The Giving Game.
2 Corinthians 8:7NASB
I read a biography about the life and legacy of JC Penney, the founder of the department store by the same name. The C in J.C stood for cash, no kidding. But that wasn’t the motivation behind his entrepreneurial endeavors that resulted in 1600 department stores, bearing his name.
The son of a Baptist preacher, J.C Penney was motivated by the golden rule. His first store was named, Golden Rule store, and he titled his autobiography 50 years with the Golden Rule. During the great depression, Penney sake into his own depression. J.C. Penney found himself on the brink of bankruptcy, divorce. He even contemplated ending his life.
That crisis landed Penney in a sanitarium in 1932, but it was there that he found his way back to God. Wandering those lonely hospital hallways one morning, he heard from his childhood a song, “Do not dismayed, whatever betide, God will take care of you, all you need, He will provide. God will take care of you.” J.C. Penney followed the sound of that song into the sanatorium chapel, where doctors and nurses were worshiping God. One of the sanatorium staff read the words of Jesus: “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Here's the rest of the story; J.C. Penney lived until the age of 94, and his life is a testament to the power of blessing. When he died in 1971, his empire of department stores had become America's second largest retailer behind Sears, with annual revenues of $4.1 billion.
Moreover, Penney used his net worth to add value to others, earning an interesting nickname: The man with a 1000 partners. His integrity and generosity affected many, and by the end of his life, J.C. Penney was reverse tithing – he was living off 10% and giving 90% of his income back to God!
2 Corinthians 8:7AMP But just as you excel in everything, [and lead the way] in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in genuine concern, and in your love for us, see that you excel in this gracious work [of giving] also.
Notice the Apostle Paul states, since you became a believer, you’re excelling in everything! Faith. Speech. Knowledge. Concern. Love.
Paul states, “See to it, or make sure, you also excel in giving.”
In a study, published in Science, Researchers, Elizabeth Dunn and Michael Norton gave people, $20 and divided them into two groups.
The first group was told to spend the money on themselves. The second group was told to spend the money on someone else.
According to the findings, those who spent the money on someone else experience an increase in happiness. Those who spent the money on themselves did not.
Let’s look closer at this people, surely they were well-to-do, or possibly wealthy by inheritance.
2 Corinthians 8:1-6TPT Beloved ones, we must tell you about the grace God poured out upon the churches of Macedonia. 2For even during a season of severe difficulty, tremendous suffering, and extreme poverty, their super-abundant joy overflowed into an act of extravagant generosity. 3For I can verify that they spontaneously gave, not only according to their means but far beyond what they could afford. 4They actually begged us for the privilege of sharing in this ministry of giving to God’s holy people who are living in poverty. 5They exceeded our expectations by first dedicating themselves fully to the Lord and then to us, according to God’s pleasure. 6That is why we appealed to Titus, since he was the one who got you started and encouraged you to give, so he could help you complete this generous undertaking on your behalf.
Again, “What made these Macedonia saints stand out?” These saints gave out of gratefulness. They gave out of extreme poverty. They gave out of a season of severe difficulty, tremendous suffering!
Like the widow with two mites, these saints gave their livelihood, they gave while in lack!
Once more, 2 Corinthians 8:7NCV You are rich in everything—in faith, in speaking, in knowledge, in truly wanting to help, and in the love you learned from us. In the same way, be strong also in the grace of giving.
Notice that Paul calls this, “the grace of giving.”
In, 2 Corinthians 8:2, Listen for the heart of God. 2b... out from extreme poverty, their super-abundant joy overflowed into an act of extravagant generosity.
What kind of giving is this? I call it the Giving Game. And I believe that’s what Jesus called it.
Luke 6:38NCV Give, and you will receive. You will be given much. Pressed down, shaken together, and running over, it will spill into your lap. The way you give to others is the way God will give to you.”
The Giving Game is played like this, “In everything you do, you give. In every way, give.” Give forgiveness. Receive forgiveness. Give love, Receive love. Give foot-washing, receive foot-washing. I challenge you in this Giving game, give praise, be grateful, give your time, find the pleasure, give your tithe, and as you give, you will receive.
When you become a giver, it sets you up to become a taker. A taker in every good way.
The coolest thing about giving is, “It will always be felt!” P.H
Jesus states in, John 16:24NIV Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
First, these believers, dedicated themselves fully to the Lord. Second, these believers dedicated themselves to the need- People worse off than they were.
Remember this, The biggest blessings comes with the greatest sacrifices, and Jesus set the standard.
The English word ‘excel’ comes from the Greek root, which means above and beyond, or to go beyond all measure.
That’s what Jesus did for me and for you. According to, Ephesians 3:20NASB Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,
Jesus excelled, He went above and beyond!
Remember Mark 6:35-44, Jesus feeds 5,000 with 2 fish, and 5 loaves of bread.
As Jesus followers we are told to imitate Him. He’s our example.
Jesus applied what He taught and preached. Again, Luke 6:38TPT Give generously and generous gifts will be given back to you, shaken down to make room for more. Abundant gifts will pour out upon you with such an overflowing measure that it will run over the top! The measurement of your generosity becomes the measurement of your return.”
When Jesus’ disciples were finished serving and feeding 5,000, His disciples brought Jesus 12 baskets of leftovers!
Say, “Only Jesus!” 5 + 2 =5,000 R12.
Generosity cannot be reduced to formula.
Can I tell you a little secret? When you have a God sized vision, you never get there! You grow with the vision, and the vision grows with you.
Again, 2 Corinthians 8:4TPT They actually begged us for the privilege of sharing in this ministry of giving to God’s holy people who are living in poverty.
If you want to grow in the grace of giving here are some steps to take:
The first level of generosity is giving spontaneously.
2 Corinthians 8:5TM This was totally spontaneous, entirely their own idea, and caught us completely off guard.
Giving spontaneously is spirit lead generosity. Please note, spirit lead does not mean poorly planned.
Spirit inspired generosity blesses the giver and receiver alike!
The second level of generosity is giving consistently.
Consistency beats intensity, seven days a week and twice on Sunday. After all, we are what we repeatedly do.
1 Corinthians 16:2NIV On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.
The third level of generosity is giving proportionately.
2 Corinthians 8:11NLT Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving. Give in proportion to what you have.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., once stated, “If it falls to your lot to be a street sweeper, sweep streets, like Michelangelo, painted pictures, sweep streets, like Beethoven, composed music… Sweep streets, like Shakespeare wrote poetry.”
Sweep streets, so well, that all the host of heaven and earth will have to say: “Here lived a great street sweeper who swept his job well.”
The fourth level of generosity is giving radically.
In the OT this is called a free will offering. The Macedonian Christians were being harassed and oppressed by trails and tribulations, yet Paul pointed out that their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.
Radical generosity is giving above and beyond your ability. How can I bless others?
One of the simplest ways to bless, someone is with a smile. Make no mistake, your smile is a super power! I read this recently, Scientifically, speaking, the smile reduces stress by suppressing cortisol and increases happiness by releasing endorphins.
In short the article stated, a smile has the power to hack your emotions and trick your brain. (The science behind your smile).
How important is it to have a giving spirit?Romans 12:9-16NKJV Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
Winston Churchill's mother, Jennie Jerome, once dined with two of England's Prime Minister's on back to back evenings.
When asked her impression of each, she said of William Gladstone, “When I left the dining room after sitting next to Gladstone, I thought he was the cleverest man in England.
After dining with Benjamin Disraeli? I left feeling that I was the cleverest woman in England.
Can I let you in on a little secret that isn't so secret? The most interesting people on the planet are those who take greatest interest in others.
That is a blessing of undivided attention, and no one was better at it than Jesus.
The woman with the issue of blood.
The woman at the well.
Are you a “here I am person,” or a “here you are person?” Our goal should be, bring a blessing, to be a blessing.
Do you know why CS Lewis went to church? It's not because he loved the songs. It's not because he loved the sermons or liked the people. CS Lewis went to church because he believed that if he did not, he would fall into something he called, s .
Kind words and a smile produce spiritual inquiries.
John Wesley lived by this statement: Gain all you can, Save all you can, and Give all you can.
The mindset of a toddler is: If I like it, it's mine. If I can take it away from you, it's mine. If it looks like mine, it's mine. If I saw it first, it's mine. If you're having fun with it, it's mine. If you lay it down, it's mine. If it's broken, it's yours.
Martin Luther once stated, “I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all, but whatever I have placed in God's hands, I still possess.”
2 Corinthians 8:9AMP For you are recognizing [more clearly] the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [His astonishing kindness, His generosity, His gracious favor], that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich (abundantly blessed).
Are you ready to play the giving game? You’ll not be sorry!
Benediction. How many saints want to play in the giving game? Let’s dedicate ourselves to the giving game. You won’t be sorry.
