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I know it isn’t polite to brag on academic accomplishments, but I have been sitting on a secret for more than thirty-three years. It may not be a big deal to you, but it is to me and I’ve never spoken of it in church. Here it is! I was a straight ‘A’ student in high school! That’s right, in the second six weeks of my junior year in the fall of 1972; I got straight A’s. Thank you very much.

It is not that I was a poor student prior to that magical six weeks; it’s just that there was always a sticking point. In elementary school they gave out grades for conduct and handwriting. Few may be surprised to discover that I often received low marks in these challenging subjects. In fact, in our house a “D” or “F” on a report card meant six weeks of grounding: no friends spending the night, no spending the nights at friends’ houses, no going over to friends’ houses, just stay home and study. But how does one study for conduct. It was then that I discovered the principle that I would read about twenty-five years later – the principle of the shortest stave.

Christian Schwarz wrote about this principle in his book entitled, Natural Church Development. He listed eight relevant subjects on which to grade churches: leadership, ministry, spirituality, structures, worship, small groups, outreach and relationships. Then he presented a barrel with eight staves. He pointed out that as you fill this barrel with feed, water, rocks or whatever, the barrel would only hold as much as the shortest stave. He claimed that many churches and Christians try to improve their barrel by lengthening their longest stave, but the barrel is only as good as its shortest stave.

Paul seemed to recognize this reality as he was writing to a church that almost got straight ‘A’s. The Corinthian church was an incredibly gifted church centered in an affluent cosmopolitan part of southern Greece . They had much over which to be proud and like me in my second six weeks of my junior year, were not too shy in claiming it. There was just one small problem; their giving was a little flat.

Eugene Peterson has sold millions of copies of his paraphrase of The Bible entitled, The Message. It was born out of a pastor’s desire to bring God’s word alive to his congregation. Now while I doubt this will ever be published, allow me to paraphrase II Corinthians 8:1-7 in a way that may bring the Word of God alive to you. Please feel free to follow along on page 182 of the New Testament in your pew Bibles so you can see what it really says.

“Howdy. I want to tell you what God is doing in Austin. (He really said Macedonia , but believe me the Corinthians felt about the Macedonians kind of like Aggies feel toward the orange and white. They were rivals: not enemies, but rivals). Those folks were going through the toughest time you can imagine. Yet in that time of trial they were so cool. They were joyful. They were so free in sharing with others. In fact, they gave proportionally - and as they did their proportion went up. They kept begging us for a chance to invest in our ministry. I’m telling you, they surprised us with their response because they gave themselves, their whole selves, to God first, then to us.

We’re sending Titus down through Greece to complete the work. He’s headed your way. Dear Corinthians, you have always been a lead church. You are renown for your faith, your speech, your knowledge, your eagerness and your love for us. Let your church also take the lead in your generosity.

This is God’s word for God’s people. Thank God. In this passage Paul gave the Corinthians the illustration, explanation, inspiration and exhortation for faithful financial stewardship. Let us pray.

I think Paul was saying to them what Christian Schwarz was saying to his readers in Natural Church Development and what my dad was saying to me on Report Card Day; “The barrel is only as good as its shortest stave.”

I could not help but think of A&M UMC as I read and studied this passage. Look at the similarities. Actually, Paul is writing about the churches of Macedonia at first (what is today northern Greece ) and the church at Corinth later (in southern Greece ), but I thought about you through it all.

The northern church was going through some tough times, but their faith continued to shine. For many of you the delays of the Christian Life Center is mildly frustrating, for some of us it is wildly exasperating. Yet this church continues to do incredible ministry. Just this week in my office, our newest member, Gabe Waggoner, was telling me how much this church has touched his life.

The northern church was praised for its proportional giving. They did not have nearly the affluence of the Corinthians. In fact, they were in rock bottom poverty, but they gave proportionally and the proportion kept going up. We have members here who have taken the step of faith to tithe, giving one-tenth of their income. It made no sense financially, they were strapped, but as they did they have watched God provide and they find a desire to do more.

The northern church was an inspiration to Paul and others, because of how they approached stewardship. They first gave themselves to the Lord. Financial decisions and so many other decisions are much clearer when the first step is giving yourself to God.

The southern church was also praised by Paul and again I found myself thinking of you. Paul said, “You have always been the lead church.” This church is known for your role as a lead church. Your faith is renown. Members of Aldersgate and Christ Church continue to tell stories of how this church’s faith birthed them into existence. St. Luke’s UMC has come to us seeking some office space to reduce the operating expenses for this church beginning its ministry on the west side of Bryan . Your faith is phenomenal.

Your speech is eloquent. The Ministry Moments in this church are evident of that. Did you hear the power of communication and inspiration through Mark and Linda Johnson?

Your knowledge is excellent. I doubt that many of you were blown away by the fact that I got straight ‘A’s in the second six weeks of my junior year. But this is not just an educated church, it is also one known for its wisdom.

Your eagerness is commendable. When Hurricane Rita threatened the coast, you had hours to respond and you provided the shelter with the most positive stories around. This church is one of the first to be asked for help, because of your eagerness to do so.

Your love is amazing. I cannot begin to tell you how loved my family feels at A&M UMC, but I can tell you that my son came here angry for being uprooted from his school and friends just eighteen months ago, and now he never wants to leave.

I know of Paul’s admiration for the churches of Greece . I know it well.

Let us see to it that this barrel is strong. Let us excel at the grace of giving, even as we excel at faith, speech, knowledge, eagerness and love. Remember the barrel is only as good as the shortest stave.

As you begin to reflect on your financial commitment to the ministries of A&M UMC, remember the Macedonians who gave proportionally after giving themselves first to the Lord. Remember the Corinthians who took the lead on so many characteristics of the Kingdom. Remember the pride of a junior in high school who pulled it all together and discovered he could excel academically. (Without that six weeks, I may never have gone to college or seminary). Remember the barrel that is only as good as its shortest stave.

Amen.