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2 Corinthians 8:1-14
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
* 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.
Notice first 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"
Even as Paul tried to hold them back they pleaded with him to take the gift.
How did they get this passion?
A. Developed by God's grace
Their giving was not empowered by guilt, but rather by grace.
Grace is a disposition of the heart created by the Holy Spirit.
In this passage we see an incredible equation
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?
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
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"
There were 3 reasons why they gave:
1. Willing hearts
"they were willing"
Illustration: Although our children do not have significant resources they are usually very willing to give.
2. Ministering hearts
"ministering to the saints"
They connected their giving with the eternal aspect of God's work.
3. Sacrificial hearts
"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!
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.
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
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.
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"
Illustration: When Amanda and I first began to tithe and give to missions.
Explain how that felt...
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.
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.
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
He pointed them to the example of what the Macedonian Christians had done and then he said now its your turn.
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!"
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
Paul didn't suggest a specific amount for every Christian in the church to give.
He challenged them to give with equal sacrifice.
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.
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!
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