The Word This Week

Brothers and sisters in todays Gospel passage Jesus is almost reciting those words to us – Don’t worry be happy – he is telling us that God is in control. That God is faithful and He calls us to be a people of faith.

Before we dig too deep into our Gospel for today we should set the scene a little by understanding the context of what Jesus is saying here.
 
 We are picking up part way through chapter 6 of Matthews Gospel – this is right in the middle of the sermon on the mount which is recorded over chapters 5-7 of Matthews Gospel. The sermon on the mount is a collection of teachings or saying from Jesus teaching his followers about how they are called to live as members of God’s Kingdom.  The most famous part of the sermon on the mount of course is the beatitudes – so much so that people often make the mistake of thinking they ARE the sermon.  The truth though is much much more is covered.
So as we pick up our reading today it is important we understand that it is part of a larger narrative – of Jesus teaching about how we are called to live as his followers – it is not said in isolation.
That is important as we look at where our reading begins – Jesus talking about the eye being the lamp for the body.  This saying needs to be taken in the context of what has preceded it for us to truly understand it. Jesus is not here picking on blind people and saying that they are doomed. Rather in verses 19 to 21 which precede this statement he has just finished saying: 19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. [1]
 
You see Jesus has just finished explaining to his followers that they need to have there focus on the Kingdom of God – not on earthly desires and wealth.  He wants them to direct there gaze not to storing up earthly wealth but rather to God – for where there treasure is, there is where there heart will be also.
It is then he says those opening lines from todays Gospel.  22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light; 23 but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! [2]
So you see Jesus isn’t talking about physical blindness – rather he is using the eye, and light and darkness as metaphors for the spiritual health of a person.  If your focus is all wrong – if your eye is unhealthy and gazing towards the wealth and wants of this world rather than God’s Kingdom, then you are shutting out the light – if you are directing your gaze towards the world instead of God, you are looking on darkness rather than light – and so it is darkness that will fill you rather than the light which is God.
That helps us then make sense of the next verse doesn’t it: 24 “No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.[3]
If we were to read these opening verses of todays Gospel account without understanding the context, we could be forgiven for thinking that it was a bit strange for Jesus to jump from talking about blindness to money and masters.  That is why it is so very important for us always to seek to understand the context of what we are reading in the scriptures.  We can very quickly get ourselves lost and confused if we just pick random bits and pieces of scripture to read and remove them from their context.
 
But what does it mean now for Jesus to say we can’t serve wealth (mammon) and God? Well it flows into the next section of our reading where Jesus explains to us how we need not worry about what we need.
Faith is fundamentally a matter of trusting God, leaning on God—not just believing that God exists but believing that God actually is a caring parent and a trustworthy deliverer, and that this care and deliverance is for me, for you, for everyone. Jesus says that God feeds and clothes the animals, even the birds of the air and the grass of the field are fed and clothed; So if God cares for them, why would we doubt his care for us? 

The truth is though, that when it comes to our own wellbeing, there is an competitor for our trust,  there is another way we can seek to get all we need, and that is “mammon” which our bible has translated as “wealth”. But what Jesusis referring to here is not people having great sums of money, or even mere money at all, he is talking about people  having a money-centred approach to life’s basic needs: having a strictly material outlook.
He is talking about the danger facing people whose gaze has been averted from the kingdom – and so they are unhealthy – they are being consumed by darkness.

We cannot, Jesus says, have it both ways. We cannot at the same time (1) trust ultimately in our own ability and striving for material wealth as the foundation of our wellbeing and (2) Also trust ultimately in God as that same foundation. There can be only one ultimate foundation, only one ultimate trust. So we must continually choose which of these we take to be the true bedrock of our lives, our own efforts for wealth  or God’s care for us. Our choice will determine who we are serving – either God or Mammon.

This does not mean, of course, that Christians should stop looking to provide for ourselves. If our ultimate trust is properly directed toward God’s care for us, that doesn’t mean we don’t have to seek to provide for ourselves and our family – it just means we do so from a position of trust ultimately in God to provide rather than in our ability to acquire wealth. However, something else is ruled out, namely, “worry”. If we truly are under God’s loving, personal care, if God truly does and will provide, then though we may and should work and “strive,” in the end our own efforts are not the source of our well-being. In truth, God is taking care of that, no matter what circumstances may come and go – Look at the birds. Consider the lilies. They do not worry, and neither should we.

Lets be clear here though, Jesus is not preaching a prosperity gospel in which we get magically rewarded with wealth and prestige just for believing right as some heretical preachers proclaim; nor is he preaching that we should be passive observers waiting for God’s blessings to shower down.

Jesus offers a choice: Mammon or God. If we choose wealth as our priority, we can expect great highs and devastating lows – and ultimately if our gaze stays focussed there instead of on God eternal darkness. If we choose God, in good times and bad (and there will still be bad times) we have no reason to worry. The point is that God is faithful. 

“Don’t worry, be happy” can sound shallow, unrealistic. Jesus tells us and we know that the life of faith is not without its issues, and challenges. There are struggles and heartbreak as well as joy and jubilation. The point is that when we focus on God rather than our own wants and desires, when we focus on living out God’s call on our lives, we don’t have need of worry. We can trust that all is in God’s hands, and we are assured that we can handle whatever happens, because God is in control.

Brothers and sisters all of us at times struggle with worry and anxiety. We worry about losing our homes, losing our jobs, not having enough for retirement; caring for our children until they reach adulthood; worrying about them more when they are adults.  We as Anglican Christians in this diocese have found ourselves worrying over the last few years over the diocesan finances and our ability to survive and thrive as a diocese into the future – yet God is faithful and we are seeing light at the end of that tunnel.

The poorest among us, fret over having adequate shelter, food, and water; finding a decent job; taking care of their families; having enough money to survive. The point is all of us—rich and poor, privileged and unprivileged—have genuine reasons to worry, even though we know worrying won’t change anything.

Jesus understands this; this call that we find in our Gospel today is not based on some unrealistic utopian view of the world. What he is telling us is that no matter what we face God will not leave us without support, He is telling us that God is faithful and that in times of struggle and fear and doubt we can lean on our heavenly father. We can face life with all its uncertainties with the assurance that we are not alone—that God hears, sees, and cares about us and all the things we face in this life.
Brothers and sisters we can say to each other “Don’t worry, be happy,” because we know that God is with us, and we never walk alone.
 
The Lord be with you.

[1] The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. (1989). (Mt 6:19–21). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

[2] The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. (1989). (Mt 6:22–23). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

To recap Paul wrote this letter to the church in Corinth in around the year 54AD while he was in Ephesus on his third missionary journey.  Corinth was the capital of the Roman province of Achaea.  You will remember that the letter was written to this church because Paul had received reports that the church in Corinth was suffering under factionalism and placing great emphasis on the gifts certain members had over others. Others claimed superior knowledge and wisdom. While others were living immoral lives while still claiming membership of the church.

You will recall we read in our first week about Paul setting out who the Corinthians were in the eyes of God, and emphasising that though their knowledge and gifts are wonderful things they are all from God.   They enable us to see that we are called into a whole body of believers, that we are set apart – sanctified by God, that the spiritual gifts we have are from God, that our knowledge and abilities in the faith are from God.  Paul wanted them to understand the great truth that it is God at work in us that redeems us – that it is God’s grace – his unmerited, or unearned favour towards us that is what saves us – that is the very key to the Gospel!. 

Having set the scene for his letter to the Corinthian Church by letting them know that it is God who is at work in them, and their salvation, their knowledge and their gifts are all from God, and that they are all one body of believers – the body of Christ – Paul moved into discussing factionalism and division in the church.

Paul called the church to unity, to be of one mind. Now remember Paul  when he says that we as the church should all be of one mind wasn’t calling us to blind faith or conformity – rather he was calling the church to focus on the core thing – the Gospel. He was also emphasising that what we do and how we behave matters and effects how we are able to promote that Gospel – that is important!.

Remember he also gave us that model of evangelism – that being straight forward and honest about the Gospel without embellishment and without compromise.

Then we focussed heavily on how the cross of Christ is foolishness to the world.  We focussed on how it is through that cross we are reconciled to God.  That it is at the cross where the consequences for our sins are dealt with. 

It is at the cross where God incarnate says – even though you may think it is foolish, here I show you my love, here I do what I must to bring us back together.  It is at the cross that the bill we owe is paid.

Two weeks ago we readLast week in chapter 2 Paul continued talking to the church in Corinth about how the Gospel does not conform to the wisdom of the world.  Paul explainedIn the opening five verses of our reading today Paul continued to explain to the them how he didn’t come to them trying to appear wise and distinguished – he didn’t come to them trying to look and sound like someone who would be deemed respectable by the standards of the world – rather he came to them from a place of weakness – with a story that would seem implausible to them. 

Then he explained to us that it is through the spirit that we begin to fully understand what God has done for us.  It is through God’s Spirit working through us and guiding us that we begin to comprehend the magnificence of what God has achieved through becoming a human being and taking upon himself the consequence for sin. 

Through opening ourselves up – being willing to hear God’s call, being willing to let the Spirit guide us we begin to understand that what seems like foolishness to the powers of this world – is actually the very thing that will overthrow them.  When we are willing focus on what God’s spirit leads us to – we find ourselves drawn into an understanding of God that is astonishing. 

Then we also learnt that while there are those who Paul calls ‘unspiritual’ those who reject God and thus face the full consequence of sin. God never stops calling us.  He never gives up– it is not to late, for anyone – He is there waiting for us, calling us – all we need do is turn back to him. 

Last week we read Paul chastising the Corinthians for making him and Apollos idols – placing them in front of God. Paul called the church in Corinth back to fidelity to the God – and he calls us to the same.  We were reminded to search out the idols that we erect in our own lives – whether it be money, or reputation or our favourite sporting team – We need to identify anything that is in our lives that gets in the way of our relationship with God and set our priorities straight – because none of the things of this world mean anything next to the incredible love of God which saw him willing to die on the cross for us.

Today Paul is beginning to sum it all up for the church in Corinth – and for us!  You see what Paul has been trying to explain to the the Corinthians all along is that their salvation is not something that is built upon their own skills, or abilities. It is not something that is built on their own intelligence, their own knowledge or wisdom – you see no matter how knowledgeable, wise, skilled or able we are – we can never come close to God.

So Paul continues our section today having just finished explaining that he and Apollos and all the other preachers and teachers (including me) aren’t the ones who need adulation and thanks – but God is.

Paul says what he did in building a foundation of faith in the church at Corinth, was all through the Grace of God.  That word is important – Grace – we have heard it a lot over the past few weeks, have you noticed?

The word means unmerited favour.  What Paul is saying is that what he did in establishing the church in Corinth, wasn’t done through anything special about him. Rather he says that it was God at work – that he was a builder – yes a master builder – but a builder none the less, using the materials he had been given for free – the Gospel. 

Paul is saying to them – don’t you get it? You guys are arguing with each other, and getting caught up in petty squabbles, but the truth is that even Paul – the one who introduced you to Jesus, is no more special in God’s sight than anyone else.  Even Paul is completely reliant on the Grace of God.

Brothers and sisters we so often get so caught up in the things of this world that we forget what God has done for us. We so often get so focussed on the things that we want or that we think we need that we forget what God has already given us. 

Paul in this section of the letter is calling us back to God. He is calling us to remember that it is actually God who gives us all.  It is God who is creator and sustainer of the universe – it is God who calls us to live lives of love and care and compassion.  It is God who forgives us when we fail. It is God who became one of us and died on that cross in order to take upon himself the consequence of sin.  It is God who rose from death and forever conquered it – granting us eternal life.

Paul then says the most fundamental of things.  Jesus is the foundation. It is upon Jesus and what he has accomplished that everything else is built. 

Brothers and sisters we are called to be the very temples of God – each and every one of us – we are called to build upon that strong foundation that we have – that foundation that is Jesus Christ.  We are called to build upon that lives that are worthy of the foundation. 

We are called to put aside the things of this world and instead be shining examples of love and generosity and care and respect.  When Paul spoke to the people of Corinth about them being the temple of God, they didn’t have images of a modest church building like this one – no they had images of the Temple is Jerusalem – towering over its surroundings, seen from vast distance from any direction, adorned with Gold and silver.

Paul was saying to the people of Corinth and to us that we are called to stand out – just as the Temple in Jerusalem was sanctified – set apart as a dwelling place of God– and drew people from all nations, races and cultures to seek to know more of God – so too are we called to be set apart.
We are called to set aside the wants and desires – the idolatries of this world and instead to be those who like the Temple of Jerusalem draw others to seek to know God.

So lets begin by setting the scene a little bit so we understand the context of what Paul is saying here.  This letter was written to the church in Corinth in around the year 54AD while Paul was in Ephesus on his third missionary journey.  Corinth was the capital of the Roman province of Achaea. It was a cosmopolitan city and the church was made up of people from all walks of life – though most would have been regular people of no particular standing or wealth or superior wisdom – they were a bit like us in fact – just regular people.
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However Paul had received reports that the church in Corinth was suffering under factionalism and placing great emphasis on the gifts certain members had over others. Others claimed superior knowledge and wisdom. While others were living immoral lives while still claiming membership of the church.  Now I am sure that none of us here could think of any examples in the modern church where we see this sort of thing going on can we… there is no factionalism or pride or immoral believers…
Of course we do in fact know that those things exist – the fact that there are literally thousands of Christian denominations is the clearest example of factionalism we can get!
Pauls letter is a response to these reports he had heard, as well as to a letter he had received from the church.
 
So now we know the scene – lets look at what Paul actually says.  He begins by establishing who he is.  He is writing to them as an apostle  – not of his own making, but one called by God.  This serves two purposes  – it establishes that Paul is writing with authority – as an apostle.  He is saying in a nice way – hey guys, you need to actually pay attention here, because what I am saying matters. Secondly though he emphasises that his authority is not something he took for himself, but rather it was the work of God who called him to this role. That emphasis on the fact that it was God who called him, and thus God who appointed him is important – it sets the scene for the rest of this opening portion of the letter.

Paul moves from introducing himself as being called by God – to giving thanks that the Corinthians have also been called by God.  He says:
To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord[a] and ours…
Paul here says some very important things. Remember this is the beginning of a letter to a church that is facing internal divisions, power struggles and dealing with issues of pride and sin.  Paul starts his letter to them by teling them who they are – and by extension telling us who we are – in the eyes of God.  They and thus we, are sanctified in Christ Jesus,

The word sanctified refers to being set apart, having been made special.  Something that is sanctified is different to the rest of the world.  As members of the church the Corinthians 2000 years ago, and we today are set apart – we are differentiated from the rest of the world – thus we are meant to be different… but different how? Well Paul said we are  called to be saints.

That is we are called to be Holy ones of God.  The reason we have been sanctified, set apart, is so that we can be a holy body of believers.  A holy church that witnesses to God’s incredible love for humanity and which isn’t drawn to follow the world.  That means that we are called to do away with the trivialities of the world – to get rid of the factionalism and the pride and the arguments. 
Now thankfully in this congregation I have so far encountered very little of this sort of behaviour – as a group we do pretty well – though of course we can’t become complacent – we can’t allow ourselves to be proud – because it is not our own work that has gotten us this far – it is God who has called us and it is God who equips us.

Paul by emphasising that it is God who has done the work in the Corinthian church – and by extension in us is saying that For the church to begin arguing about who is the better leader, or to break into factions over who has the best ‘gifts’ or to start ignoring the will of God is so foolish because we argue about things of which we have no control – Think of it like two people who have been given a gift – they each received a beautiful Gold coin – each identical to the other. Now think of them arguing amongst themselves about who has the better gift.  It is foolishness is it not? That is what it is like when the church argues amongst itself.  We lose track of the fact that it is in fact God who gave us the gifts and the faith.

That is why Paul as he continues talks specifically about the gifts of the spirit – he gives thanks that they have the gifts – even though one of the reasons he is writing is to admonish them not to put too much emphasis on them – that happens in chapter 12.  But for now it is enough for him again to point out that these gifts that they are so proud of are in fact nothing to do with their own efforts – but rather they are from God.
 
Paul has set the scene for his letter to the Corinthians in which he will rebuke them and call them back to faithfulness, by first giving thanks that they found faith in the first place.  He does so by acknowledging that it is God who has done all the work to bring them to salvation, and to equip them for their journey with great speech and knowledge.  It is God who has bestowed the gifts of which they are so proud.  These are all things to be grateful for says Paul – but they are all the work of God – and that is where the thanks should lay.
Then having acknowledged the great work that God has done in the Church and before he begins his first rebuke – which we will be reading next week – Paul gives the Corinthians an assurance.  It is an assurance that is just as valid for us as it was for them.
He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
You see what Paul wanted to say after drawing attention to the fact that all these things which the Corinthian church was squabbling over were in fact from God, and not their own work was that they need not fear.  That despite their (and our) tendency to get caught up in the world, despite their (and our) tendency to turn inward and focus on ourselves, to focus on our own wants and desires and to argue and fight amongst ourselves.  Despite their (and our) tendency to turn away from God – our tendency to place our faith in the world rather than our saviour.  Despite all this Paul says – God will strengthen us – he will be with us and he will be faithful to us – so that when we finally get to that last day and stand before the king of kings – we will have nothing to fear – because God will have done all the work. God will have redeemed us, and we will stand before him blameless.
 
So as we can see, having read just these first few verses of the opening chapter of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians we as the Christian church are incredibly blessed.  Not because we ourselves do great things or display great gifts – but because of what God has achieved in us and for us.  Though we wander far off at times, and get caught up in our own ideologies, wants and desires. Though we ourselves at times forget what God has done for us and in us – God does not forget us – God is with us always, God is transforming us, he has set us apart – sanctified us, and called us to be saints – holy.  God is faithful. 

To recap Paul wrote this letter to the church in Corinth in around the year 54AD while he was in Ephesus on his third missionary journey.  Corinth was the capital of the Roman province of Achaea.  You will remember that the letter was written to this church because Paul had received reports that the church in Corinth was suffering under factionalism and placing great emphasis on the gifts certain members had over others. Others claimed superior knowledge and wisdom. While others were living immoral lives while still claiming membership of the church.

You will recall we read in our first week about Paul setting out who the Corinthians were in the eyes of God, and emphasising that though their knowledge and gifts are wonderful things they are all from God.   They enable us to see that we are called into a whole body of believers, that we are set apart – sanctified by God, that the spiritual gifts we have are from God, that our knowledge and abilities in the faith are from God.  Paul wanted them to understand the great truth that it is God at work in us that redeems us – that it is God’s grace – his unmerited, or unearned favour towards us that is what saves us. 

Having set the scene for his letter to the Corinthian Church by letting them know that it is God who is at work in them, and their salvation, their knowledge and their gifts are all from God, that they are all one body – Paul moved into discussing factionalism and division in the church.

Paul called the church to unity, to be of one mind. Now remember Paul  when he says that we as the church should all be of one mind wasn’t calling us to blind faith or conformity – rather he was calling the church to focus on the core thing – the Gospel. He was also emphasising that what we do and how we behave matters and effects how we are able to promote that Gospel.
Remember he also gave us that model of evangelism – that being straight forward and honest about the Gospel without embellishment and without compromise.

Then we focussed heavily on how the cross of Christ is foolishness to the world.  We focussed on how it is through that cross we are reconciled to God.  That it is at the cross where the consequences for our sins are dealt with.  It is at the cross where God incarnate says – even though you may think it is foolish, here I show you my love, here I do what I must to bring us back together.  It is at the cross that the bill we owe is paid.

Last week in chapter 2 Paul continued talking to the church in Corinth about how the Gospel does not conform to the wisdom of the world.  In the opening five verses of our reading today Paul continued to explain to the them how he didn’t come to them trying to appear wise and distinguished – he didn’t come to them trying to look and sound like someone who would be deemed respectable by the standards of the world – rather he came to them from a place of weakness – with a story that would seem implausible to them. 

Then he explained to us that it is through the spirit that we begin to fully understand what God has done for us.  It is through God’s Spirit working through us and guiding us that we begin to comprehend the magnificence of what God has achieved. 
Through opening ourselves up – being willing to hear God’s call, we begin to understand that what seems like foolishness to the powers of this world – is actually the very thing that will overthrow them.  When we are willing focus on what God’s spirit leads us to – we find ourselves drawn into an understanding of God that is astonishing. 
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Then we also learnt that God never stops calling us.  He never gives up– it is not to late, for anyone – He is there waiting for us – all we need do is turn back to him. 

That’s what Paul is really asking the Church to do in our reading from today – to turn back to God.  We begin by Paul continuing where he left off at the end of chapter 2.  He had just finished talking about how those who are spiritual are able to comprehend the true wisdom of God – and receive the gifts of God (including salvation).  Those who are not spiritual can’t.  We focussed on this last week and how Paul was trying to help them understand that the Spirit is there ready to guide them – but they must be open to the Spirit’s guiding.

So it is pretty powerful that he started the reading today by saying: And so, brothers and sisters, I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but rather as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.  I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for solid food. Even now you are still not ready, for you are still of the flesh. For as long as there is jealousy and quarrelling among you, are you not of the flesh, and behaving according to human inclinations?
 
Wow.  So after having explained to them that Christians are ones who are spiritual, and open to the wisdom of God. Paul moves to saying – so that’s why I had to speak to you guys not as spiritual people – (here he is referring to when he evangelised them and introduced them to the Gospel) but then he hits them where it hurts and says- guess what – nothing has changed – you are still mere infants in the faith – you don’t appear to have grown at all. Look at you fighting amongst yourselves – you are getting caught up in the trivialities – you are getting caught up in what the wider world tells you is important rather than actually allowing yourselves to be lead by the spirit to growth, and understanding.

Paul is giving them a good wake up call here – and it is a strong contrast to how he opened the letter – where he was saying how good it was that the church had gifts, and knowledge and wisdom – all of which are from God.  Here though he gfives them a reality check and says – well guys actually, whilst you have been bragging and arguing amongst each other about who is the superior one with the most oif these gifts and wisdom – the truth is you are merely infants, you haven’t even progressed past milk to getting into the solid food of God’s knowledge and wisdom.

Then he explains what the greatest example of this is: For when one says, ‘I belong to Paul’, and another, ‘I belong to Apollos’, are you not merely human?  What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.  So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.  The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose, and each will receive wages according to the labour of each. For we are God’s servants, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building.

You see the greatest example that the Corinthian Church is still in its infancy in terms of its understanding of God is that its members are elevating Paul and Apollos and arguing over who is greater through association with each of them.  Paul responds by saying what are doing?

You see the Corinthians have made Paul and Apollos idols – they have forgotten that they are merely servants in God’s Kingdom, who preach and teach – but it is not preachers and priests and bishops who save you, it is not the preachers greatness which redeems you! The preacher is just a servant in the kingdom – merely a messenger – it is God who saves us!

It is God who came to earth as a human being and showed us how to live a life of love, care and compassion.

It is God who came and died on the cross and took the consequence of our sin.

It is God who rose from death and destroyed its hold on us.

Brothers and sisters, just like the church in Corinth 2000 years ago – we need to identify the idols in our lives that get in the way of our relationship with God.  For us it may not be arguing about who we are associated with – it may well be thst we are instead putting money as our idol above God, or perhaps it is our sports team, or our reputation or popularity.  There are many many things that we are tempted to put at the forefront of our lives – that we are willing to push God to the side for. 
What we are called to do is to examine our relationship with God, to examine our priorities in life and ask ourselves the question – If St Paul was writing to us would he be telling us that like the church in Corinth we are still mere infants – still so focussed on human desires that we have pushed God to the side?