Growing in Readiness to Give

Tayo ay nagpapatuloy sa ating sinimulang Tema sa quarter na ito: “That I May Grow In Grace” at ang layunin natin ay tunay na maranasan ng bawat isa ang paglago natin sa ating pananampalataya sa Dios, hindi lang sa karunungan kundi sa mga practical na mga bagay sa ating pamumuhay.

Katulad ng huling salita ni Apostle Peter sa kanyang sulat sa mga mananampalataya.

2 Peter 3:18 ESV

18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

At nakita natin noong nakaraang Linggo ang pattern ng buhay ni Peter sa kanyang paglago sa paglilingkod sa Dios (His Unqualified Character, His Undisputed Transformation, His Unrelenting Dedication) at kung paano na dapat tayo din ay lumago katulad ng kanyang iniwan na payo sa mga mananampalataya.

Ngayong araw naman ay ating titignan ang isang mahalagang bagay sa buhay ng isang mananampalataya na hindi pwedeng mahiwalay sa ating paglago. Ito ay ang paglago sa ating pagbibigay.

Sa totoo lang ito ang usapin na karamihang Kristyano ay ayaw mapakinggan. Ito din naman ang usapin na karamihan ng mga Pastor ay nagsstruggle din sa pagtuturo dahil sa kaisipang iisipin marahil ng mga member “tungkol nanaman ito sa pera!”

Pero alam nyo, ako ay naniniwala na ito ang bagay na hindi dapat natin iniiwasan at napakahalaga na ating mapagaralan dahil ito ay nilagay ng Dios sa Bibliya.

Because we believe that the bible is the inspired word of God:

2 Timothy 3:16–17 ESV

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Sa ating pagaaral ay ating buksan ang ating mga Bible sa 2 Corinthians 9.

2 Corinthians 9 NKJV

1 Now concerning the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you; 2 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. 3 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; 4 lest if some Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we (not to mention you!) should be ashamed of this confident boasting. 5 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. 6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 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. 9 As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.” 10 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, 11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. 12 For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, 13 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, 14 and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

Purihin ang Panginoon sa pagbasa ng Kanyang Salita.

Let’s pray.

Ang ating pagaaralan sa araw na ito ay ating pinamagatang:

Growing In Readiness to Give (Paglago sa ating kahandaan sa pagbibigay)

At makikita natin yan dito sa ating binasa kung paano inencourage at dinirect ni Apostle Paul ang mga Corinthian believers to be “ready” in their giving or what they have committed (promised) for the Christians in Jerusalem who experienced famine and was greatly in need.

“so that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation”

2 Corinthians 9:5 NKJV

5 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.

There are three biblical principles that we can ponder in our readiness to give.

First: Your Desire In Giving: It must be a willing gift.

Your Desire In Giving: It must be a Willing Giving

After Apostle Paul directed the Corinthian believer to ready their contribution / donation / gifts, for the believers in need in Jerusalem, Paul point out this great principle in giving:

2 Corinthians 9:6–7 NKJV

6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

2 Corinto 9:6-7 (Magandang Balita Biblia) 6 Ito ang ibig kong sabihin: ang nagtatanim ng kakaunti ay aani ng kakaunti, at ang nagtatanim ng marami ay aani ng marami. 7 Ang bawat isa'y dapat magbigay ayon sa kanyang pasya, maluwag sa loob at hindi napipilitan lamang, sapagkat iniibig ng Diyos ang nagbibigay nang may kagalakan.

Let us remember the context of this wonderful verse. It is about contribution for those in need in Jerusalem church. This verse is not about giving your Tithes. The Tithes is not the issue in this context.

Going back to the verse, we can see in verse 6 that your giving is your investment of blessings.

Ang nagtatanim ay tiyak na may aanihin.

Proverbs 11:24 NKJV

24 There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty.

Proverbs 22:9 NKJV

9 He who has a generous eye will be blessed, For he gives of his bread to the poor.

Galatians 6:7 NKJV

7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

Galatians 6:9 NKJV

9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Kaya ang sabi ni Paul, your giving must be according to what your heart desires. Hindi dapat napipilitan.

2 Corinthians 9:7 NKJV

7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

Because God knows our hearts, and our investment in giving is not based whats on the outside but based whats on the inside.

Let us remember what Jesus said in Luke 6:38 “for with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” (Better read Luke 6:27-38 from tagalog version)

Luke 6:38 NKJV

38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

Is giving bountifully difficult?

2 Corinthians 9:8 NKJV

8 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.

In verse 8, Paul directs the believers that He who is ABLE to give grace is God. He is saying God is able to give you that right desire in your hearts. The God of ALL Sufficiency will give you sufficiency in all things so that you may abound for every good work.

It is saying, God is at work in every good work because it is God who is enabling His people to do His work.

Psalm 37:4 NKJV

4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

When you delight in the LORD, the LORD will give in your heart WHAT HE DESIRES, so that God’s desires will be your desires.

At the end of the day, it is still the purposes of the LORD will prevail. Because God is one who is working within the hearts of the believers. It is God who is directing His people to give.

In verse 10 2 Cor. 9:10, it is God “who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food” He “supply and multiply the seed” and “increase the fruits” of your righteousness.

2 Corinthians 9:10 NKJV

10 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,

Galing din talaga sa Panginoon lahat ng bagay.

Kaya nga every growing believers must be a generous giver.

Secondly: “Your charater in giving: It must be a cheerful giving”

Your Character In Giving: It must be a Cheerful Giving

“not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver”

2 Corinthians 9:7 NKJV

7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

Church, remember, your giving reflects in your character. Nahahayag sa iyong karakter sa iyong pagbibigay.

Tandaan natin, giving is not new, because it is God who instituted the principle of giving.

When God give David a desire to build Him a temple, David stepped forward lead the people of God to give willingly and cheerfully for God.

Read 1 Chronicles 29:1–9. “Then the people rejoiced, for they had offered willingly, because with a loyal heart they had offered willingly to the LORD;”

Thats why in 1 Chronicles 29:10-19, David gave His praise to God and acknowledges WHO HE IS:

1 Chro. 29.11

1 Chronicles 29:11 NKJV

11 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, And You are exalted as head over all.

Church, I strongly believe that a true transformed life, who experienced the LOVE of GOD, and has been a recipient of God’s abundant grace of Christ, must be a cheerful giver.

Yung character of Joy and gratefulness kasi ay galing sa Dios.

When you acknowledge God that He is the owner of everything and supplier of everything in your life, you will cheerfully give.

Remember our context, this is the context in the church. In the old testament, it is in the context of the Kingdom of Israel, the covenant people of God.

So this principle is directed within the context of the Church.

We have seen this in the book of Acts:

“all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.”

“they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart”

Acts 2:44–47 NKJV

44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

Kita nyo? When everyone is giving joyfully, it creates an atmosphere of Joy that glorifies God. Then it will influence the community and in effect bring more souls to God.

Tandaan natin that we are all in the economy of God. We are just God’s worker. We need to be at work with God.

Kaya nga, finally: Your Motive In Giving: It must be a Glorious Giving

Your Motive In Giving: It must be a Glorious Giving

Not a self glorious but gloriously to God.

Dito makikita natin. Paul is saying your giving and generousity will “causes thanksgiving … to God” (not to man)

That it “not only supplies the needs of the saints”, but also will cause “many thanksgiving to God” (not to man)

That the proof of this ministry will “glorify God” (not glorify man)

2 Corinthians 9:11–13 NKJV

11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. 12 For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, 13 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,

When we give, our motive must be for the glory of God.

Paul said “for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ”. This clearly says, that our generous giving is just a clear manifestation of our obedience to Christ when we have accepted Him as our personal LORD and Savior.

Our sacrificial giving for the church and people of God is a reflection of what Christ has done ultimately for you.

May bagay pa ba na hindi mo kayang ibigay na pwedeng ikumpara sa binigay ni Kristo?

Kaya sabi ni Paul,

2 Corinthians 9:15 NKJV

15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

Kaya kapag nagbibigay ka, nagbibigay ka para kay Kristo, hindi para sa tao. That should always be for the glory of Christ.

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