[You may listen to this audio sermon with slides at https://youtu.be/WKGuElPEJHg
Earlier audio sermons are available at https://tinyurl.com/KTCC-EnglishService. Thank you.]
2 Cor 8:16-9:5 Being Good Stewards of God’s Riches
God is our Creator and He owns everything. We are stewards of all that He has given, and that includes our time, talents and our treasure (wealth).
• We are called to use the resources God has given for His work and His glory.
• Paul has been telling the Gentile churches about the needs of their fellow saints in Jerusalem. They were in poverty, ostracised economically and went through a famine.
• Paul has been encouraging the churches to take up a collection for them.
This is a good thing, not only because it is a charitable act but because it allows the Gentile churches to show their support for their Jewish comrades in Jerusalem, from which they first received the Gospel.
• It would be an act of unity and love, as well as a chance for them to honour God through their giving. They could show their love for God through their giving.
• Which was what they did. Last week’s passage shared by Lester gave us many good principles about giving. The Macedonian churches set a good example.
If everything comes from God, then it makes sense that we give and bless those who are in need, because we do not own anything in the first place.
• Eccl 5:15 “As he came from his mother’s womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand.”
• We brought nothing into the world and we are taking nothing out.
• And if we can take nothing with us, then we want to INVEST what we have in the things of God, that which has eternal significance.
• We use what we have FROM God, FOR God, TO FULFIL His purpose and will.
That’s why I have entitled the sermon “Being Good Stewards of God’s Riches.”
• As good stewards, we give. And as good stewards, we guard the collection and make sure it goes to its intended recipients - for the needs of His church.
• In today’s text, Paul takes steps to make sure that the collection is taken care of.
We saw the remarkable testimony of the Macedonian churches last week.
• They gave, not just willingly and with joy and sacrificially, even in their afflictions.
• Paul highlighted their example to encourage the Corinthians, who were a little slower in responding to the call for the collection.
The Macedonians gave beyond their means - “in a severe test of affliction” and out of their “extreme poverty”. (8:2)
• They were facing affliction of their own and also poor to some sense, but they gave. They have reasons NOT to give, but they gave.
• And on their own accord. Paul says they were “begging us earnestly for the favour of taking part in the relief of the saints.” (8:4)
The tribulation did not diminish their joy nor did their poverty impede their generosity.
• The afflicted can still be joyful and the poor can still be generous in giving. This is the grace of God.
• We have the poor giving to the poorer ones in Jerusalem, people whom they do not know. We see their HEART in giving. We see their MOTIVATION to give.
NURTURE A HEART THAT GIVES
It is never about the size of the gift. Paul made no mention of it throughout his talk about the collection.
• But tells us of their attitudes instead. They gave with joy and generosity, giving beyond their means, and wanting earnestly to play a part.
• It’s all about the HEART of the givers because that’s what matters. Their love for God was revealed in their love for people.
Jesus taught us the same when He highlighted to His disciples the offering of a poor widow, who offered two small copper coins into the treasury (Mk 12:42-44, Lk 21:2-4).
• The rich put in large sums of money but Jesus’ eyes were on this widow because He saw her heart – one of love, sacrificial love.
• She gave out of her poverty and “put in everything she had, all she had to live on.” (Mk 12:44)
• It’s never about the size of our gifts. It is about our love for God.
• The WHY we give is more important than the WHAT we give.
SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE
Paul said in 8:4-5a that the Macedonians were “begging us earnestly for the favour of taking part in the relief of the saints – and this, not as we expected…”
• Paul might have seen their affliction and poverty and did not want to push them too hard but they said, “Please, let us give!”
• And they gave in “abundance of joy” and a “wealth of generosity on their part”. (8:2)
I made this mistake in the past when I dissuade some not-so-well-off believers from giving to some fundraising cause. I felt they were more in need and said, “You don’t have to give, let others do it.” I’ve learnt since that it was a mistake! I regretted it.
It’s always a blessing to give and I just deprived them of it. Giving is not about the quantity but the heart.
Let them give. Don’t deprive people of the chance to give to the work of God. Let them give with joy because God loves cheerful givers. It’s our worship of God when we give!
Give while you still can. 8:14 “…your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness.”
• When in abundance, you give. When in need, they will give to you.
• There might come a time when we are at the receiving end because we are in need, and they will have to help us. But “at the present time”, when you can, give!
Let us read the text for today - 2 Cor 9:1-5 first before we come back to 2 Cor 8.
1Now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the ministry for the saints, 2for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them. 3But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be. 4Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—for being so confident. 5So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.
KEEP TO YOUR COMMITMENT
Paul urges the Corinthians to keep to the commitment they made a year ago and finish up the collection.
• Unlike the Macedonians, they were not facing persecution nor were they in poverty.
• Paul saw their enthusiasm a year ago, which has become an inspiration to the Macedonians then. They have responded and already completed their part.
• It is time for the Corinthians to do the same. Get it done, Paul says.
• Otherwise, it would be embarrassing when the brothers from Macedonia come along with him and finds them to be unprepared and the collection still undone. (9:4)
Paul sent some brothers ahead of him to Corinth so that they can have the time and space to complete it, something they had eagerly committed to a year ago.
• Paul does not want to be there because his presence might make them feel obligated and pressurised to give.
• Paul wants to give them the freedom to give cheerfully, not reluctantly or under compulsion. No one ought to feel coerced into giving.
Paul explained. 9:5 “So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.”
• NIV: Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.
Paul is unlike some today who go on stage and hard sell a cause and persuade the people to part with their money, like a salesman using pressure tactics to close a deal.
• Paul’s stand is, “If my presence makes you feel pressurised to give, then I don’t want to be there.”
• Paul does not tell emotional stories or hold up pictures of poverty-stricken saints in Jerusalem to move the church.
• He simply states the need and encourages the people to meet it, by God’s grace.
Giving has to do with the MOVE of God in the hearts of His people. It is an act of grace.
• Paul said it four times in this chapter when he described the giving: (8:1,6,7,19)
• 8:1 1We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia…
• 8:6-7 6Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. 7But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also.
By God’s grace, we give. We give because of His grace.
So as good stewards of God’s resources,
• we NURTURE a heart that gives,
• we seize the OPPORTUNITY to give,
• we keep to our COMMITMENT to give, and we…
GUARD GOD’S GIFT WITH CARE
Who are the brothers going ahead of Paul to Corinth – 2 Cor 8:16-24
16But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you. 17For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going to you of his own accord. 18With him we are sending the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel. 19And not only that, but he has been appointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry out this act of grace that is being ministered by us, for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our good will. 20We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, 21for we aim at what is honourable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man. 22And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found earnest in many matters, but who is now more earnest than ever because of his great confidence in you. 23As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for your benefit. And as for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ. 24So give proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting about you to these men.
There is a delegation of trusted men taking up the collection and escorting it to Jerusalem. They are tested and proven men, not one but three, including Titus.
• When Paul arrives in Corinth, there will be other representatives from the other churches from Macedonia joining the team.
For this early trip, 3 brothers will go, including Titus whom the Corinthians know well.
• He is the one who went down with the painful letter and brought back word for Paul.
8:18-19 “18With him we are sending the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel. 19And not only that, but he has been appointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry out this act of grace that is being ministered by us, for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our good will.”
• A man known and trusted by the churches. No name was given so we can only guess.
A third man was mentioned in 8:22 “And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found earnest in many matters, but who is now more earnest than ever because of his great confidence in you.”
• Again, a man tested and tried, and found to be earnest in many matters. Dedicated, dependable and committed.
• Paul says they are “messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ” (8:23). Those tasked to handle God’s money are not only competent, they are all spiritual people.
Why are they forming a delegation for this? Wisdom.
• 8:20-21 “20We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, 21for we aim at what is honourable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man.”
• This whole collection and the handling of the funds must be seen to be above board, not just to God but to man.
Paul gives no room for any questions to be raised or doubts cast concerning the collection, its handling or distribution.
• Everything was done in an open and transparent way so that no one can blame them for any mishandling. It cannot be placed under the care of one man but a delegation.
• Even the men selected for the team were highly credible, trustworthy and well-recognised by the churches.
Good stewards of God’s riches exercise due diligence and care for the gifts of God entrusted to them.
• Paul did not do this to protect his name (although it does protect him from wrongful accusations), but to protect the Name of God and the ministry.
• May God bless us with wisdom and help us grow to be good stewards of God’s riches, not just of our treasure but also of the way we use our time and talents as well.
One closing thought.
Paul is passionate about Christ and the work of the Gospel, and yet he took time and effort to organise a collection for the practical needs of fellow saints.
• He did it because this is the expression of the Gospel. There is no dichotomy to Paul because true faith in Christ will reveal itself in practical help and love for people.
• We do not want to be so spiritual until we are of no earthly good.
• True faith works. True faith shows in our love for people.
• James 2:18b “Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.” (NIV) Let’s do that.
Prayer:
All that we have, comes from You, Lord. Help us remember that always, and be good stewards of all that You have given us – our time, our talents and our treasure. Let us use them well for Your work and Your glory. This we pray in Jesus’ Name, AMEN.
