Sermon Tone Analysis

“It is superfluous for me to write to you about the ministry for the saints, for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year.

And your zeal has stirred up most of them.

But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be.

Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—for being so confident.

So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.”

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There is a place for spontaneous giving in the church of the Living God.

The congregation is informed of needs and each responds through providing a gift.

Together with the gifts of other believers, this generosity is intended to relieve the particular need that has been publicised.

However, the vast majority of Christian giving is regular and planned.

Week-by-week we receive the offerings of the people to be used for the ongoing work of the Kingdom of God.

A significant portion of our gifts underwrites the ministry of those individuals giving themselves to full-time service to the people of God.

The funds set these gifted individuals free to fulfil the ministry to which God has appointed them.

A portion of our gifts pays for the upkeep on the building and facilities in which we conduct our services.

A portion of our gifts is distributed beyond our immediate congregation to advance the work of God’s Kingdom.

A portion of our gifts is used in various relief ministries for members of the congregation and others who may have immediate needs.

It is these ongoing demands that are underwritten through the regular gifts of the people of God.

The giving of God’s people should always reflect forethought and consideration by those sharing in this act of worship.

The amounts we bring home as income is usually known to each of us; we are able to plan what our receipts will be in the most instances.

Similarly, our giving should be planned, based upon anticipated income.

In that vein, the message today is a study of the instruction Paul provided the Corinthian believers encouraging forethought and planning in giving to spiritual needs, which teaching applies to all Christians.

*PLANNED GIVING IS GROUNDED IN A SPIRIT OF GENEROSITY* — “I know your readiness.”

Christians are a generous people; this is the earned reputation of the Faith and it is well deserved.

Outsiders are quick to turn to the church when they have a need.

In years past before the present boom in gas production, I could anticipate a variety of calls or visits from individuals seeking assistance during any given week.

The calls ranged from requests for food or temporary housing to pleas for moneys for financial relief.

As an aside, the congregations I have served have always declined to give out money to those requesting assistance.

If investigation reveals a legitimate request, we provide limited assistance of food, clothing or shelter.

The point of this discussion is to note that outsiders are quick to turn to the churches within a community whenever there is a physical need because the churches have a reputation of generosity.

Throughout the Word of God are found statements which speak of the spirit which should mark believers in Christ the Lord, and few are more pointed then the one found in MATTHEW 10:8: “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons.

You received without paying; give without pay.”

Though the context speaks of giving of ourselves in ministry, it requires no violence to the text to realise that it speaks also of our possessions.

Christian generosity is at once strength and weakness for a congregation.

As Christians, we are to be compassionate.

Our Saviour is compassionate; and if we will reflect His Spirit, we will be compassionate.

We are to build the weak and the injured instead of taking advantage of them or inadvertently adding to their misery.

Undoubtedly Christians are generous, responding quickly to hurt arising from the fallen condition we share with all humanity.

Compassion eventuates in generosity; thus, our generosity is a reflection of the Spirit of Christ at work in us.

However, it is apparent that generosity exercised without discernment is disastrous.

Undiscerning Christians are easy prey for unscrupulous leeches.

Was I to contribute to every sad tale presented to me, either by phone, in person or through the medium of print, I would be perpetually impoverished.

Perhaps scam artists have always sought to fleece churches.

Nevertheless, ministers once were respected and church buildings were sacrosanct.

Today there are people who will even steal even communion sets from a church, ministers are physically assaulted and Christians are thought to be gullible and perhaps even somewhat doltish.

There is sufficient reason for this perception to arrest any of us in our dash to demonstrate our compassion.

The Master cautioned to be as “wise as serpents and innocent as doves” [MATTHEW 10:16].

Christians are charged with the responsibility of being “sober-minded” and “watchful” [1 PETER 5:8].

Each believer, without surrendering compassion, must yet be discerning.

It is for this reason that I have adopted several guidelines in my giving.

First, I am concerned primarily for the preaching of the Gospel and for fruit that lasts.

Therefore, my first priority in giving is to underwrite and support those ministries which aim to see a church established where the message of life will be preached and witness can be assured to continue long after the missionary is gone.

This is best done through agencies with a proven track record.

Since I am Baptist by conviction and since my home church is a Baptist church, I prefer that my giving be to plant and build Baptist churches.

Secondarily, my goal is to encourage my fellow believers who may experience distress.

I am compassionate toward all people, but I recognise that my resources are limited.

Therefore, in order to strengthen believers and to relieve necessity first among fellow Christians, I give to underwrite relief administered by those agencies which share my doctrinal convictions and which are equally concerned for the welfare of fellow Christians.

This does not mean that I am unconcerned for outsiders, but it is to state that I have determined that my priorities must first seek the salvation of the lost and then the welfare of the saints.

Those ministries which I support must be accountable to supporters.

They must be open in accounting for the distribution of the funds they solicit and administer.

Assuredly, they must give an accounting to the government for the administration of funds, but the greater accounting is that which they give to the believers from whom they receive moneys.

Openness in administration of moneys is a principle of the Word of God as we have previously discovered, and I expect the agencies to which I contribute to demonstrate such accountability.

Baptist agencies share my convictions and my understanding of the Word of God.

Generally, they hold as their first priority the planting of churches, extending the Kingdom of God through preaching the Gospel in all the world and building up the saints in the Faith.

Secondarily, these agencies see their role as meeting the emergency needs of fellow believers.

Planning my giving through my congregation permits me to express Christian generosity in a fashion which also permits godly discernment.

I am not saying this is the only way in which to exercise discernment while expressing generosity, but I am saying that this way invites the blessing of Heaven because it honours Christ.

By making such a statement I am not condemning other agencies; I am simply acknowledging my limitations and endeavouring to effect wise administration of the funds over which God has appointed me.

*PLANNED GIVING STIRS OTHERS TO GENEROSITY* — “I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year.

And your zeal has stirred up most of them.”

It is natural that a Christian will want to contribute to the advance of the Kingdom of God.

In seeking to fulfil this desire, we must always remember that the manner in which one contributes will either build the work of the church through making others stronger or it will merely serve as a transient benefit to the contributor.

For the believer, every act must fulfil a vital test set out in Scripture if it will merit the commendation of the Master.

Every act must be performed for the “strengthening, encouragement and consolation” of fellow believers [1 CORINTHIANS 14:3 NET].

Applying this criterion to the concept of giving, it should be obvious that planned giving, the regular contribution to the ongoing ministry of the congregation and to the Kingdom of God, will result in “strengthening, encouragement and consolation” of other believers.

Others will be comforted and encouraged as they receive the ministry underwritten by the contributions of believers.

This is the import of Paul’s words in the previous chapter concerning equality in the Kingdom of God: “Your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness” [2 CORINTHIANS 8:14].

Believers will be strengthened as the Word is spread throughout the furthest, darkest regions of the world with the attendant consequence that many are added to the Faith.

Opportunity to fulfil the Great Commission of our Lord and Saviour will be provided fellow believers lacking the financial ability as together we pool our abilities.

As opportunity to serve grows and as ability to extend the knowledge of Christ grows, other believers will be encouraged to participate in the ongoing work of the Kingdom of God.

The faithful will benefit and the Name of Christ will be magnified as many names are added to the Lamb’s Book of life.

All this says nothing of the fact that our regular participation in the advance of the Kingdom of God stirs others through our example.

One cannot give without the fact being known.

I do not mean that others know the amount you give.

In our own congregation, other than those counting the funds and the treasurer, no one knows the amounts given by contributors.

The pastor has no access to the records and has specifically requested that such information be denied in the belief that confidence in this area is of greater importance then knowledge of details.

I believe that each of us shares equally in the labours of the church.

Through open giving we unite in worship and mutual encouragement.

Our regular contributions to the work of the Faith cannot help but be known by others as they witness our participation in the act of contributing.

The Word of Christ surely must apply in this instance: “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” [MATTHEW 6:21].

As we participate, our desire to speak of Him and His work will grow and we will discover that we cannot be silent concerning Him.

Having invested in Heaven, we will speak of our eternal home.

*PLANNED GIVING DEMANDS PERSONAL PREPARATION* — “I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be.

Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—for being so confident.”

I have spoken of the basis for planned giving and I have addressed some of the benefits of planned giving as I follow the text.

Now, according to Paul’s train of thought, I point to the underlying necessity which precedes planned giving.

Underscore in your mind the thought that planned giving demands personal preparation.

We are responsible to apply forethought to our giving and we are to be responsive to needs.

If we discover that we are surprised each week as the offering basket is passed, it is an indication that we are unprepared for giving and for worship.

If we come to church and discover that we must always scramble if we will provide a contribution, we demonstrate that we take seriously neither this opportunity to participate in the advance of the Faith nor the invitation to worship.

Preparation for worship begins before we arrive at the church building.

We prepare to worship as we commune with the Father throughout the week.