For more Bible Studies visit: www.LivingWatersWeb.com
The Grace of Giving
2 Corinthians 8:1-24
Pastor Tom Fuller
One of the advantages of going through the Word verse by verse is that the Bible itself sets the topic for the day. I don’t hunt through the Word looking for something to back up a topic that I really want to speak on – though there is nothing wrong with that. The problem is that sometimes you don’t know if it’s the Lord or you coming up with a particular subject.
Today we are continuing our study in 2nd Corinthians. In chapter 8 Paul deals primarily with one subject and one subject only – giving. I don’t usually teach on it – and I think for obvious reasons. The point of this teaching is NOT to get you to give to this church.
God has always provided for us – never too much, but never too little. We trust Him to provide for our needs. Too many ministries today put too great an emphasis on money – and it’s given a bad name to the church and put a dark cloud over the whole subject.
The goals of today are to:
a) To show you that giving to the Lord is a good thing and that
b) It should be a regular part of your walk with the Lord
There are 11 points I want to make – you might want to jot them down as we go or go to our website and pick up these notes.
8:1 And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.
First – some background.
The time is in the mid 40’s A.D. For whatever reason, and we’re not sure why, the Christians in Jerusalem experienced economic hardship. It could be result of persecutions mentioned in Acts 11 or because of a famine. Whatever the case – Paul wanted the churches to collect money for economic relief. Because of the problems in the Corinthian church, the collection had been put on hold. Now was the time to get it together and send it with Paul and Barnabas on to Jerusalem.
Some people argue that this and chapter 9 don’t belong in the book because of the extreme shift from chapter 7 talking about repentance. Actually, it flows quite nicely.
Giving should be a further outcome of the repentance from Godly sorrow – the next step. Sometimes we put on a good show on the outside. We cry, we come forward, we give our lives again to God’s grace – but when it comes to emptying our wallet – that’s where the rubber meets the road. Shedding a tear is one thing, but parting from money, that’s another thing altogether.
So Paul starts out by creating a bit of friendly rivalry between the Corinthian churches and those in Macedonia.
And Paul is really putting us to the test to see just how genuine our faith is. Remember, this giving is above and beyond their normal gifts – but it’s a good lesson on the principal of giving in general.
2 Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.
1. The worst times can bring the most giving (vs 2)
What happens when the bills pile up? We say “Oh I just don’t have enough to give to the Lord this week or this month.” If we make giving a priority – it’s the first thing we pay each month in our household – you’d be surprised how easy it becomes. The money we have to pay bills is what’s left over after we give to God.
Giving out of your need is such a beautiful thing because then it comes so much more from the heart.
I’m reminded of the story in Mark 12 with a widow and some rich people giving. The widow threw in two small copper coins. Mark 12:43-44
"I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything-all she had to live on."
This is where real faith is born – when you give even if you don’t know if you’ll have enough – then watch God work. That leads to the 2nd point:
3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own,
2. Give out of what you have, not what you think you need (vs 3)
1 Cor 16:2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income
God knows what He’s provided for you. He’s not looking down on you because you can’t give a million dollars. But giving shouldn’t stop because we can’t give a ton of money.
Also – giving should also be voluntary. Don’t let anyone coerce you into giving.
4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.
3. Giving should be a thing of joy, not a burden (vs 4)
In the next chapter we’re going to hear Paul tell us that God loves a “cheerful” giver. Giving back for God’s work is indeed a supreme privilege – not a burden we grumble about. God gave up everything for us, is it too much to ask that we give something back? And also – you get the joy of seeing what you’ve given further God’s kingdom!
5 And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will.
4. We give to the Lord – not to ministries (vs 5)
When you give something, give it to God and let it go. Financial accountability is important for ministries – but we should leave it up to God to police it. Release your gift – give it to God. That’s nice you say – since you control how the money is spent in your church! That may be true now – but my giving patterns were exactly the same when I had absolutely no say in how that money was spent.
6 So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. 7 But just as you excel in everything-in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us-see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
5. Giving is a part of the maturing process as a Christian (vs 6-7)
The more you grow as a Christian, the more you should realize how much giving is important – as you lessen your grip on this world and its values, and loosen your grip on finances. It’s part of a being a mature Christian – but it is NOT a law or a command:
8 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.
6. There is no command to give, but it is a measure of our love (vs 8)
The word “tithe” or “tithes” occurs 31 times in the NIV version of the Bible – not once in the New Testament. In the King James it occurs in the gospels and in Hebrews. In Matthew and Luke it refers to the hypocrisy of the Pharisees – and in Hebrews about the lineage Levitical priesthood.
The point is – Jesus nor His disciples passed on a requirement of tithing into the New Covenant. Does that mean we don’t have to give at all? Yes, technically. But it also means there is no limit to the amount you can give.
Paul here is introducing a little rivalry, as I mentioned, between churches. And its true that how much we give shows our measure of love.
Matt 10:8 Freely you have received, freely give.
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
7. Giving freely is a Christ-like gesture (vs 9)
Matthew 5:42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
John 3:16
Jesus was more concerned about us giving our hearts to God, but was also mindful of the material needs of others, and that material things when held back from God can hold us back from His kingdom (the rich young ruler).
10 And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. 11 Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.
8. Talk is cheap – in giving its actions that count (vs 10-12)
Sometimes there is a huge gulf between saying or even deciding that we are going to give to the Lord – and actually carrying it through. I think there is a huge magnet attached to our wallets and purses – the more we give the harder the money pulls on us.
Matthew 6:19-21 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
13 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, 15 as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little."
9. What goes around comes around (vs 13-15)
Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
Now – don’t think I’m preaching a message that if you give $100 you’ll get more than that back from God – say $1,000. I don’t think that’s how it works at all.
Luke 11:12-13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
16 I thank God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. 17 For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative. 18 And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel. 19 What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help. 20 We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. 21 For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men.
10. Administering gifts well is an important witness and an important service to the Lord. (vs 16-21)
It was common practice to put responsible people in charge of delivering gifts – they didn’t have electronic transfers or anything like that – they carried cold hard cash.
Paul says they take pains to “do what is right” in God’s eyes and the eyes of men. We’re not all going to agree how funds given to the church should be spent – you put godly men and women in charge and trust that they will do the best they can.
In my work as a public relations person we used the “front page” test. You could judge your action by whether you would be comfortable having it appear on the front page of the newspaper.
Well in the church we could use the “shout it from the rooftops” test.
Luke 12:3 What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.
22 In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you. 23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brothers, they are representatives of the churches and an honor to Christ. 24 Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it.
11. A giving church encourages others to give as well (vs 22-24)
Conclusions
1. The worst times can bring the most giving (vs 2)
2. Give out of what you have, not what you think you need (vs 3)
3. Giving should be a thing of joy, not a burden (vs 4)
4. We give to the Lord – not to ministries (vs 5)
5. Giving is a part of the maturing process as a Christian (vs 6-7)
6. There is no command to give, but it is a measure of our love (vs 8)
7. Giving freely is a Christ-like gesture (vs 9)
8. Talk is cheap – in giving its actions that count (vs 10-12)
9. What goes around comes around (vs 13-15)
10. Administering gifts well is an important witness and an important service to the Lord. (vs 16-21)
11. A giving church encourages others to give as well (vs 22-24)
• Giving is important, but it doesn’t save you, nor does it get you brownie points in heaven.
• Giving is a reaction to God’s love for us and a result of God’s Spirit in our lives. (“you will know them by their love”)
• Give freely and liberally – but give to God and give secretly (no bragging)
• Don’t limit your giving to just money
