Background to passage: this is the beginning of a section composed of two chapters that deal heavily with giving. The two things we have to know is that the offering was supposed to go to the church in Jerusalem for relief from poverty, persecution, and famine; also that many Mediterranean churches were participating in the offering, including the Philippians from Macedonia and they were pleading to do so under suffering, persecution, and extreme poverty.
Opening illustration: So I was reading about Jesus walking on the water in Mark. I got caught up in it because several things just didn’t make sense. Sending disciples first, then crowds; walking on the water as though he was going to pass by them; them being confused about the bread; then their hearts being hardened. It just didn’t make sense.
To the world, giving to the church doesn’t make sense.
Main thought: Part of our HOPE discipleship strategy under Opening our Hearts is that we learn to steward our lives well. All that we are, life, health, time, money, gifts and talents, possessions, capabilities, and skill comes from God. Today, we are going to look at how we think about and use the money we have been entrusted with; it’s an important part of your Christian life. Even under the category of money, which includes biblically saving, investing, leaving an inheritance, debt, lot of topics about money, we will just deal with giving today. It’s a part of discipleship for all of us.
1) Giving Begins with God (v. 1-2)
2 Corinthians 8:1–2 ESV
1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia,
2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.
1) Giving Begins with God (v. 1-2)
Explanation: Paul writing about the offering for the Jerusalem churches to the Corinthians. He used as an example the churches in Macedonia. He makes note of the offering they collected. He begins by saying that their giving came from God. It’s the first thing he says in v. 1 before he actually speaks about the offering in v. 2. Giving doesn’t begin with your putting your check in that box or your signing in to give online. It doesn’t even begin with the church or the pastor’s exhortation. It doesn’t begin with your job or your ability to work and have money to give. It begins with God.
It is even more obvious in this circumstance because these are the conditions in which most of us would find reasons not to give. The church was suffering severely, maybe being persecuted, and according to the apostle their poverty was extreme. And they still pleaded with Paul to allow them to participate in the offering.
Colossians 1:29 ESV
29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.
Illustration: parents giving their children the ability to work
Application: We can do nothing apart from the grace of God. He gives the means, the desires, the abundance, the encouragement, the promptings, the opportunities; he gives grace for it all. Therefore, we seek the grace of God. We acknowledge the grace of God. We worship and honor God for his grace. It is out of a heart that understands grace that giving flows. In fact, as a church while we pray for God to supply the needs for the furtherance of his kingdom through the ministry of Western Heights, praying for God to enable us financially to share HOPE with all people, we pray for grace to be given first.
In our personal lives, it’s important for our own humility that we understand that God is behind every part of giving. He entrusts wealth to you. He controls your circumstances, feelings, and knows your expenses. The part that is our responsibility is to be obedient to the promptings of the Holy Spirit to give, and if we feel no desire to give, pray for grace. God always wants your heart, and if we don’t desire to give, we pray and ask that he give us fresh desires and help us be sensitive and obedient for joy and because of joy.
2) Giving Principles of the NT (v. 3-4)
2 Corinthians 8:3–4 ESV
3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord,
4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints—
2) Giving Principles of the NT (v. 3-4)
Explanation: Already noted the circumstances of their gift - severe suffering, abundance of joy, and extreme poverty. These verses give us some more information about their gift. For one Paul says that they gave according to their means and beyond their means. He also says that they gave willingly, even begging (literally much begging) for the gift, they understood their giving as a privilege. Language is koinonia diakonia - participate or share in the service of giving.
Argumentation:
Illustration: Jonathan Edwards Resolution 62. Resolved, never to do anything but duty; and then according to Eph. 6:6-8, do it willingly and cheerfully as unto the Lord, and not to man; “knowing that whatever good thing any man doth, the same shall he receive of the Lord.” June 25 and July 13, 1723.
Application: Let’s be practical for a minute. Discipleship is marked by various things, but it’s always a progression. Giving is just one piece of it, but often we have mixed ideas of how to give. Guilt is not good unless it’s from the Holy Spirit’s conviction, but their are better motivations, and I am going to save the best of those for the end. However, all of these should be done from love for God and people (last week), and thankfulness for resources and the privilege of giving. Here are the NT principles for giving, some that come from this text and some from others.
sacrificially/generously - in this text. Continuation of OT principle that the sheep be the best you have
willingly - in this text. The begging for the opportunity to give
joyfully - in this text. Suffering + Joy + Poverty = overflow of wealth. We are also told that God loves a cheerful giver. Giving is an act of worship.
proportionally - comes from 1 Cor 16:2. In the OT, which our reference point for giving, there were offerings that were not based on incoming, but we usually see a gradation even in these. Most giving was done according to income. Percentage was the easiest way to do it. However, 10% is an easy way out. Doesn’t necessarily require thought or prayer. Good place to start, but you can give more, don’t let 10% keep you from being obedient, sacrificial, or prayerful.
regularly - also comes from 1 Cor 16:2. Paul says every week lay something aside. This doesn’t mean that everyone has to give something on Sunday morning between 10:45-12:00. This means as a practice of yours. Giving is not about rules, it’s not about the amount, it’s always about the heart.
as one has determined in heart - this comes from the next chapter, 2 Cor 9:7. We are to be a people led by, sensitive to, and obedient to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. So what is pictured here is that every situation outside of regular church giving should be handled according to your conviction of heart.
toward poverty - over and over we see examples and exhortations
3) Giving Prerequisites (v. 5)
2 Corinthians 8:5 ESV
5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.
3) Giving Prerequisites (v. 5)
Explanation: In this verse we see the most important of principles of NT giving that I am calling a prerequisite. It says that before they gave back of financial resources (and you could also include time, effort, talents, service, possessions), they gave themselves to the Lord. This doesn’t refer to salvation, but to surrender. The gave of their heart, that’s what God always wants. It is of most importance. As Christ was their treasure, all of their earthly treasures are celebrated as under His authority. Therefore, “by the will of God” (affirming our earlier truth about grace and all giving beginning with God) they gave secondly to Paul and the offering for Jerusalem.
Argumentation: Pro 23:26
Proverbs 23:26 ESV
26 My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.
Romans 12:1 ESV
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Illustration: I remember sitting as a fifth year senior in Wildlife, Forestry, and Fisheries Conservation 101
Application: It is only when we truly give ourselves completely and wholly to the Lord that we can be used for extravagant giving. So to really down where we live. We should all be giving financially to the Lord. The excuses often made don’t really hold water when you see people who were begging to give despite intense suffering and extreme poverty. Kingdom work depends on it, the eternity of nations depend on it, the bible instructs it, and Jesus expected it.
If you are not, or if you are not worshipping through your giving by the principles of the NT, it may be that you haven’t given yourself first to the Lord. Examine your heart, that’s what the Lord wants first. Give your all to Jesus, then you can give your all for Jesus. Radical submission of your entire being is the path to freedom, joy, and genuine obedience in giving. First sell out, then and only then ask if you are giving sacrificially, willingly, joyfully, proportionally, regularly, and as God has spoken and you have determined in your heart.
Closing illustration: John Bennett’s testimony of asking his wife if he could start giving to the church.
Recap
