
The Grace of Giving (2 Corinthians 8:1-12)
- were going to talk about one of the most sensitive
and personal topics this morning: money
- I imagine that this week, sometime, you opened your
mail and found at least one financial appeal for some worthy cause
- I also imagine that as you watched TV this week, you
saw at least one commercial from a charity requesting your financial
support
- some of us become almost numb when we hear of the appeals
for our money
- even though there are so many worthy causes, we couldnt
possibly give enough to meet every need
- everyone wants our money
-
- I confess that its tough to preach on the area
of stewardship in the church
- there has been so much abuse, and so many over-emotional
appeals and high-powered sales pitches, you get really nervous when
a preacher starts talking about money
- pastors have found that many people dont want
to come to church because "churches are always talking about money"
- we want to avoid the traps of being manipulative or
focusing on money only when we need it
- so today I want to simply look at what the Bible says
about giving
- throw away all the techniques and the Madison Avenue
sales pitches
- get rid of all the guilt and high-powered appeals
- what does the Bible say?
- were going to look at 2 Corinthians 8 this morning,
one of the key passages in Scripture on this subject
-
- the essence of Christianity is giving
- the Bible says, "God so loved the world that he
gave"
- the word give is used over 1,500 times in the
Bible
- God is a giver, and he wants you and I to be givers
as well
-
- early in the churchs history, a need arose in
the church that called for sacrifice
- the believers in Jerusalem were going through a severe
time of financial need
- there was famine and a great deal of poverty
- the question was, "What obligation did the other
Christians have toward the Jerusalem believers in the hour of their
need?"
- and in response, the apostle Paul spent close to ten
years taking up a collection for the needy in Jerusalem
-
- and as we look at 2 Corinthians 8, we find Paul teaching
on the subject of Christian stewardship
- and instead of launching into an emotional appeal or
manipulating the church in Corinth, instead he does two things
- first, he gives a positive example of what it means
to be a giver
- he gives the example of the Macedonian churches
- instead of staring with a request for money, he started
by giving an excellent example of sacrificial giving
- and second, he gave some practical applications in
the area of giving
-
- and thats what were going to do this morning
- were going to ask ourselves, what made the Macedonians
such good givers?
- and then Ill close this morning by giving us
some applications in the area of giving
-
- BUT FIRST, WHAT MADE THE MACEDONIANS SUCH GOOD GIVERS?
- if you open your Bibles to 2 Corinthians 8, well
look at least three churches Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea
who overflowed in grace, as said in verse 1
- Ive learned the value of observing someone whos
better in a certain area than I am, and trying to learn from their lives
- in this case, were looking at a group of churches
who excelled in the area of giving
- and Paul lifts them up as examples for the rest of
us
-
- what made the Macedonians such good givers?
- three qualities
- they gave in spite of circumstances
- they gave enthusiastically
- and they exceeded expectations
-
- QUALITY NUMBER ONE: THEY GAVE IN SPITE OF CIRCUMSTANCES
- (2 Corinthians 8:1) And now, brothers, we want you
to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.
- (2 Corinthians 8:2) Out of the most severe trial, their
overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.
-
- as I said, around the time this book was written, believers
in Jerusalem were in financial need
- Paul spent a lot of time collecting money for the impoverished
believers in Jerusalem and Judea
- in fact, as Paul wrote this letter, he was visiting
some churches in Macedonia who themselves were going through a difficult
time financially
- Paul describes the situation in the Macedonian churches
in verse 2: the churches were in severe trial and extreme
poverty
- that was the condition of the Macedonian churches
- to top it off, they didnt even know the believers
of Jerusalem
-
- but Paul says in verse 2 that they gave out of overflowing
joy, and that "their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity"
- they gave much more than Paul expected
- this was sacrificial giving they were poor themselves,
but they still wanted to help
- you get the impression that they didnt care about
their own financial situation
- they were so motivated by their dedication to Christ,
their love for fellow believers, and the joy of helping others that
they opened up their hearts and wallets and gave generously
- this doesnt make human sense
- a severe trial and extreme poverty plus Gods
grace somehow equaled overflowing joy and rich generosity
-
- when we have experienced the grace of God in our lives,
we wont use difficult circumstances in our lives as an excuse
not to give
- in fact, when are our circumstances ever conducive
to giving?
- we go from being in school and broke, to graduating
and working for peanuts and paying off our student loans
- we go from there to paying for mortgages, rents, cars,
spouses, and kids
- when we finally get these paid off, its time
to retire
- graceful giving means giving in spite of circumstances
- thats the first quality
-
- QUALITY NUMBER TWO: THEY GAVE ENTHUSIASTICALLY
- (2 Corinthians 8:3) For I testify that they gave as
much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their
own,
- (2 Corinthians 8:4) they urgently pleaded with
us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.
- the key phrase is in verse 4, "urgently pleaded"
- the thrust of this verse is that they begged Paul earnestly
to contribute to this need
- and we say, "Wait a minute. How many times have
we heard a believer beg for somebody to take an offering?"
-
- the secret, I believe, is that these Christians considered
their involvement in the relief a "privilege of sharing"
- despite their own poverty, they believed that their
involvement in this collection brought them closer into the common faith
and union that believers have as members of Gods church
- they gave enthusiastically they actually begged
to give to God
- they counted their contribution to Gods work
to be a privilege
-
- and friends, this attitude is critical when it comes
to giving
- as you study the Bible, you begin to discover that
God is more concerned with the attitude of the giver than the
amount of the gift
- in other words, God is more interested in why
we give than how much we give
- the gold medal giver in the New Testament turned out
to be a woman who contributed less than a nickel
- why? because she possessed the right attitude in giving
-
- a man was leaving on a business trip
- his wife reminded him before church that she needed
some extra money for household expenses
- just before the offering, he slipped her some money
- and she, thinking it was the weekly offering, put it
all in the plate
- it was their expense money for the week
- "Well," said the man, "we gave it to
the Lord, and he keeps the records"
- when they told the pastor, he said, "How much
did you intend to give? The Lord doesn't record the amount of the check,
but the intent of the heart"
- did you get that?
- God doesnt record the amount of the check, but
the intent of the heart
- he is more interested in the attitude of the giver
than the amount of the gift
- and the Macedonian believers gave enthusiastically
-
- QUALITY NUMBER THREE: THE MACEDONIAN BELIEVERS EXCEEDED
EXPECTATIONS
- (2 Corinthians 8:5) And they did not do as we expected,
but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping
with God's will.
- so enthusiastic were these believers, that we read
in verse 5 that they actually did more than was expected
- we get the impression as we read this verse that they
might have set an amount or a target that they were going to give
- but as they began to give, their hearts were so enthusiastic
that they continued to give, in spite of their circumstances, until
they did more than expected
-
- it brings to mind the time in the Old Testament in
which the people were moved to contribute to the building of the Tabernacle
- we read that the people were so generous, Moses stood
up and ordered that there were to be no more offerings
- Exodus 36:6 says that the people were literally "restrained
from bringing more"
-
- when was the last time that somebody had to stand up
in church and say, "Youve exceeded our expectations. There
will be no more offerings. Sir, if you dont stop giving, somebody
will have to restrain you"
- the Macedonians were such good givers that they exceeded
expectations
-
- thats the example that Paul lifts up to follow
- we are to imitate the example of the Macedonians
- give in spite of circumstances
- give enthusiastically
- and exceed any expectations that might be in place
-
- but like all good preachers, Paul doesnt leave
it there
- Paul isnt content to tell the Corinthians how
good the Macedonians are; you know that there is going to be a challenge
coming
- he gives them some applications from the example of
the Macedonians
- and Im going to close this morning by passing
these applications on to you
- FIRST, GIVE AS AN EXTENSION OF YOUR SALVATION
- (2 Corinthians 8:7) But just as you excel in everythingin
faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your
love for ussee that you also excel in this grace of giving.
- Paul says that everything that is in our life that
is good is a result of Gods grace at work in our hearts
- anything that you do that is good is a result of Gods
grace the favor that he extends to you as a child of God
- and as an example, he mentions a few areas: our faith,
the fact that God has changed the way we speak, in our knowledge, earnestness,
and love
- and Paul says here, since God has changed so much in
your life, let him change the way you give
- make your giving an extension of the grace of God at
work in your heart
-
- you might have been in this church before and heard
someone say, "If youre a visitor this morning, then this
service is our gift to you. Dont feel obligated to contribute
to the offering this morning"
- you might have felt that this was a strange thing to
say
- "What? Our church is turning down money? Wait
a minute. Hes wrong well take money from anyone!"
- but theres a reason we said that
- giving contributing to Gods work
is a privilege for believers that comes out of the work of Gods
grace in their hearts
- if youre not a member of Gods family, then
we wont stop you from giving, but we dont expect you to
give
- like baptism and communion, the privilege of supporting
Gods work is the privilege and responsibility of believers
-
- so make your giving an outcome of the work of grace
within your hearts
- the more Gods grace takes hold, the more faith
youll have; the better your speech will be; youll know more,
be more passionate and loving, and according to verse 7, youll
excel more in the area of giving
-
- application number two
- SECOND, GIVE OUT OF LOVE
- (2 Corinthians 8:8) I am not commanding you, but I
want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness
of others.
- the way in which you give is an indicator of the love
that you have for others and for Gods house
- when you love someone, you want to give him or her
your attention, and provide for his or her needs
- and if you refuse to help out, your love isnt
as genuine as it seems
-
- its the same with God
- if you love him, youll give to him
- if you love the work that he is doing, and the lives
that he is touching, then you will support the work of the church
- give out of love
- because the way in which you give will tell you how
much love you have
-
- THIRD, FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS
- (2 Corinthians 8:9) For you know the grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became
poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
- Paul says, "Ive given the Macedonians as
an example of givers, but let me give you the ultimate example. Jesus
Christ is the ultimate giver. He is the supreme example of generosity"
- listen: no one can outgive God
- there is no better proof of this than the fact that
Jesus Christ gave up his heavenly existence and assumed an earthly state
- Christ went from riches to rags so that we might go
from rags to riches
- if you follow the example of Jesus, you will be an
excellent giver
-
- FOURTH, KEEP YOUR COMMITMENTS
- (2 Corinthians 8:10) And here is my advice about what
is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only
to give but also to have the desire to do so.
- (2 Corinthians 8:11) Now finish the work, so that your
eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it,
according to your means.
- the Corinthian church had been first out of the starting
block
- they had started well; they were first not only in
time but in their desire
- but something had happened in the church
- their white-hot desire to be generous had cooled
- somehow, they had lost their interest
- and Paul says, "Keep your commitments. Keep your
end of the bargain. Finish as well as you started"
-
- there might be some of you this morning that used to
be better givers than you are now
- at one time, you were first in terms of willingness
and desire
- but things have cooled off
- youre not as eager anymore
- Paul says, "Return your level of commitment to
what you had before. Dont slack off. Finish what youve started.
Recapture what youve lost"
-
- and finally, Paul says in verse 12,
- FIFTH, GIVE OUT OF WHAT YOU HAVE
- (2 Corinthians 8:12) For if the willingness is there,
the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what
he does not have.
- some might say, "Pastor, Id like to give,
but you dont know my financial position. You dont know my
meager income. You arent aware of how massive my bills are in
comparison"
- well, I have good news and bad news for you
- the good news is, God doesnt expect you to give
what you dont have
- Gods not going to hold you accountable for the
money you dont have
- if you earn $10,000, God isnt going to hold you
accountable for $20,000
-
- but heres the flip side: God is going to hold
you accountable for what you do have
- if you earn $10,000, God is going to hold you accountable
for that $10,000
- what are you doing with that $10,000?
- what are you doing with that $100?
- what are you doing even with that $1?
-
- dont forget that the gold medal giver in the
New Testament gave less than a nickel
- she beat all those giving bigger gifts
- why? because she was faithful with the little she had
-
- listen: God will never hold you accountable for the
money youre not earning
- but the question is, what are you doing with the money
you have?
-
- so we dont want any slick emotional appeals this
morning
- we dont want to be manipulated into giving
- but let me ask you: are you giving as the Macedonians
did?
- are you giving despite your circumstances?
- are you giving enthusiastically?
- are you exceeding expectations?
- are you applying the principles Paul taught?
- are you giving as an extension of your salvation?
- is your giving motivated by love?
- are you following the example of Jesus?
- are you keeping your commitments?
- and are you being faithful with what you do have?
-
- lets pray
- Lord, we want to be faithful in the area of our money
- help us to avoid being manipulated
- but at the same time, I pray that you would do a work
of grace within our hearts
- motivate deep within us a desire to apply the principles
weve looked at this morning
- make us excellent givers, in Jesus name. Amen.