"Growing In The Grace Of Giving” Series

As Christians, we’re called to be disciples of Jesus Christ, which means we’re to grow through the practice of certain spiritual disciplines: Bible study, prayer, witnessing, forgiveness, and the disciplines we have been talking about in this series: the disciplines of stewardship and giving.

God is the owner of all things and has entrusted part of what belongs to Him to us to manage as He directs. As we seek His direction, He’ll have us use some for ourselves and our families (1 Timothy 5:8); and use some to support His work. As we give as God directs, we glorify Him, support His household (His church) and we expand His kingdom.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians about growing in the grace of giving (2 Corinthians 8:7). He had sought to inspire them by the example of the Macedonian church. Now today, we how Paul taught about the benefits of growing in the grace of giving. (READ TEXT)

Verse 6 says we can’t out give God. If we sow generously, we’ll reap generously. And what’s the nature of the harvest? Paul says in verse 10 it’s a “harvest of righteousness.” In other words, as I grow in the grace of giving, I’ll grow to be more like Jesus. Specifically, as I grow in the grace of giving, I’ll grow in my appreciation of . . .

1. God’s Love - v. 7

How do I decide in my own heart what to give? I give a tithe because that’s what God has revealed for me to do through His Word (Matthew 23:23). I give anything beyond a tithe because that’s what God has revealed to me through prayer (2 Corinthians 8:5).

And when I grow in giving, by obeying God’s direction concerning my tithe first, and then my offerings, I will grow in my appreciation of the love of God. Why? Because the nature of God’s love for us was expressed through giving.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” - John 3:16 (NIV)

In response to the plight of sinful man, God showed His love by giving of Himself unhesitatingly, willingly, and enthusiastically in Christ. Likewise, we grow to appreciate the love of God as we, in response to the call of a holy God, decide to give of ourselves unhesitatingly, willingly, and enthusiastically.

2. God’s Grace - vs. 8-9

Notice how Paul emphasizes the sufficiency of the grace of God - “All grace,” “All things,” “All times,” “All that you need.” Paul makes it clear that as we respond to God’s call to give in support of His work through his church, we will not lack anything we need!

“And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

- Philippians 4:19 (Amplified)

This same Apostle who testified that God’s grace was sufficient to sustain him in times of trial and sickness, also testifies here that God’s grace is sufficient to supply our needs, even though when we give to God’s work, it will mean we actually have less to live on! As we look to God, and learn to practice the discipline of giving, He will show us how to live better on 90% than we could every live by our own wisdom on 100%. We learn by experience that God’s grace is always sufficient!

A Rolls-Royce salesman who was asked by a prospective customer about the total horsepower of the automobile? The salesman did not know, and in turn asked the manager, who himself did not know the answer. Since the answer seemed important to the horsepower conscious customer, a call was made to the manufacturer in England with the question. The reply came in one word: “SUFFICIENT!”

We may say the same thing of our position in Christ with our lives linked to him. Nobody has ever measured the amount of God’s ability, nor can it ever be measured, but for your inquiry the answer is always “SUFFICIENT!”

Notice that Paul tells us that we can give and still have enough to live on because God is able!

Which brings us to a third thing we will grow in appreciation of as we seek to grow in the grace of giving . . .

3. God’s Supply - vs. 10-11

While verses 8 and 9 emphasize God’s power to provide for our need; verses 10 and 11 emphasizes God’s power to provide for our obedience. Not only does God promise to provide your need, He also promises to provide your seed!

God prospers me not to raise my standard of living but to raise my standard of giving.

You’ll recall how, we have drawn a contrast between reason giving and revelation giving. Revelation giving relates to obeying God’s revelation in His Word about tithing and his revelation in prayer about how I am to give beyond my tithe in offerings. This is how we are to grow in the grace of giving. And whether it is giving my tithe as God has revealed in His Word or giving an offering beyond my tithe as God has spoken to me in prayer, this one things is true: