Ready or Not

INTRODUCTION:

Have you ever waited to do something until the very last minute only to discover that you waited too late?

It’s happened to me several times. School assignments, prom dates, car repairs, etc.

Many things in life require particular inputs at a particular times to get the outcome you really want. If those inputs come to late or never happen - the thing never comes.

I’m sure there are some things in life where this principle doesn’t apply. But anything of real significance requires diligent preparation.

I know many people who have really positive intentions. They have big hopes, big dreams and even detailed plans.

But until those plans are implemented, what they “want” stays out of reach.

Preparation Precedes

Do you know who understands this principle better than anybody? Farmers. Especially farmers right here in West Texas.

Everybody wants a great cotton crop or wheat harvest. But a great harvest requires particular inputs at a particular time.

Preparation precedes a bountiful harvest.

You cannot plant the seeds until you first prepare the ground.

It can’t be too cold or too wet. (It requires a particular level of moisture)

It can’t be just any kind of soil. (It thrives in a particular type.)

It can’t be at any time of year. (Seed thrives at a particular temperature.)

You cannot grow the seeds without the proper kind of maintenance

It can’t be too dry or too wet.

It can’t be too hot or too cold.

There can’t be too many weeds or competing vegetation.

Finally, the crop is only harvested within a certain window of time.

If you try to harvest too soon the fruit will not be ready.

If you try to harvest too late then the fruit will not there.

At every step along the way particular things must happen: this, not that; now not then; here not there.

You can cram for an exam or procrastinate a school assignment. What you CANNOT do is “cram for the harvest.”

Your sincerity is irrelevant. Your intentions are irrelevant. Your excuses don’t matter. Mother nature doesn’t care!

There are certain laws of physics that cannot be denied. The law of gravity. The law of motion. The laws of relativity. Laws 1, 2 and 3 of Thermodynamics.

There are laws in math, laws in science, rhetoric and philosophy. The God of Creation is a God of order and has structured His world this way.

Just as that’s true in physics, math and science. It also holds true in ethics and theology.

Readiness Pledge

A life that God will bless is lived a certain kind of way: from the way we treat each to the way we manage money.

There are certain “spiritual laws” that have been put in place by God.

New Age gurus exploit this truth to lead other people astray. (Law of Attraction/Karma)

But misuse does not remove use. (Abuses non tollit usum) There are certain laws that DO apply and they’re given to us in the Scripture.

One of those laws is in our passage today. We might call it The Law of the Harvest: you reap what you sow, more than you sow and later than you sow.

Paul applies this law to the question of generosity.

It comes in the context of a resource initiative for starving Christians in Jerusalem.

But before he explains the principle he first explains the process of preparation.

And that’s where we’ll focus today. Next week we’ll examine the Law of the Harvest. This week we’ll focus on the need for preparation.

Every bountiful harvest depends on a readiness pledge.

This was true for the first century in their giving campaign and it’s true in our context for this resource initiative.

While I understand people don’t love this topic, it’s given to us in Scripture for our good and God’s glory.

Set the Table

If you’re new to this study in 2nd Corinthians 8-9, it’s a section of a letter Paul wrote to a church in Corinth.

He challenges them to be generous towards a benevolence offering for starving Christians in Jerusalem.

They had previously made a pledge but stopped giving at a certain point. Some drama went down between Paul and the Corinthians.

Titus was sent to mend that rift. After he did so, the Corinthians were back in. This letter is Paul’s way to reset the table and move things forward, especially on this front.

In chapter 8 he challenged Corinth through the generosity of the Macedonians (where he was writing). In our text, he’ll use their own pledge from a year ago.

With that in mind let’s read our passage.

2 Corinthians 9:1–7 CSB

1 Now concerning the ministry to the saints, it is unnecessary for me to write to you. 2 For I know your eagerness, and I boast about you to the Macedonians, “Achaia has been ready since last year,” and your zeal has stirred up most of them. 3 But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you in this matter would not prove empty, and so that you would be ready just as I said. 4 Otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we, not to mention you, would be put to shame in that situation. 5 Therefore I considered it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance the generous gift you promised, so that it will be ready as a gift and not as an extortion. 6 The point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver.

Verse 6 is what many call “The Law of the Harvest.” You reap what you sow, more than you sow and later than you sow.

I believe this Law with all my heart. It’s why our family tries to grow in generosity each year. It’s also why I’m excited about this campaign.

Our increase of being generous towards God will also increase God’s generosity towards us.

You simply can’t OUT GIVE the Lord. I’ve seen it again and again. But that harvest of generosity requires a process of preparation.

With the time we have left I’ll give some reasons for readiness and how they apply to our efforts in “Close The Gap.”

REASONS TO BE READY

Paul begins in 9:1 by saying “it’s unnecessary for me to write to you.”

Paul doesn’t mean his letter is unnecessary. He’s just acknowledging the zeal of the Corinthians.

The word translated eagerness can mean willingness or goodwill. The word conveys a positive intention to see a certain thing happen.

On this front, the Corinthian church already had a reputation. Their eagerness to help was established a year ago.

Paul had been boasting about that fact to the Macedonians (where he was writing). That’s part of why THEY were so generous in response.

So if eagerness wasn’t the problem why did Paul write the letter? He answers that question in verse 5.

Put To Practice

He wrote his letter because good intentions aren’t sufficient.

Intentions with no action lead to regret.

Readiness puts to practice your eager intentions.

This principle applies to everything in your life.

Nobody gets married unless they first have a date.

Nobody gets a job without first having an interview.

Nobody gets a degree without first doing some homework.

Nobody learns guitar without first learning the chords.

Anything of real significance requires diligence and personal effort.

Intentions aren’t sufficient. Efforts alone aren’t sufficient. Intentions and personal effort must partner together.

The bigger the gap between these two things the greater pain on the day of the harvest.

By the time you wake up and realize what’s happening the price of admission is more than you’ve got.

Paul doesn’t doubt that the eagerness is there. Paul is ensuring that they practice what they preach. If you’re going to talk the talk then you better walk the walk.

Eagerness without readiness leads to regret. It’s true when it comes to relationships and it true on the question of giving.

Provokes People

The second reason that readiness matters is because of how it motivates other people.

Readiness helps provoke other people to action.

2 Corinthians 9:2 CSB

2 For I know your eagerness, and I boast about you to the Macedonians, “Achaia has been ready since last year,” and your zeal has stirred up most of them.

Have you not experienced this? Or have you never used this to inspire other people?

I see parents use this technique all the time! I even saw a school teacher do it for a preschool class this week.

“Everyone! Look at ___. He’s standing so straight and quiet.” Guess what happened as soon as that student was commended? Everybody stood up straight and quiet just like him!

We are imitative creatures whether we like it or not. We tend to imimate that which we honor or esteem. That may not be another person but rather a certain virtue that they display.

Paul used this same technique on the Corinthians with the Macedonians.

Paul esteemed them for RICH generosity though they were poor and facing affliction. (2 Cor 8:2-3)

“If these guys can be generous from this kind of context, how much more so could you give from your position in Corinth.”

This applies to the finished product but also the readiness process.

When somebody is in the gym and they’re really pushing themselves to the next level it should also encourage you to push a little harder.

That’s one reason God places us in the context of Christian community. Our individual generosity provokes the same in other people.

Applied to CTG

Both of these truths can be applied to Close the Gap. Over the last several weeks we’ve passed out these “pledge envelopes.”

Before I made that appeal on the Vision Nights I first shared it with some of our leaders.

Much of that was for accountability and buy in, but it was also to provoke generosity.

I wanted our leaders to lead the way in demonstrating their readiness pledge. If together we’re trying to raise $1.5 million then we should set the tone for generosity.

Since that time I’ve had a majority of our pastors, deacons and staff submit their 3 year pledge. Just with those those three groups over $477,110 has been committed! That’s almost 1/3 of the total amount with 5% of our people.

I don’t know about you, but that makes me feel like this whole thing is in reach! We’re going to do something significant for God’s kingdom!

Public Reputation

That leads me to the third reason for a readiness pledge which Paul gives in verses 3-4.

He’s already acknowledged their zeal and it’s influence. In verse 3 he gives a warning about losing that reputation.

2 Corinthians 9:3–4 CSB

3 But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you in this matter would not prove empty, and so that you would be ready just as I said. 4 Otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we, not to mention you, would be put to shame in that situation.

There are really two dynamics going on in this passage. One is more public and the other more private.

First, readiness protects your public reputation.

Paul essentially says, “I’ve already vouched for you guys. I’ve put my own reputation on the line because of my boasting about you.”

Which, as an aside, is really incredible given Paul’s history with the Corinthians. They attacked and maligned his character but he never responded in kind.

Instead of public humiliation Paul chose to praise that which was praiseworthy. In the case of Corinth, that included their financial generosity.

It could’ve included many other things: their knowledge, their giftedness, great leadership or growth.

Every church has a reputation for something. Even OUR church is “known” for certain things.

But even good reputations can be lost in a moment because of a gap between what’s said and what’s seen.

This is a big reason why people deconstruct in their faith. Their Christian convictions are strengthened by other Christians.

We shouldn’t put our faith IN other Christians per say. But, it’s natural to have faith strengthened BY other Christians.

But when those sources of strength become examples of unbelief, their positive influence swings the other direction. Instead of being more grounded we become less.

Instead of being provoked to generosity and faith we instead become prone to doubt and unbelief.

Preserve Integrity

So Paul is saying, “It’s not just about you. Your public reputation has an impact on others.”

But even though readiness wasn’t JUST about them, that no way lessened their own shame should they fail.

2 Corinthians 9:4 CSB

4 Otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we, not to mention you, would be put to shame in that situation.

Readiness preserves your personal integrity.

Remember what we said last week, “money and trust are directly related.” Your stewardship determines whether trust is deserved.

When there’s a big gap between your words and your actions the loss of integrity has personal implications. It’s to your shame!

The word translated shame conveys disgrace and humiliation. In the words of Freddie Mercury, “You’ve got mud on your face, you big disgrace, kicking your can all over the place…”

It’s a terrible feeling to have mud on your face. It’s one thing to lose integrity but nobody be able to see it. It’s a double whammy to lose integrity in front of so many other people.

Prepare Promise

Having established the negative Paul shifts to the positive.

Readiness is not just prevention of failure, readiness also paves the way for success.

2 Corinthians 9:5 CSB

5 Therefore I considered it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance the generous gift you promised, so that it will be ready as a gift and not as an extortion.

There are so many important things to point out in this verse.

First, notice the language Paul uses at the beginning. It’s a contrast from what he said in verse 1.

On the one hand, I know I didn’t need to write this letter because of your eager spirit. On the other hand, I HAVE to send these brothers if we’re going to reach this goal.

This is really good leadership in my opinion. Assume the best and prepare for the worst.

In the words of Ronald Regan, “Trust, but verify.” (Russian: “Doveryai,no proveryai.”)

You can believe the best about a person’s heart and want accountability around their actions.

Accountability is not suspicion, it’s a plan for protecting progress!

Readiness helps progress your plan for the future.

When we started this capital campaign, I asked someone who had done it before to give me some coaching on how it was done.

I’ve received a lot of help through that coaching process. The most helpful element was personal accountability.

The reason you hire a trainer isn’t to learn the exercises. You hire a trainer to keep you motivated when it’s hard!

Hard things and big things require personal accountability. It’s not about suspicion. It’s about protecting forward progress.

Advance Arrangement

Notice the specific language Paul uses. These brothers “went on ahead” to “prepare in advance.”

They “went on ahead” in that they left before Paul left with the other Macedonians.

Paul wanted to ensured that specific things took place before the final offering.

What things were those? It probably included many things. But one of them was “to arrange in advance the generous gift that was promised.”

The Greek literally reads “to make preparation for the blessing that you promised.”

We don’t exactly know what these preparations looked like. Nor do we know how they went about it. But the fact they had a plan is a lesson in itself.

Nobody becomes generous accidentally. Nobody becomes generous on a whim.

Generosity requires forethought, planning and intentionality. If these things are absent so also is your readiness.

Paul understood that and made plans to address it. The same kind of thinking is behind these campaign pledge envelopes.

These pledge envelopes are OUR way of making preparations for the blessing our congregation intends to pledge together.

You’ll notice that at the top of the envelope there’s a Year-End Pledge. This is the amount you’re able to give “this year.” We already do this every year with the World Missions Offering (the difference is Close the Gap funds both).

Below the Year-End pledge is the 3 Year Commitment. This number should represent what you feel like God intends to give through you over the next 3 years. We talked about how to arrive at that number last week.

Why It Matters

Some might wonder why we even have these pledges. Our reason is exactly what Paul describes in this text.

The decisions we make today related to Close the Gap 100% depend on the pledges people have made towards the future.

Jesus talked about this in his teaching on discipleship. He gave two parables about counting the cost before a thing begins.

A builder doesn’t build a house unless he has what he needs to finish.

A general doesn’t start a war unless he has what it takes to win.

It’s bad stewardship to start a project you know you cannot finish. If that’s true of generals and builders, it is also true of churches.

These pledge envelops help us “arrange in advance” the blessing our congregation intends to pledge.

Unless and until we have THIS information, we cannot move forward on the vision God has given us. Paul knew that and he made provision to address.

These envelopes are our way of doing the same thing.

Preclude Greed

But they’re also used by God to accomplish something else. That something is mentioned at the end of verse 5.

2 Corinthians 9:5 CSB

5 Therefore I considered it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance the generous gift you promised, so that it will be ready as a gift and not as an extortion.

Readiness helps you preclude any greed from your giving.

Preclude is not a word we use real often. Think of it as the opposite of what you do when you “include” something.

Paul is creating a contrast between two kinds of giving. Giving that is joyful and giving that is not.

The words that Paul chooses paint a picture of this dynamic. One is giving from a place of abundance. The other is giving from a place of scarcity.

Think about it. When you have a LOT of money in your wallet, how difficult is it to give? If you had a gift card for $100 but your bill was only $60. And you had $500 more dollars in your wallet. It’s not really that difficult to say, “Hey just keep the change.”

But if you didn’t have a gift card. And you only had $70. And you still had to pay your water bill and buy groceries for the rest of the month. Then it’s pretty difficult to say, “Hey keep the change.”

That’s the picture Paul wants us to have on the difference that readiness creates.

Paul is saying, “When you apply readiness to the question of generosity, you’ll anticipate what’s coming and make preparations far in advance. Then, when the harvest day comes your promised gift is already set aside. It doesn’t require coercion because you’re giving from a place of plenty.”

That’s the difference that readiness makes. And, that’s the impact these pledge cards can have.

They put into practice your eager intentions.

They provoke other people to greater generosity.

They establish a method of personal accountability.

They together forecast what our church intends to do.

They also give you a schedule so you can give from a place of abundance.

You set aside little by little, week by week in accordance with your pledge.

Eventually, when the day of the harvest comes your generosity is much LARGER and it’s given with great JOY because it’s not under compulsion.

Your readiness helped you prepare for the gift that you promised. Gradually, over time, in keeping with what you had.

Positioned for Blessing

Which leads me to the last principle of readiness. It’s actually tied up with the Law of the Harvest.

We’ll talk about the law in next week’s message. This week I want to attach it to the question of readiness.

Readiness helps position you for God’s greater blessing.

2 Corinthians 9:6 CSB

6 The point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously.

I mentioned earlier that this spiritual law applies to everything. We’re going to discuss it in depth next week with some pretty neat stories of God’s provision.

Paul’s point in the first 5 verses is to help these Corinthians be in a position so God’s blessing could be enjoyed!

It’s never a question of whether God’s WANTS to bless his children. He does. It’s his nature. He’s a loving and generous heavenly Father. The question is always will be come to God HIS terms instead of ours.

None of this is to say that you life won’t still have suffering. Suffering in this world is inevitable because of sin.

But even IN the suffering the Law of Harvest applies. God can multiply what you have to meet your needs.

An illustration that Dave Ramsey used was that of a clenched fist. For some people, that’s how they relate to the issue of money.

When you tighten down your fist you keep your money from leaving your hands. You become greedy or even cheap because of that scarcity mindset.

But when you open up your hands your much more free to give. And because your hands are open you can also receive more money.

A close fist isn’t very conducive to the greater blessing God wants to pour out.

CONCLUSION

In all these ways, a spirit of readiness sets the stage for God’s Great Harvest.

If the field is not prepared then the crop will never come.

I wish I could tell you that staying ready was easy. Unfortunately, it’s not.

It requires great diligence and ongoing personal effort.

But the diligent work a farmer is done with a view of the harvest.

Because the harvest is in his horizon, the farmer can work with joy. He knows the sweat and tears will one day bring reward.

The more he pours into a spirit of readiness the more he’ll enjoy the harvest when it comes.

As I think about Jesus and his readiness pledge I think about the Garden of Eden. His soul was troubled to the point of sweating blood.

The day of giving came and the price was demanding. He prayed, “Father, if it’s possible, let this cup pass from me. However, not my will but yours be done.” (Matthew26:39)

He gave from heart of humility and generosity even though it COST HIM everything.

Jesus was arrested, falsely tried, tortured, and executed. Yet, from the cross he cried, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)

How was Jesus so generous in his death? What put him in that place of readiness, even though it cost him everything?

According to the author of Hebrews, it was “for the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)

Eyes on the Harvest

Jesus was prepared to be generous because he lived with his eyes on the harvest.

That harvest for Jesus was the joy of his future bride. People like you and me who repent of sin and believe the Gospel.

Through faith in Jesus his joy becomes YOUR joy. Your joy becomes full because of new life in Jesus.

That is the harvest that moves us to be generous. But that Harvest requires a personal decision.

2 Corinthians 9:7 CSB

7 Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver.

Readiness requires a personal decision.

The best way to give your pledge with a happy heart is to do so having decided that Jesus is Lord.

Do you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ? “Though he was rich, for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.” (2 Cor 8:9)

When you give from this horizon, it always comes from a cheerful heart.

Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe! Sin have left a crimson stain, he washed it white as snow!

What’s on your horizon when it comes to being ready?

It can’t just be a new youth wing, or a balcony in this sanctuary.

It can’t just just be a better marriage or happy kids or a brand new house.

Those things aren’t sufficient to keep you going when things get hard.

Our ultimate harvest is a heavenly inheritance, imperishable, undefiled and unfading.

It’s being kept by God in heaven, even as He keeps us right now.

Have you received that great inheritance through repentance and faith?

If so, are you committed to a life of readiness, especially with your money?

Will you demonstrate that readiness through a commitment to Close the Gap?

Will you do so with a happy heart because your eyes are on the Harvest?