What motivates you to give to certain people, charities, causes, ministries? Some reasons could include: Compassion for needy people, investment opportunities, to avoid feeling guilty, you just want to help a friend in need, etc.
When the topic of giving is brought up in church some people react:
(1) With DISGUST. “All they are after at that church is my money.”
(2) With DISSAPPOINTMENT. “I’m not even coming to church when they talk about giving and tithing. That topic should never be mentioned from the pulpit.” Yet, Jesus Christ spoke more about money and possessions than any other topic in the Bible.
(3) With DISTRUST. I’m not surprised. The way so many TV preachers live their lives and spend the money people give into their ministries on themselves. This is why I’m so thankful for Mary Lou Kennerly, the Finance Team at our church.
(3) With DELIGHT. You have come to know and experience the blessings of learning to give to God’s work generously. Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).
A family was returning home after the Sunday morning church service. The father criticized the sermon, the daughter thought the choir sang off-key, and the mother found fault with the organist's playing. The whole discussion came to an end, however, when the little boy of the family said, "but it was still a pretty good show for a nickel, don't you think, dad?"
In out text today, God gives us four key principals in His plan for debt free living.
1. REALIZE GOD IS A GRACIOUS GOD (V 1)
It would probably be best for me to set the context of chapters eight and nine in their proper perspective.
One of the main things the Apostle Paul did on his third missionary journey was to collect a special offering from the Lord's churches for the relief of the poor Christians in Judea due to a severe famine.
In Paul's first letter to the Corinthians he gave them instructions concerning the collection of this offering.
1 Corinthians 16:1-4, "Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. [2] On the first day of every week let each one of you put aside and save, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come. [3] And when I arrive, whomever you may approve, I shall send them with letters to carry your gift to Jerusalem; [4] and if it is fitting for me to go also, they will go with me."
Before collecting this special offering from the Corinthians, Paul had also visited the churches of Macedonia and received an offering from them.
In verse 1 he says, "Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia,"
As Paul describes the way these churches responded, he is giving to us principles for Christian giving today.
The first principle in giving is to realize God is a gracious God. He is the God of all hope, the God of all grace, the God of all comfort, the God of all power.
God has poured out upon us His:
(1) SAVING GRACE (Ephesians 2:8-9). God in His love and mercy has made us alive, even when we were dead in our sins. How often do you praise God for His saving grace? Before Christ – dead, deceived, doomed, empty, guilty, fearing death, judgment, etc. Received Christ – Christ died, buried, risen. Present with Jesus. He’ll always be with me. “I will fear no evil, for YOU are with me.”
(2) SERVING GRACE (Romans 12:3-8). God has gifted you by His Spirit to make an impact on others for His kingdom. No where does the Bible teach the pastor is the only minister. The Bible teaches all Christians are Christ’s representatives and are called into the ministry to build the body of Christ in love.
(3) SUFFICIENT GRACE (2 Corinthians 12:9). The false gospel says, “Come to Jesus and He’ll never let you have one day of sickness and pain. If you are not healed you don’t have enough faith.” The true gospel says, “God will be with you no matter what you go through. He will comfort, strengthen, help you no matter how you feel or how bad you are suffering.”
I met a new pastor friend this week and he was broken over the issues he’s going through with his church. What’s the answer? Get yourself out of this mess. You don’t have enough faith. God must not be with you. NO! The answer is Jesus is even now, holding you, making you, strengthening you. When you enter that doctors office, have that child that is in rebellion, don’t know where you next paycheck is coming from, etc.
Before the Macedonians came to faith in Christ, they hated the Jews and could care less about their poverty, but God’s grace changed their hearts. After salvation, they loved the Jews and wanted to help them by contributing to this special offering.
2. GIVE INDEPENDENT OF CIRCUMSTANCES
Macedonia is north of Greece which became famous under the rule of Alexander the Great. After Alexander died, Macedonia became a Roman province and was severely persecuted and was eventually plundered to the point of poverty.
Yet, inspite of these circumstances, the Churches of Macedonia still contributed to the special offering Paul was collecting.
2 Cor. 8:2, "that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the richness of their liberality.”
The phrase "deep poverty" means, "rock-bottom destitute" and is descriptive of a beggar who has absolutely nothing and has no hope of getting anything.
At one time, the Macedonian area was well known for it’s bountiful supply of natural resources, yet over time, due to persecution from Rome, they had been stripped of their wealth. Yet, they are giving not based on their present difficult problems, but out of a heart flowing with love for the family of God.
David Ring has MS and slurred speech, yet the Lord has used him to reach thousands with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Joni Erickson Tada, etc. Most times people look at their limitations and difficult circumstances as an excuse not to give, not to get involved.
The churches of Macedonia show us how that when we depend upon God's grace we can give to the Lord no matter what our circumstances might be.
Luke 21:1-4, "And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury. [2] And He saw a certain poor widow putting in two small copper coins. [3] And He said, "Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all of them; [4] for they all out of their surplus put into the offering; but she out of her poverty put in all that she had to live on."
This is an awesome illustration Jesus gives us about a person who gave to Him independent of circumstances. How many of you believe this gift pleased the heart of God?
What can you learn about pleasing God with your giving?
1) Give Sacrificially – the rich gave out of their wealth, she gave out of poverty
2) Give Selflessly – she could have thought to herself, God knows I need this money. That is why when I was a teenager I was a stingy giver. God knows I need money to go on a date with, go to McDonald’s with, go to the game with.
3) Give Submissively – When God asks you to give, do it. Ecclesiastes 5:10, “Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.”
What is the lie of the enemy? He wants you to believe life is all about possessions. You must have the big home, more money, better property. MORE, MORE, MORE!!! Happy people are those who live to GIVE not live to GET!
Jesus said, “It is more blessed to GIVE than to RECEIVE (Acts 20:35).”
What would happen if all Christians gave a tenth back to God? Missionaries would be better equipped, hungry people would be fed…those things we take for granted, food, clothing, water, shelter would be experienced by so many more.
3. KNOW HOW MUCH YOU MATTER TO GOD (1 Peter 1:17-21)
Look at today’s TV stars, athletes, etc. Most of you have probably never heard of Dirk Norvitski, the Dallas Maverick NBA star. Yet, this year he signed a basketball contract worth $84 million dollars.
We look at that and think those guys are really something special because they have such an incredibly high net worth. Did you know that you are worth much more than $84 million to God?
1 Peter 1:18, "knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers…”
You can know you are valuable to God because of the price He paid to be in relationship to you. If you are not sure where you stand with the Lord, you can know today if you commit your life to Him, He will keep you and never let you go.
2 Timothy 1:12, “…for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed to Him until that Day.”
Notice also the phrase, "aimless conduct".
Many people without Christ think they are living real life. In reality, it’s empty, aimless, vain. In spite of all the riches, accomplishments, awards, without a personal relationship with the Living God, it’s nothing.
Some people think that they can pay God off with their money. Just give him a tip every now and then and He should be satisfied. I’m sure that will make Him happy with me.
Notice Peter says, “you were not redeemed with corruptible things like silver or gold…but with the precious blood of Christ.”
An ancient tradition stated, whenever a debt was settled, either by payment or forgiveness, the creditor would take the canceled bond and nail it over the door of the one who had owed it. Anyone who passed by would then see that it had been fully paid.
Jesus paid and forgave our sin debt by shedding his blood on the cross of Calvary. He paid a debt, He did not owe….I owed a debt I could not pay…
The word "precious" shows us how costly our redemption was. The price that was paid for our redemption is beyond value.
4. FOCUS ON THE LOVE OF CHRIST AS YOU GIVE (V 9)
What is the supreme motivation for giving to the Lord, His work, His people? Do you give so you won’t feel guilty? Do you give because the pastor pressured you into giving? Do you give because you want God to answer some prayer, do some miracle on your behalf?
I admit, I’ve given for some of those reasons. I’m not proud of that. I need God’s help in giving for the right reasons.
Love is the greatest motivation to give. Love for the Lord. Love for hurting people. Love for the lost in sin who need the gospel of Jesus Christ to set them free.
1 Corinthians 13:3, “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love it profits me nothing.”
It’s been said you can give without loving, but you can’t love without giving.
It’s easy to say, “I love Jesus.” If you truly love Jesus, you will obey Him and seek to excel in this grace of giving.
Do you want a motivation to give? Go to the foot of the cross and see the Savior who gave everything He had that you may live.
What is God’s Plan for debt free living?
2 Cor. 8:9 it says, "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich."
There is no greater demonstration of love towards mankind than the willingness of Jesus to give Himself as a sacrifice for the sin of the world on the cross of Calvary.
Romans 5:8, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
When you love someone, you give. Verse 9 tells us that Jesus was rich.
1) He was rich in His person- He is God.
2) He is rich in His possessions and in His position- He is the King of kings and Lord of lords.
3) He is rich in His power- He can do all things.
Yet, in spite of His riches, He was willing to become poor for our sakes.
A stable was His birthplace and a manger His cradle. His work was that of a humble carpenter. At the end of His life He was betrayed for 30 pieces of silver--the price of a slave--and was unjustly crucified. As He hung on the cross, he wore a robe. He was laid in a borrowed tomb.
Matthew 8:20, "And Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."
The Prince of peace became a pauper that we who are spiritual paupers might become princes.
As Christians we are the richest people on the face of this earth because of what Jesus has done for us. As our savior He has given us an example of giving.
CONCLUSION
Have you allowed the Lord Jesus Christ to take on your sin debt this morning? You may be thousands of dollars in debt, but your spiritual debt is even greater.
Admit to God you are a sinner (broke His law, can’t pay the fine)
Believe Jesus is the Son of God, loves you, baptism (Matthew 28:18-20)
Call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12, Romans 10:13), Confess Jesus as Lord, Church
Some of us will probably go now to lunch and after the meal, we’ll leave the waiter a tip. We tip them because of their service. God doesn’t want a tip from you today. He wants you. “They gave THEMSELVES” first to the Lord.
No matter how much you give, you can’t out give God.
