UNDERSTANDING COMMUNITY: GIVING AND LIVING WITH OTHERS
2 Corinthians 8:10 – 9:5 {NIV}
Part 2 of the series: The Grace of Giving: God-Given Principles for Understanding Your Money (2 Corinthians 8-9)
Sermon Objective: When a man has given His heart to God (8:5), all that defines him is placed under God’s control.
Chapter 8:
10And 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. 11Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.
13Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, 15as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little."
16I thank God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. 17For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative. 18And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel. 19What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help. 20We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. 21For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men.
22In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you. 23As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brothers, they are representatives of the churches and an honor to Christ. 24Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it.
Chapter 9:
1There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the saints. 2For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. 3But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be. 4For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to say anything about you—would be ashamed of having been so confident. 5So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.
INTRO:
The video we watched before the collection is, unfortunately, how many people feel about the church and money. But last week we began showing you that it really isn’t about money … it is about something much – much – more important.
Just as a lot can be understood about God’s priorities by how and what He gave; so much can be said about our priorities in how and what we give. And what God really wants us to give is … ourselves (2 Corinthians 8:5).
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.
After all, it’s not really about money. It’s not about US getting YOURS. It’s really about character, community, and Christlikeness.
Today’s Bible passage shows some indications of a heart and life given to God.
FIRST, IT IS COMMUNAL GIVING (8:10-15)
10And 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. 11Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.
13Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, 15as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little."
When a man has given His heart to God, all that defines him is placed under God’s control.
During the previous year the Corinthian Christians had been the first not only in giving but in desiring to give (v10). So now Paul urges them to finish the task they had begun, so that their doing will keep pace with their desiring. This must be according to their means (v11). For Christian giving is proportionate giving. The eager willingness comes first; so long as that is there, the gift is acceptable in proportion to what the giver has (v12).
This expression “according to his means” might remind us of two similar expressions which occur in Acts. In Acts 11:29 members of the church in Antioch gave to the famine- stricken Judean Christians ‘each according to his ability’. In Acts 2 and 4 members of the church in Jerusalem gave ‘to each according to his need’.
When a person commits himself or herself to Jesus Christ then the Holy Spirit begins to change our priorities, God begins to align our motives and desires with His. Apart from Jesus, you and I will continue to dwell on all of the things that we don’t have that we think we need. We will continue to strive to make more money so that we can have more things, go more places, and hopefully achieve a greater level of satisfaction in life. Satan will seek to draw us away from the blessings that only come through obedience and faithfulness in being good stewards.
Christianity binds men together with the task of living with each other. It impacts every arena of life. It impacts the way we give and what we use our money for.
God takes care of His people … through His people!
Because I Have Been Given Much
By Grace Nowell Crowell
Because I have been given much, I too must give
Because of Thy great bounty Lord, each day I live.
I shall divide my gifts from Thee
With every brother that I see
Who has need of help from me.
Because I have been sheltered, fed, by Thy good care
I cannot see another’s lack and I not share.
My glowing fire, my loaf of bread,
My roof’s safe shelter over my head,
That he too may be comforted.
Because love has been lavished so upon me, Lord,
A wealth I know that was not meant for me to hoard,
I shall give love to those in need
Shall show that love by word and deed
Thus shall my thanks be thanks indeed.
God isn’t trying to fill his coffers with your money; God wants to change lives and redeem souls. The Church isn’t trying to fill its coffers with your money either. The idea isn’t to build a monument to ourselves; it’s to supply need.
The Biblical instruction here is communal in nature. It isn’t about equal giving – it’s about equal sacrifice.
When we think the “rich” people supply the money and set the program we fail to understand core kingdom values … namely that all people are equal at the foot of the cross.
† That means all people are valued
† That means all people are held accountable to serve
† That means all people are intended are to be invested in the work
I like how “The Message” interprets this passage:
The heart regulates the hands. This isn’t so others can take it easy while you sweat it out. No, you’re shoulder to shoulder with them all the way, your surplus matching their deficit, their surplus matching your deficit. In the end you come out even. As it is written,
Nothing left over to the one with the most,
Nothing lacking to the one with the least.
Grace-filled giving is Communal Giving. It is from and for those God loves.
That’s why it is also to be carefully supervised (8:21).
SECOND, IT IS CONSCIENTIOUS GIVING (8:16-24)
16I thank God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. 17For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative. 18And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel. 19What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help. 20We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. 21For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men.
22In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you. 23As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brothers, they are representatives of the churches and an honor to Christ. 24Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it.
When a man has given His heart to God, all that defines him is placed under God’s control.
† First, we are giving for God’s glory and man’s need (Communal Giving). (8:10-15)
† Second, we are giving under God’s direction and man’s watchful eye (Conscientious Giving). (8:16-24)
God expects the money he instructs you to give to be supervised and used wisely. How do we do this?
1. The ministry must have a track-record of honoring God (8:18)
2. The ministry must be trustworthy (8:20-21)
3. The ministry should produce fruit (8:24)
Example: Vickie and I give regularly to the Ministry of Paul *** and Inter-Varsity because it meets the criteria above
Example: Vickie and I give regularly to Nazarene Missions because it meets the criteria above
Both the giver and the receiving ministry have a responsibility before God and men to be conscientious and accountable in what they give. And when that is in place we are able to give generously and in a manner pleasing to God.
THIRD, IT IS COMPLIANT GIVING (9:1-5)
Chapter 9:
1There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the saints. 2For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. 3But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be. 4For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to say anything about you—would be ashamed of having been so confident. 5So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.
When a man has given His heart to God, all that defines him is placed under God’s control.
† First, we are giving for God’s glory and man’s need (Communal Giving). (8:10-15)
† Second, we are giving under God’s direction and man’s watchful eye (Conscientious Giving). (8:16-24)
† Third, we are giving by God’s patterns not our wistful inclinations (Compliant Giving) (9:1-5)
How does a person possess joy when they are giving away their hard-earned money? Money that they could be using to buy a new stereo, take an added trip during the year, eat out during week, or buy a new car.
Where does this kind of joy come from?
Great question! The joy that the Macedonian Christians exhibited came from their absolute understanding that God.
† God owned everything and they were entrusted to care for it
† God was calling them to do something specific with it.
† “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Mt. 6:21),
† “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).
Some people do not want anyone telling them what to do with the money they possess. If that describes you then you will have a tough time under Christ’s Lordship because He owns you and your money and he every right to tell you how to spend it. His word gives expectations and instructions for use of your money. Failure to submit means you will find yourself living outside of his protection and blessing … it means you are living in rebellion.
What do God’s patterns of giving look like?
1. They are love-based patterns (9:1-2)
† Loves evokes sacrifice
2. They are patterns of faithfulness (9:3-5)
3. They are based on obedience (9:5a)
Have you ever watched other families at a restaurant?
There was this family at a restaurant, one of the kids wanted Cheese Dip to enjoy with the chips. The dad ordered a large one so others could use it too. When the cheese arrived the child pulled the bowl directly in front of him dug in.
If another family member tried to dip in the bowl they would get a defensive response.and hear the words “It’s Not Yo Cheese!”
The dear child is telling the family that they would not share the large cheeses dip (that dad had ordered on the families behalf … that dad planned to pay for along with the rest of the meal).
The child had yet to understand community or ownership or stewardship.
What makes this cheese dip his in the first place? Nothing … he failed to understand it belonged to the family as a gift from mom and dad.
What right did he have to claim the whole thing for himself? None.
In time, the little guy will learn but at the moment he was hindering the entire family from experiencing dad’s blessing.
WRAP-UP
As I observe the American church’s landscape, I observe that God’s people have yet to discover the dynamic of community. We have closed our eyes and ears to God’s work in 2 Corinthians 8-9. We are acting like the child with the cheese dip never seeing that we are really robbing ourselves of an even greater blessing by hoarding God’s gifts.
As Vickie and I have sought to be obedient to God’s call upon our lives to tithe and to go beyond a tithe in our giving we have seen Him change us. We made a commitment that our first-fruits go to the Lord and His ministry regardless of what we are going through and how difficult our financial situation is at the time. For more than 23 years He has been than faithful to us. He has provided for us precisely what we need, but even more, He has changed us; he has enriched us.
At this very moment Vickie and I are in the process of down-sizing. Of freeing ourselves from encumbrances so we can be more of a blessing to community and less shackled by self. It is a long-term plan but it is Biblical.
AFTER ALL, IT’S NOT REALLY ABOUT MONEY. IT’S NOT ABOUT US GETTING YOURS. IT’S REALLY ABOUT CHARACTER, COMMUNITY, AND CHRISTLIKENESS.
He who has ears to hear,
Let Him hear.
