Understanding God: Motivations and Money
2 Corinthians 8:1-9
Part 1 of the series: The Grace of Giving: God-Given Principles for Understanding Your Money (2 Corinthians 8-9)
1And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 5And 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. 6So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. 7But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
8I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9For 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.
Key Verse: 7But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
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PRE-OFFERING DEVOTION
7But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
When I think about the most elaborate and extravagant gift I’ve ever heard of, one thing stands out far above all the rest. It is the gift of a king. And it is a gift for every one of us. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son…
You see, God is the first and best giver of all. His gift to us is to make us like himself in every way. Not the least of which is this grace of giving that proves our love.
As we look at our text today, we will see that these Corinthian Christians have made a promise about a gift to help the needy saints in Jerusalem who are suffering from a famine and Paul has taken them seriously. In fact, he told the Macedonians about it and they wanted to join in too. Paul has boasted about the Corinthian church; especially how they were stirred up to get in on the action. . Now, though, there is a problem. The Corinthians have not carried out their promise.
Paul used nine different words to refer to giving but the one he used the most was grace.
Giving is an indication is the divine gift of grace within the human heart.
Paul tells us that there are indications and evidences of giving motivated by grace.
• Week #1: It shows an understanding of God (2 Corinthians 8:1-9)
• Week #2: It shows an understanding of Community (2 Corinthians 8:10 – 9:5)
• Week #3: It shows an understanding of One’s self (2 Corinthians 9:6-15)
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SERMON INTRO:
I would like you to hear this passage as it is translated in The Message.
Now, friends, I want to report on the surprising and generous ways in which God is working in the churches in Macedonia province. Fierce troubles came down on the people of those churches, pushing them to the very limit. The trial exposed their true colors: They were incredibly happy, though desperately poor. The pressure triggered something totally unexpected: an outpouring of pure and generous gifts. I was there and saw it for myself. They gave offerings of whatever they could—far more than they could afford!—pleading for the privilege of helping out in the relief of poor Christians.
This was totally spontaneous, entirely their own idea, and caught us completely off guard. What explains it was that they had first given themselves unreservedly to God and to us. The other giving simply flowed out of the purposes of God working in their lives. That’s what prompted us to ask Titus to bring the relief offering to your attention, so that what was so well begun could be finished up. You do so well in so many things—you trust God, you’re articulate, you’re insightful, you’re passionate, you love us—now, do your best in this, too.
I’m not trying to order you around against your will. But by bringing in the Macedonians’ enthusiasm as a stimulus to your love, I am hoping to bring the best out of you. You are familiar with the generosity of our Master, Jesus Christ. Rich as he was, he gave it all away for us—in one stroke he became poor and we became rich.
The Cookie Thief
by Valerie Cox
A woman was waiting at an airport one night,
With several long hours before her flight.
She hunted for a book in the airport shops.
Bought a bag of cookies and found a place to drop.
She was engrossed in her book but happened to see,
That the man sitting beside her, as bold as could be.
Grabbed a cookie or two from the bag in between,
Which she tried to ignore to avoid a scene.
So she munched the cookies and watched the clock,
As the gutsy cookie thief diminished her stock.
She was getting more irritated as the minutes ticked by,
Thinking, "If I wasn’t so nice, I would blacken his eye."
With each cookie she took, he took one too,
When only one was left, she wondered what he would do.
With a smile on his face, and a nervous laugh,
He took the last cookie and broke it in half.
He offered her half, as he ate the other,
She snatched it from him and thought... oooh, brother.
This guy has some nerve and he’s also rude,
Why he didn’t even show any gratitude!
She had never known when she had been so galled,
And sighed with relief when her flight was called.
She gathered her belongings and headed to the gate,
Refusing to look back at the thieving ingrate.
She boarded the plane, and sank in her seat,
Then she sought her book, which was almost complete.
As she reached in her baggage, she gasped with surprise,
There was her bag of cookies, in front of her eyes.
If mine are here, she moaned in despair,
The others were his, and he tried to share.
Too late to apologize, she realized with grief,
That she was the rude one, the ingrate, the thief.
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It’s not really about money. I am sure you have looked at the series for this month with less-than-normal interest. In fact, you might be thinking … this would be a good month to vacation!
Well, let me assure you that a series on “money” is not about us getting yours. It’s really about character, community, and Christlikeness.
Few things reveal the true nature of the heart like one’s priorities. Few things reveal one’s priorities like their checkbook.
But money is more than an indication of the true you … it is also an indication of the true God! You see, God too, is a giver. And God can be evaluated on his giving too.
The Corinthians discovered something powerful about God … they discovered his applause and empowerment.
† Did you notice what the FIRST thing the Macedonian Christians gave was? It was themselves.
5And 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.
o How appropriate that is during this lent season ... for us to be challenged to give our selves away ... to “give up” ourselves during the pre-Easter season.
o Once the matter of ownership is settled (God is the owner – they gave themselves away) the other issues become a lot easier.
I suspect that this is almost always the core issue. Not only in giving but in serving, and loving, and forgiving, and …
The core issue is who is in charge? Who owns you?
This is the same church (Corinth) who had struggled with giving themselves to God before. Paul had written a letter to them earlier in his ministry. In it he said: You are not your own. You are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. (1 Corinthians 6:20)
† The Macedonian Christians (the example Paul uses for the Corinthians Christians) discovered a freedom and a grace unknown until they gave themselves away.
o Understanding God’s grace means we understand his empowerment and provision is spite of circumstances.
o These poor Christians literally asked (pleaded) to be included in the giving program.
o When we experience the grace of God in our lives we will not use circumstances as an excuse to refrain from acts of love … we will use circumstances as an excuse to serve!
† The Macedonians are examples grace-full living; they show us what one is like who knows God very intimately.
o They Gave Out Of Their Poverty. (Vv. 1-2a).
o They Gave With A Liberality. (V. 2b).
o They Gave Beyond Their Ability. (Vv. 3-4).
o They Gave Very Unselfishly. (Vv. 5-6).
So what motivated them to give themselves away? What made them appropriate examples of what Christians are to be like?
Well, they too had an example / model they were immitating …
THEIR GIVING WAS INSPIRED BY THE CROSS OF CHRIST
(2 Corinthians 8:8, 9)
8I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9For 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.
As I said, it’s not really about money. It’s really about character, community, and Christlikeness.
Jesus Christ is always the preeminent example for the believer; whether it is serving, suffering, or sacrifice. Jesus was motivated by love (8) and was sacrificial in all things (9).
We now, as followers, share in Christ and his character. We were totally bankrupt but now we are spiritually alive and heirs with Jesus! That means we are freed from ourselves to be like the living and loving God.
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2)
CONCLUSION:
Paul is writing to a church that has some screwed up priorities. They seem to think they abound in “giftedness” and “spirituality” but they are poor in core areas. That’s because they did do not understand Jesus or living for Jesus.
Generous Christians are spiritual Christians. It is an indication of a deep understanding of God.
In verse 5 we discovered that the model Christians (the Macedonian Christians) gave themselves to God … there is little trouble in giving our possessions to God when we have genuinely given ourselves to Him.
>>NOTE: Pastor Ken picks someone out of the crowd – someone unaware of what is coming<<
**** Will you do me a favor? Will you loan me your wallet? Seriously, would you hand me your wallet?
Thank you. Now, let me ask you a question. You probably found the request to be a bit odd and a bit uncomfortable huh? Even though this is a controlled environment and you had some degree of trust that I was not going to bolt out the front door with it you still probably found it awkward.
Now, if I was to place it in my pocket and walk away, like this, your anxiety might rise just a little more even. If I headed for the emergency exit, it would rise even further.
Here’s your wallet back. Thank you.
>>NOTE: When Pastor Ken gave the man the wallet back he also gave the man HIS wallet too<<
Oh, wait. I gave you my wallet too. May I have it back?
Was it as hard giving me back my wallet as it was giving me yours? Of course not.
You know why? It wasn’t yours. It didn’t belong to you ... it belonged to me.
You see folks, that’s the way it is spiritually too. When your life belongs to you you have a hard time giving it up. But, when you follow the example of the Macedonians and give it to God, it is much easier to give it away.
As I said, it’s not really about money.
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
Too late to apologize, she realized with grief,
That she was the rude one, the ingrate, the thief.
He who has ears to hear,
Let him hear.
