2 Cor 8,1-15 The Grace of Giving
The Grace of Giving
2 Corintians 8:1-15
A Pastor stepped behind the pulpit on Sunday morning
and said to the congregation:
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
this morning I have some Good News…
and I also have Bad News.
The Good News is that we have all the money
that we will ever need to meet our budget
– not only for this year,
but for years to come.
The Bad News is that most of it
is still in your pockets.
SURE FIRE CROWD CONTROL
A rookie policeman was asked in an examination
what he would do to break up a crowd in a riot.
His answer indicated a deep understanding
of human nature.
He replied, "I would take up a collection."
HOW TO RAISE A BIG OFFERING
A congregation in a small town
was having trouble with their collections.
So one Sunday the Pastor announced from the pulpit:
"Before we pass the collection plate today,
I would like to request that the person
who stole the chickens
from Brother Harvey's henhouse
would please refrain from giving
any money to the Lord.
because God doesn't want
money from a thief."
The collection plate was passed around,
and for the first time in many months,
everybody gave.
No matter how you look at it,
the subject of money makes us nervous.
For some people, the preacher NEVER
speakes about money…
(If he did, then all ‘them’ non-giving members
would give).
For others, the preacher ALWAYS ONLY
speakes about money…
“The church is always begging for money,”
they gripe.
The topic of Money makes us anxious…
We get nervous when our paycheck is smaller
than we had expected.
We become sick when our investments
produce a return that is lower than expected,
or when we loose money in an invenstment.
I don’t know about you,
But I have to bite my tongue
Every time when an organisation calls
for financial contributions.
The other day someone called and asked,
“May speak to Mr. Funk?”
And I replied, “My name is Ferd.
Mr. Funk is my dad.”
“May I please speak to your dad,”
the person asked.
And I said politely,
“My wife won’t let him live with us.”
People asking for our hard-earned money
Make us nervous.
And we also become downright angry
when the church has the nerve
to ask for money.
Money is not in the first place a material issue!
Let me say that again…
Money is not in the first place a material issue!
Money is a profoundly spiritual issue!
There is no other topic in the Bible
That Jesus addressed as often
And as forcefully
As the topic of money & posessions.
Money is a profoundly spiritual issue!
Don’t you find it ironic
(it would actually be funny
if it wasn’t so serious)
how we spend hours in line
to purchase a good and expensive seat
for the Blue Bomber game…
or the latest Harry Potter book…
or a concert ticket…
and it’s sooo much fun!
But we forget our wallet when we go to church…
And we write out a check
for the fundraising banquet
before we leave the house,
so that we won’t be tempted
to give too much
because the speaker was so good.
Don’t you find it ironic that we are
at the edge of our seats in the stands,
yelling with the crowds for a tying touch down…
and we are beside ourselfs
when there is overtime…
(we have no problem getting up
for work in the morning)…
But we nervously shift in our seats
and clear our throats
when the church service goes a bit long…
I think we sometimes forget that these worship services
are only a rehearsal for what awaits us
in all eternity… (now THAT’S a long time).
And I sometimes think
“If you don’t liking it now
- chances are –
you’re not gonna like it then either.
It seems to me that when it comes to spiritual matters
God very often has to take the back seat
to our own selfish wishes and desires.
That is so true also for the way
in which we deal with our money.
But this is nothing new.
The Early Church already dealt with the problem
of reluctant giving.
Let me read 2 Corinthians 8:1-15 (The Message)
The Offering
1Now, friends, I want to report on the surprising and generous ways in which God is working in the churches in the Macedonia province. 2Fierce troubles came down on the people of those churches, pushing them to the very limit. The trial exposed their true colors: They were incredibly happy, though desperately poor. The pressure triggered something totally unexpected: an outpouring of pure and generous gifts. 3I was there and saw it for myself. They gave offerings of whatever they could--far more than they could afford!- 4pleading for the privilege of helping out in the relief of poor Christians.
5This was totally spontaneous, entirely their own idea, and it caught us completely off guard. What explains it is that they had first given themselves unreservedly to God and to us. The other giving simply flowed out of the purposes of God working in their lives. 6That's what prompted us to ask Titus to bring the relief offering to your attention, so that what was so well begun could be finished up. 7You do so well in so many things--you trust God, you are articulate in your speach, you are insightful, you are passionate, you love us--now, do your best in this, too.
8I'm not trying to order you around against your will. But by telling you about the enthusiasm of the Macedonians as a stimulus to your love, I am hoping to bring the best out of you. 9You are familiar with the generosity of our Master, Jesus Christ. Rich as he was, he gave it all away for us--in one stroke he became poor and we became rich.
10So here's what I think: The best thing you can do right now is to finish what you started last year and not let those good intentions grow stale. 11Your heart has been in the right place all along. You have got what it takes to finish it up, so go for it. 12Once the commitment is clear, you do what you can, not what you can't. The heart regulates the hands. 13This isn't so others can take it easy while you sweat it out. No, you are shoulder to shoulder with them all the way, 14your surplus matches their deficit, their surplus matches your deficit. In the end you come out even. 15As it is written,
Nothing is left over to the one with the most,and
Nothing is lacking to the one with the least.
In the early beginnings of the Christian Church
the Apostel Paul was moving
from one community to another
to bring people to Christ
and establish new faith communities.
The church in Jerusalem was experiencing
financial hardship in the midst of persecution. They were poor and many poor people
were coming to Christ and joined the church.
Corinth, on the other hand,
was a very wealthy city
located on one of the major trade routes
in the ancient Mediterranean.
And so Paul makes an appeal to the Corinthian Church
to look at the need in Jerusalem
and to fulfill the commitment
they had made earlier.
Paul did not want to use his apostolic authority
in this delicate matter.
Rather, he makes several appeals
to complete the collection.
The gift must spring from their own voluntary generosity.
The Corinthian Church knew that there was
a great need in the church in Jerusalem.
And thru Paul, they had promised
to send financial help,
so that the work of Missions
could continue.
When we look at the History of the Early Church,
We already see the framework of a Conference
of Christian Churches
“doing together what they could not
do alone.”
But, just like today, in Early Christainity
there were selfish Churches
who lagged behind in their commitment.
So Paul reminds the Corinthians and us
what it’s all about.
He tells the story of another congregation.
The Macedonian Church,
which was also a Church established
by Paul’s missionary efforts,
and which was a very poor church
going thru “fierce troubles”,
was giving way beyond their means.
Paul says,
“They were PLEADING for the privilege
to help out poor Christians.”
“This was totally spontaneous,
entirely their own idea,
and it caught us completely off guard.”
Man! I’m getting goosebumps when I read this!
I can just picture our churches finance Committee
At the edge of a nervous breakdown
Because there is SOOO much money!
“What are we gonna do with all this money??!!”
The Macedonians had “absolutely nothing” –
and they gave generously,
way beyond what their
financial adviser would
think is responsible giving.
And here, in rich Corinth, the church was LAZY
in their giving…
The reason – the motivation – the inspiration
for their giving
was that they gave themselves COMPLETELY
without reservation
to God
and to God’s Mission in the world.
The example of the Macedonian Church
should be an example to us as well.
Yes! We do get asked for a lot!
But, we have been given a LOT too!
We have been give the ultimate gift.
God gave His Son.
Christ gave up His heavenly riches
to give us salvation and eternity.
How could we NOT give up willingly
lovingly
caringly
with an eager desire
even PLEAD for the privilege to help out
in the relief of the poor
and to contribute in God’s cause.
Many of you in fact are doing that.
Many of you have made a commitment to be
faithful and generous givers.
I am sure that you are experiencing
the riches of God’s blessings as a result.
Some of you are still struggling with your
financial commitment to God and His Church.
I want to encourage you today to take a look at
what God has done for you in Jesus Christ?
Look at the example of those who,
out of their poverty,
Give way beyond their means.
And decide within your heart
- not out of a sense of guilt or past failure -
but on the basis of your LOVE for
Jesus Christ and His Church.
Giving is a very liberating thing.
When we give – not because we have to –
but because we want to respond
in love and gratitude to our Lord Jesus
who gave it all for us –
we become free from the bondage
of this world’s value system.
And we become free
to worship Him
with our heart and soul and our posessions.
Giving is good for us!
When we give to the Lord and to the needy
we get a good feeling inside…
we experience the GRACE
of being part of God’s Mission in the world.
Brothers and Sisters,
On Pentecost we were reminded of our commitment
to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Today I want to affirm our strong desire to serve God
As a community of faith…
And we do that in so many ways…
And I also want to challenge and encourage all of us
To place our finances and our material gifts
Under the Authority of the Holy Spirit.
Good intentions don’t offer relief to the needy…
Good intentions don’t feed the hungry…
They don’t build churches…
And help to provide resources
For Christian Education.
Good intentions make lazy Christians
And unfaithful givers.
Good intentions leave the talent
burried in the ground.
As we go from here today,
May God’s Spirit awaken in us
A passion to give…
That we too would plead for the privilege
Of sharing in building God’s Kingdom.
Let us pray.