The Grace Of Giving: Understanding Community Series

UNDERSTANDING COMMUNITY: GIVING AND LIVING WITH OTHERS

2 Corinthians 8:10 – 9:5 {NIV}

Part 2 of the series: The Grace of Giving: God-Given Principles for Understanding Your Money (2 Corinthians 8-9)

Sermon Objective: When a man has given His heart to God (8:5), all that defines him is placed under God’s control.

Chapter 8:

10And 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. 11Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.

13Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14At 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, 15as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little."

16I thank God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. 17For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative. 18And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel. 19What 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. 20We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. 21For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men.

22In 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. 23As 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. 24Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it.

Chapter 9:

1There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the saints. 2For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. 3But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be. 4For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to say anything about you—would be ashamed of having been so confident. 5So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.

INTRO:

The video we watched before the collection is, unfortunately, how many people feel about the church and money. But last week we began showing you that it really isn’t about money … it is about something much – much – more important.

Just as a lot can be understood about God’s priorities by how and what He gave; so much can be said about our priorities in how and what we give. And what God really wants us to give is … ourselves (2 Corinthians 8:5).

5And 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.

After all, it’s not really about money. It’s not about US getting YOURS. It’s really about character, community, and Christlikeness.

Today’s Bible passage shows some indications of a heart and life given to God.

FIRST, IT IS COMMUNAL GIVING (8:10-15)

10And 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. 11Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.