12. Real Giving
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2 Corinthians 8:1-14
Introduction
Introduction
Perhaps one of the truest tests of authenticity in the local church is our financial giving- and the heart from which we give.
Paul wrote to the Corinthian church about the bountiful hearts of the churches in Macedonia (modern day Northern Greece). Macedonia was a region of intense persecution and pinching poverty, and yet Christians in these churches had given sacrificially. Paul said they gave "beyond their power".
One foundational truth about Christian giving is that giving is not a debt you owe but a seed you sow.
* We do owe a debt based on the fact that Christ has saved us by his wonderful grace
I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.
* But in a larger sense we give of our financial resources out of grace and gratitude
* Giving is an opportunity to invest in something eternal
In the 1st century, churches were being planted regularly as the persecution (brought on earlier by Paul and others) forced it.
* Some were strong and fruitful
* Others were weak and needy especially in areas of intense persecution
* Sometimes Paul would write a church and ask them to take up an offering above the tithe to support the weaker churches
The more impoverished churches of Macedonia gave in spite of their poverty while the church at Corinth (a more affluent city), had remained largly indifferent. So Paul uses the Macedonian bretheren as an example as he wrote to and taught the church at Corinth.
As we look at this text in 2 Corinthians we can learn 3 things about the sacrifical giving. We can see their passion for giving, their perspective in giving and also their practice of giving.
As we look at this text in 2 Corinthians we can learn 3 things about the sacrifical giving. We can see their passion for giving, their perspective in giving and also their practice of giving.
Notice first their passion for giving.
Notice first their passion for giving.
I. Their Passion for Giving
I. Their Passion for Giving
It's hard not to notice the passion of the Macedonian Churches as you read these verses
"do you to wit" - "we want you to be aware"
Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
Even as Paul tried to hold them back they pleaded with him to take the gift.
How did they get this passion?
How did they get this passion?
A. Developed by God's grace
A. Developed by God's grace
Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
Their giving was not empowered by guilt, but rather by grace. Grace is a disposition of the heart created by the Holy Spirit.
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
In this passage we see an incredible equation
POVERTY + GRACE OF GOD = GENEROSITY
POVERTY + GRACE OF GOD = GENEROSITY
Some givers are motivated by guilt, some are motivated by greed others are motivated by grace.
i. Guilt- it may produce giving but it also produces bitterness
ii. Greed- this produces unrealistic expectations - by trying to obligate God to materially give back
iii. Grace- God wants his people to be motivated by the Holy Spirits prompting in our hearts
What motivates our giving?
And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
Definition: Farthing- 1/16 of a silver denarious = to about a half penny of our money. Eastons Bible Dictionary
B. Demonstrated by God's people
B. Demonstrated by God's people
Although these Macedonian Christians were poor they had a desire to give to a greater capacity than what their resources would allow.
"beyond their power"
For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
There were 3 reasons why they gave:
1. Willing hearts
1. Willing hearts
For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
"they were willing"
Illustration: Although our children do not have significant resources they are usually very willing to give.
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
2. Ministering hearts
2. Ministering hearts
Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
"ministering to the saints"
They connected their giving with the eternal aspect of God's work.
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
3. Sacrificial hearts
3. Sacrificial hearts
And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
"first gave of their own selves"
This was their secret. They had first consecrated their lives to the Lord.
None of this will make any sense until you have consecrated your life to God!
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Quote: "Money is so intimatly related to the possessor, that we cannot give money without giving ourselves." Unknown- When we give we are literally saying "Lord, I give myself to you, I trust my future to you".
First we saw their passion in giving but we can also see their perspective in giving.
First we saw their passion in giving but we can also see their perspective in giving.
II. Their Perspective in Giving
II. Their Perspective in Giving
As Paul used the Macedonain Christians as an example in giving, he sowed us a two fold perspective for their giving.
A. To finish a commitment
A. To finish a commitment
Apparently they had made a commitment a year prior to give and Titus was being used to encourage them to follow through on that commitment.
Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.
And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.
There is a Biblical example for making a commitment to give
Illustration: This is why we will often have a faith promise commitment during a missions conference
David encouraged Solomon to "finish"
And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.
Illustration: When Amanda and I first began to tithe and give to missions. Explain how that felt...
B. To focus on Christ
B. To focus on Christ
Paul not only used the Macedonian Christians as an example he reminded the church at Corinth of the sacrifice of our Lord.
I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
The Christian life and espesually giving will never make sense until our eyes are focused on Jesus Christ and his sacrifical death.
Quote: "Christian giving does not depend on material circumstances so much as it depends on spiritual convictions" Warren Wiersbe
Our circumstances are constantly changing, but our convictions should remain consistant!
Illustration: Talking with a fellow Christian brother about some circumstances in his life that were finally going to allow him to "tithe and give to the Lord". He was and is missing the entire lesson - we dont wait until our circumstances are where we think they should be. We trust and obey the Lord regardless of the circumstances!
Not only do we see their passion for giving and their perspective on giving but lastly we can see their performance in giving.
Not only do we see their passion for giving and their perspective on giving but lastly we can see their performance in giving.
III. Their Performance in Giving
III. Their Performance in Giving
Paul didn't just admonish the Corinthian church to have a heart for giving; he challenged them to follow through in their giving.
A. The execution of giving
A. The execution of giving
He pointed them to the example of what the Macedonian Christians had done and then he said now its your turn.
Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
Illustration: After a church service when the pastor shared with his congregation their need for new Sunday School buildings, a lady approached the pastor. "I'm so glad you said you didn't know who was going to help us pay for the new buildings," she began. "For a minute there, I thought you were going to ask us!"
Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift
Is like clouds and wind without rain.
Without the actual doing we are but talk with no action!
Quote: "It's not what you do with the million if fortune should ere be your lot, but what you are doing at present with the dollar and quarter you've got"
B. An equality of giving
B. An equality of giving
Paul didn't suggest a specific amount for every Christian in the church to give. He challenged them to give with equal sacrifice.
For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.
Sometimes the more we are blessed the stingier and more selfish we can become.
Illustration: Time magazine reported that Mississippi ranks forty-ninth in per capita income, yet in the year reported they averaged $4,070 in charitable giving. This made them the second highest state in per capita giving. Massachusetts, on the other hand, ranks forth in per capita income, yet the average family only gave $2,645 in charitable giving. This makes the forth most wealthy state the forty-ninth most stingy state in per capita giving.
Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
Conclusion
Conclusion
I firmly believe that God entrusts us with resources and he expects us to steward those resources. What you do with the financial blessings that God allows you to steward will help or hinder your christian growth. If you wait for God to make all of your circumstances just right in order for you to give you will miss the entire lesson he is teaching you.
* Develop a passion by God's grace to faithfully give and "lay up for yourself treasures in heaven"
* Get the right perspective and remember the sacrifice of our Lord
* Then perform the "doing of it" - Trust God and take him at his word!