Part II
II Corinthians 8:10-24
Purpose: To explain why and how we should give to God’s work.
Aim: I want the listener to see that God often gives us extra money so we can give more to Him.
INTRODUCTION: "The trouble with money is that too many people are spending what they don’t have for things they don’t need to impress people they don’t even like."
"The Methodist writer, Clovis Chappell, once wrote about excavators in ancient Pompeii who found a body that had been suddenly entombed when Mount Vesuvius had erupted. Her feet were turned toward the city gate, but her face was turned backward and her hand was stretched out, as if reaching for something. It was a bag of pearls. She had perhaps dropped them and, in turning to pick them up, met instant entombment." [1]
We may lose what we keep, but we will never lose what we give to God.
"...the term used for "giving" in this New Testament context is not the typical Greek word for making a gift. Instead the New Testament adopts the Greek word koinonia, which means "sharing." As Christians shared life in Christ, their family relationship was expressed by a sharing of financial and material resources." [2]
Look again at (2 Corinthians 8:4, NAS) "begging us with much urging for the favor of participation [or "fellowship] in the support of the saints." Paul uses this same word in (Romans 15:26, NAS) "For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem."
Giving to the Lord’s work is an important part of our fellowship with each other.
REVIEW:
Vs.1-3 I. Give Freely even When it’s Hard to Give "in a great ordeal...great poverty"
#1 Give based on what you have "according to their ability"
#2 Give sacrificially "beyond their ability"
#3 Give willingly "of their own accord"
Vs.4 II. See Giving as a Privilege "the favor of participation"
Vs.5-8 III. Give Every Part of Your Life to God "first gave themselves to the Lord"
Vs.9 IV. Give as Christ Gave to You "for your sake He became poor"
LESSON:
Vs.10-12 V. Give--Don’t just Intend to Give "finish doing it"
[Vs.10-11] There are three things necessary in order to obey any of God’s commands. In verse 10 Paul reminds us that we must "begin" to obey, we must "desire" to obey, and in verse 11 he explains that we must "finish" our obedience.
Planning to do something and doing something is not the same thing.
Paul mentions that their giving will be for their "advantage" or profit. He doesn’t get to those advantages until later so let’s look ahead to 8:14 & 24; 9:6, 8-11, 13-14.
Jesus explained this same thing a different way: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. " (Matthew 6:19--21, NAS)
The more we give of ourselves to Christ the more He will give to us when we meet Him. "Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done." (Revelation 22:12, NAS)
[Vs.12] The temptation is to say that we will give later when we have more money to give. Like when we get some bills paid off, or when we get that raise, or when the heating bills are over, etc.
Give when God prompts you to give even if it is less than you want to give. David wanted to build a beautiful place for the Jews to worship God, but he was not allowed to do it. God, though, was pleased with David’s desire to do it. "But the LORD said to my father David, ’Because it was in your heart to build a house for My name, you did well that it was in your heart." (1 Kings 8:18, NAS) God does not only reward based on what a person does, but according to what a person would do if he could.
Giving is often time sensitive. If we wait until giving will be easier it may be too late to help meet an important need. "If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, ’Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,’ and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? " (James 2:15--16, NAS)
Vs.13-15 VI. Give Because Others Have Less than You "that there may be equally"
[Vs.13-14] The NT does not give us a set amount that we should give because the more you have the more you can give. We should never feel guilty because someone who has more money than we do gives more than we do. Paul had already told them, "...to put aside and save, as he may prosper...." (1 Corinthians 16:2, NAS)
Often it’s the wealthy who are less likely to be generous because money is their goal in life. "Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share" (1 Timothy 6:17--18, NAS)
[Vs.15] When the Jews went out to gather the manna; some were able to gather more than others. But it didn’t matter--when all was done everyone had enough.
"The equalization didn’t happen by miracle or magic. It happened because those who had too much shared with those who didn’t have enough. Hodge observes:
’The lesson ... taught in Exodus and by Paul is that, among the people of God, the superabundance of one should be employed in relieving the necessities of others; and that any attempt to countervail this law will result in shame and loss." [3]
"The lesson is clear: gather what you need, share what you can, and don’t try to hoard God’s blessings. God will see to it that you will not be in need if you trust Him and obey His Word." [4]
Vs.16-17 VII. Give as God Leads Godly Leaders "God who puts...earnestness ...in the heart of Titus"
There is a sense that we should be willing to follow the example and advice that godly leaders give. "Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us." (Philippians 3:17, NAS) "Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ." (1 Corinthians 11:1, NAS)
Vs.18-23 VIII. Be Careful Who You Trust with Your Giving
There were three men who were in charge of collecting this offering: Vs.16, Titus and two unnamed men in verse 18 and 22.
Vs.18 A. Trust those with a passion for the Gospel "fame in the things
of the gospel"
False teachers use the Gospel to get more money. Genuine believers look at money as a way to give out more Gospel. "For we are not like many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God." (2 Corinthians 2:17, NAS)
"But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. " (2 Peter 2:1--3, NAS)
Good Christian leaders are willing to proclaim the Gospel even if it is unpopular. "but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts." (1 Thessalonians 2:4, NAS)
Vs.19 B. Trust those with a good reputation "appointed by the churches"
Good leaders have good reputations. The Bible says that pastors must have "...a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil" (1 Timothy 3:7, NAS)
Paul asked the churches to send someone they trusted so it wouldn’t just be Paul’s handpicked men who handled the money.
Vs.20-23 C. Trust those who allow accountability "honorable...in the sight of men"
These verses are very close to what Solomon said "Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man" (Proverbs 3:3--4, NAS).
One pastor told about a time when he noticed that "... one young man was taking up the offering, counting it, recording it, and then taking it to the Sunday School office. In a nonthreatening way, I suggested that he was putting himself in a dangerous position if anybody accused him of anything, because he could not prove that he was handling the money honestly. "I trust you," I said, "but I don’t trust the people who may be watching you and looking for something to criticize." Instead of following my suggestion, he became very angry and left the church." [5]
J.B. Phillips translates 2 Corinthians 8:21: "Naturally we want to avoid the slightest breath of criticism in the distribution of their gifts, and to be absolutely aboveboard not only in the sight of God but in the eyes of men." This is why the offerings in our church are always counted by two or more men, and the person who writes the checks doesn’t make the deposits, detailed financial reports are available to any church member, and the books are audited by an outside accountant every couple of years.
Paul challenged the Christians in Corinth to look and see if there was any reason to accuse him of being dishonest. "Certainly I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I? I urged Titus to go, and I sent the brother with him. Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit and walk in the same steps? " (2 Corinthians 12:17--18, NAS)
[Vs.23 "a glory to Christ"] "The King will answer and say to them, ’Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’ " (Matthew 25:40, NAS)
Vs.24 IX. Give Because You Love Believers "proof of your love"
Actions speak louder than words. "But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. " (James 1:22--25, NAS)
Phillips translates verse 24 this way: "So do let them, and all the Churches, see how genuine is your love, and justify all the nice things we have said about you!"
Just before the writer of Hebrews tells us to obey our spiritual leaders he tells us to praise God and give to others. "Through [Christ] then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. " (Hebrews 13:15--16, NAS)
CONCLUSION: "Grace giving is an exciting adventure! When you learn to give ’by grace, through faith’ (just the way you were saved--Eph. 2:8--9), you start to experience a wonderful liberation from things and from circumstances. Instead of things possessing you, you start to control them; you develop a new set of values and priorities. You no longer measure life or other people on the basis of money or possessions. If money is the best test of success, then Jesus was a failure, because He was a poor Man!
"Grace giving enriches you as you enrich others.
Grace giving makes you more like Jesus Christ.
Have you discovered the thrill of grace giving?" --Warren Wiersbe [6]
[1]Today’s Turning Point, June 15, 2010 by Dr. David Jeremiah
[2]Larry Richards and Lawrence O. Richards, The Teacher’s Commentary, 888 (Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1987).
[3]William MacDonald and Arthur Farstad, Believer’s Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments, 2 Co 8:15 (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997).
[4]Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, 2 Co 8:13 (Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1996).
[5]Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, 2 Co 8:13 (Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1996).
[6]Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, 2 Co 8:13 (Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1996).
