foot and car) down to a trickle. (Yeah – only 30 minutes there and back). But the most exciting reason to go was both to see my friend Jacky BamBam an unique character to say the least – as he DJ’ed the last shift of the night – in a spectacular sight with glitzy lights and a tribute to the late DJ Pierre Robert – and even was the big game on the big TV screen next door – it is always an adventure I am game for – but even better when I know the ease and time is a gifted window of opportunity. 

A cheerful giver is what this whole set up tries to encourage – we truly are blessed with resources – it is good to share at this time of year and any time of economic stress for many – and cheerful givers just could go in and drop off food items – or buy right there at the tent and the donation would be tallied at the end. I chose the latter and travelled light – did get through the donation line easily and then got a free parking pass to show I was there NOT for the concert next door – and easily parked and walked 2 minutes across the street to the tent.

The big retro-decorated restored “Minerva” VW bus re-creation was propped up so beautifully. I was there late – the amusement rides were shutting down for the night – and the tent was practically empty – but for me it was the perfect time to go – and to be in the front row of maybe 12 of us – get to take the photos for the busy moms and this crew of kids there – and to see then the stars of the morning show stop in for the cross over chat between DJs before heading to the sportswatching space next door – and it was hilarious to me to have found the right timing to be there – front row enjoying their barbs to each other – in love…

I waited patiently because they were doing a live radio show – busy busy and especially putting it together in a tent and talking back to the studio – lots of logistics – but then I chatted first with the other DJs and producers and then felt that moment of “oh – this is one GREAT reason I came” – I got to give a hug to the producer Ryan, of Pierre’s show – hugs are the cheerful giver gift that gives back – and showed him how blessed I was to see that stone that I wrote “God bless the Grateful Dead” – and gave to Jacky to give to Pierre – I think that I have told that story again and again until I found the one I WANTED to tell – Ryan – and explain that it gave me such hope in the time we were all reeling from Pierre’s unexpected passing. How could I not credit the Lord for the timing for me to see it – it was not and is not about me – but about being given an insight into what giving can give…. I am not saying it (a small easy free gesture) is a WOW for the world – but for me it was something on the small scale which still says I know we work together for good…  It’s the little things – God IS a cheerful giver to give cheer… We can be too.

So in reading the letter from Paul to the Corinthians about “being a cheerful giver” – it is clear that the Lord has put before us the struggles of the world and the mission of the moments. Jesus is our pattern in giving it all – so we can at least give some of what is given to us.  In warning, apostle Paul was teaching the Corinthians of how to live a Godly life – asking them to include GRACE in their offerings of self. In JOY, Paul was commending them for their sharing and urging them to do more of this – SHARE SHARE SHARE.. As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”

Our gifts are to be a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation – as Paul states – and so we best keep ourselves in the right spirit of giving. 

It is like preparing ourselves to be able to give best – to know what we have in our blessing from God and then be able to give because we are “OK” – “He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.”

This is not just material or food gifts – but of our spirit – of our joy – our our sacrifice – of our love.  We give because we can – and because we are gifted to give.

We thank the Veterans who gifted so much to us in everything including example.

We thank the volunteers who gift these food drives and spectaculars over spectacles to bring the people in.

We thank the Lord for His ultimate gift of gifts – Himself and His Way.

May we increase the fruits of righteousness – be enriched in everything – and give thanksgiving to God.

Amen

2 Corinthians 8-9 NKJV
Excel in Giving
Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also.

Christ Our Pattern
I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago; but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have. For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.

For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality. As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”

Collection for the Judean Saints
But thanks be to God who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus. For he not only accepted the exhortation, but being more diligent, he went to you of his own accord. And we have sent with him the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches, and not only that, but who was also chosen by the churches to travel with us with this gift, which is administered by us to the glory of the Lord Himself and to show your ready mind, avoiding this: that anyone should blame us in this lavish gift which is administered by us— providing honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

And we have sent with them our brother whom we have often proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, because of the great confidence which we have in you. If anyone inquires about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker concerning you. Or if our brethren are inquired about, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ. Therefore show to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love and of our boasting on your behalf.

CHAPTER 9 Administering the Gift

Now concerning the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you; for I know your willingness, about which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal has stirred up the majority. Yet I have sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this respect, that, as I said, you may be ready; lest if some Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we (not to mention you!) should be ashamed of this confident boasting. Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation.

The Cheerful Giver
But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written:

“He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.”

Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men, and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!