Everyone Giving Series

EVERYONE Giving

2 Corinthians 9:6-15

Rev. Brian Bill

April 29-30, 2023

When a dad and his family came into church one weekend, the son saw his dad put a one-dollar bill in the offering box. As they were driving home after the service, the father started complaining: “I didn’t like the music, the sermon was too long, the room was cold, and the people were very unfriendly.” He went on and on, finding fault with virtually everything. His son, who was sitting in the backseat, was quiet for a moment and then spoke up, “Daddy, I thought it was a pretty good service for a buck!”

Last weekend we were reminded that spiritual growth is intentional, not automatic. Our main idea today is this: No one can give everything, but everyone can give something.

For many pastors, a sermon on giving ranks up there with having a kidney stone. While some get uncomfortable preaching sermons on stewardship, I don’t because stewardship is an essential part of our spirituality. I would have to apologize to God if I didn’t preach on the joy that comes from giving what God has given to us.

I’m not out to make anyone feel guilty or to coerce you to part with some of your shekels. Rest easy…we no longer take an offering because we have offering boxes available in both lobbies. On top of that, our giving has been very good this year so there’s no worries about keeping the lights on. This sermon is addressed primarily to those of us who consider Edgewood to be our church home. If you’re visiting, we’re thrilled that you’re here! Please don’t feel like we’re after your money, because we’re not.

1 Corinthians 4:1-2 lays the foundation for servanthood and stewardship: “This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.”

• We are servants. The word for “servant” here stresses subordination to a superior. It literally means, “under or beneath.” It was used of the lowest, most menial, and most despised galley slaves, who rowed on the bottom tier of a ship. Even though Paul was an apostle, he saw himself as a servant.

• We are stewards. A steward served as the manager of a master’s entire household. He wasn’t the owner, but he was responsible to oversee and administrate what had been entrusted to him. The key expectation was that the steward be “found faithful” as an overseer of the affairs and possessions of another. We see this in Luke 12:42: “And the Lord said, ‘Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time?’”

Here’s a helpful definition of stewardship: The committed management of all God has given to us out of love for Him in order to grow His kingdom and bring glory to Him.

An example of a faithful servant-steward is Joseph, who functioned faithfully on Potiphar’s behalf according to Genesis 39:4-5: “So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake.”

An example of an unfaithful steward is the manager who squandered his master’s possessions in Luke 16:12: “And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?”

Stewardship is a major theme in the Bible because it affects every aspect of our relationship with God and ranges from the opening chapters of Genesis when God made the man and woman stewards of creation, to the closing chapters of Revelation when God will make His children stewards of the new creation. Stewardship touches our time, our talents, our treasures, our temple (body), and our testimony.

Are you doing what you can with what God has entrusted to you? Your responsibility is always tied to your ability. In Deuteronomy 16:17 we read, “Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God that he has given you.”

The word “generous” as used in the Bible means, “To show mercy or favor, to be freely gracious.” Someone with a generous heart is “ready to give with grace and liberality,” while a stingy-hearted person is often reluctant to give grace, or anything at all. God celebrates and rewards generosity according to Proverbs 22:9 in the NASB: “He who is generous will be blessed, for he gives some of his food to the poor.”

The Treasure Principle