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Giving God's WayAn Internal Revenue agent walked into the church office and asked to see the pastor. Upon meeting the Pastor he asks him if Mr. Jack Jones was a member of the church. “Why yes Jack is one of our more prominent members, why do you ask?” "Pastor, in our audits of Mr. Jones taxes it seems he stated on his return that he had donated $100,000 to the church. Can you tell me if that is correct?" Without hesitation the pastor replied; “Why yes, I believe he will!” In our ongoing studies in 2 Corinthians we continue with the topic of giving that we began in chapter eight. In the first part Paul is encouraging the Corinthians to keep their pledge to give to the poor Christians in Judea. We saw that Paul taught them all about the “grace of giving.” He taught them that giving is one of the graces whereby we grace others - and this grace giving is just like God's model of Grace for us. We give give in spite of circumstances. We give enthusiastically. And we give like Jesus gave. Now as we come to chapter 9, continuing in the same theme, Paul directs us to the new testament precept of giving. We're going to take this in two parts, first V1-5 will lay the groundwork, then V6-15 are the precepts. READ THE TEXT 2 CORINTHIANS 9:1-5 GIVING GOD'S WAY. If you have been a Christian any time at all, I'm sure you have felt pressured into giving at least once. But notice that is not Paul's approach at all, no manipulations, and no condemnation to give more. Simply in V1-5, we find a reminder of what the Corinthians had promised to give in the first place and a gentle reminder that this is part of their service to God. Notice what happened in the first century, when the people in Achaia, or Corinth, gave they encouraged others to give as well. Its like anything in the church, when we are enthusiastic about what God is doing, when we support the work of the church, others will get involved. When you worship freely, others follow, when you serve wholeheartedly, others will join in. When we give generosity that too is contagious. So Paul sends some brothers to make sure the Corinthian church does what they said they would do in this matter of giving. But its not the “goon squad”, to beat them up, rather he desires that their model to the younger believers in Macedonia will be good, and that no one will be ashamed because they are going to do what they said they would. Here in the fellowship, we take no pledges, we don't ask you to fill out a giving card, we don't even pass a hat. But we do teach the principles of giving whenever we are in a section of scripture like this. Our physiology of ministry I liken to being in College, not that we are just about academics, but like the difference between high school and college. In high school, they take attendance, if you are not there -- they call your folks. If you miss too much -- you get in trouble. In college, nothing happens if you skip class. You enroll and take the exams and its up to you if your going to learn. I think that is how our faith should be. Your walk with the Lord is -- your own walk, no one can carry you to heaven. Sure we spur one another onto faith and good deeds but your giving to God should not be because you signed a card and someone is auditing what you are doing. Rather it is following the principles laid out here in the rest of our text. So Paul tells them that he is confident that they will follow through with what they promised. He also reminds them that he wants it to be a generous gift and not one given grudgingly. Then he gives the heart of the principle of “giving God's way.” READ THE TEXT 2 CORINTHIANS 9:6-15 Three principles I would like us to see from this text as we consider giving God's way.
2 Cor 9:6 NLT Remember this — a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. Paul once again draws from natural life as proof of this principle, as he compares our giving to farming. I believe in the giving principle of tithing, or the giving of a tithe or one tenth of our income to God. Tithing is found throughout the bible, it begins before the law is given with Abraham who gave one tenth of all he had to Melchizedek who in turn blessed him with bread and wine. Sounds familiar. Then the tithe was established in the law of Moses, as the way for God's people to supply the needs of the ministry and worship in the temple of God. When Israel fell away from God, the prophet Malachi gave them a hard rebuke. Mal 3:8-12 "Will a man rob God ? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse — the whole nation of you — because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty. "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty. God tells Israel that they were robbing him, and he offers them a challenge to “test him.” Test him and see if he will not meet your needs even when you think it won't work out. That's the amazing thing about tithing, my income minus 10% does not make the budget-- but God says, watch, what I can do, and test me in that. In the new testament tithing is spoken about twice. First when Jesus is rebuking the religious hypocrites. They took glory in their outward observances of the law, but inside they were, well rotten. Matt 23:23 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices — mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law — justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former . Jesus says to them, “You guys take pride in how perfect you tithe, dividing even herbs, but you forgot the more important things like justice, mercy and faithfulness.” “You should be doing both.” Its exactly what Mica said. Mic 6:8 He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Giving is not the measure of godliness, but it is the result of a heart touched by God. Jesus said, good fruit is the measure of our faith. Justice, mercy, and humility before God, that is what God requires --as we humble our hearts before him and repent of our sins, and receive Jesus Christ as Lord and savior. That is what God desires over giving financially. But if giving is not the measure of godliness, it most certainly is one result of faithfulness, and obedience. Jesus told the religious leaders when they bragged about their tithing, that - that was good, but its much more important to bare good fruit. The second place in the new testament where tithing is found is in. 1 Cor 16:2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping (or proportion) with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. Paul told this same Corinthian church that on Sunday, when they gather, each one should set aside an amount of money in proportion or relation to their individual income. An amount set by how much you make. Now having said all that about tithing, I think it is interesting that in our text today, we find the most comprehensive teaching about giving - and Paul does not give us a formula, there is no percentage listed. Rather he gives us the God centered principle of sowing. Every gardener in the room knows this principle, that you will get your harvest based on the size of your garden. So plant your seeds generously. Its the same thing that Malachi told the Israelites that God will bless you back as you give to him. Not a tit-for tat deal, not a formula, “If you give God a dollar - he will bless you back with ten.” No, but it is a deep understanding that we can not out give God. Jesus said. Matt 6:19-21 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Again the context was a comparison to the religious hypocrites. That believers are not to be like them, rather we send our treasure on up ahead of us to heaven. The result will be that our heart will be where our treasure is. That is the new testament principle of sowing and reaping. Sow seeds of generosity and God will note that treasure. Sow seeds of love, and God will mark it down. Sow seeds of compassion and God records it for where your treasure is that is where your heart will be. How does God honor our giving. Many years ago two young men were working their way through Stanford University. Their funds got desperately low, and they came up with an idea to put on a concert, and they went for the great pianist Padarewski. They thought they would use the profits to help pay their schooling. The great pianist’s manager asked for a guarantee of $2,000, a huge amount in those days, but they went for it. They promoted it hard, yet only grossed $1,600. After the concert the two students told the artist the bad news. They gave him the entire $1,600, along with an I.O.U. for $400, promising to earn the amount and send it at the earliest possible moment. It looked like the end of their college careers. But Padarewski told them “No, boys that won’t do.” Then, he tore up the I.O.U . he returned the money and said; “Now, take out of this $1,600 all of your expenses, and keep for each of you 10 percent of the balance for your work. I will take the rest.” Well, years rolled by—World War I came and went. Padarewski, was now premier of Poland, and his people were starving - there was only one man in the world who could help him, Herbert Hoover, who was in charge of the U.S. Food and Relief Bureau. Hoover responded and sent thousands of tons of food to Poland. Soon Padarewski journeyed to Paris to thank Hoover for the relief. “That’s all right, Mr. Padarewski,” was Hoover’s reply. “Besides, you don’t remember it, but you helped me once when I was a student at college, and I was in trouble.” The first thing we see in this principle of Godly giving is proper sowing. A principle we see operating in everyday life. The farmer who sows much seed will have a better chance for a bigger harvest. The investor who puts a large sum of money in the bank will certainly collect more dividends. The more we invest in the work of the Lord, the more "fruit" will will result. First proper sowing.
2 Cor 9:6-7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Here it is the heart attitude that every believer should have in their giving. Attitude makes absolutely no difference to a farmer! If he plants good seed and has good weather, he will reap a harvest whether he is working for profit, pleasure, or pride. It makes no difference what his attitude is, the same harvest will come with a bad or good attitude. But for the Christian, attitude in giving is everything. Our giving must come from the heart, and the attitude in the heart must please God. We must not be "sad givers" who give grudgingly, or "mad givers" who give because we have to. But we should be "glad givers" who cheerfully share because we have experienced the grace of God. Three parts to our attitude in giving. 1. WHAT YOU DECIDE IN YOUR HEART TO GIVE. That is the most important part for believers because if you believe God can still speak to you, he will. God will lay upon your heart what to give and where to give it. Now I believe the first place we give is to the local church for the support of the ministry, but having done that, God will reveal to you where else to give. When we have a Youth camp, or a Vacation Bible School, or our Missions outreach, it is because someone has been moved by God to give. And they act on what they feel God has spoken to them. First what you decide in your heart to give- give it. How? 2. NOT RELUCTANTLY, OR UNDER COMPULSION. No guilt trips, no manipulations, no pleas for money, but giving from the heart, giving because you know that when we plant seeds for God, God honors those seeds that we give. Matt 6:2-4 ( Jesus said) "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. God sees it all, the heart attitude. So there's no plaque with your name on it, no announcements in the news papers, but by faith - knowing that what we sow on earth is recorded in heaven by the one who see it all. Heb 4:13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Waldo Weaning -- Three Levels of Giving 1. You have to (law) 2. You ought to (obligation) 3. You want to (grace). First decide in your heart, second give – but not reluctantly or under compulsion, third part of a proper attitude is. 3. CHEERFUL GIVING. The word for cheerful, it the Greek word, hilarious. I like that, God loves a hilarious giver. Its like Jesus saying that we can not take it with us, but we can send it on up ahead. We are planting seeds here on earth and although we may get some harvest here on earth -- for sure we will reap a reward in heaven. But only when we give with a proper attitude of the heart. “Chaplain magazine” wrote this story about Charles Spurgeon and his wife. Apparently they would sell, but refused to give away, the eggs their chickens laid. Even close relatives were told, “You may have them if you pay for them.” As a result some people labeled the Spurgeons as greedy. They quietly accepted those criticisms without defending themselves. It was only after Mrs. Spurgeon died was the full story revealed. It seems all the profits from the sale of eggs went to support two elderly widows. Because the Spurgeons where unwilling to let their left hand know what the right hand was doing, they gladly endured the attacks that came. So we give like the poor widow lady in Mark 12 when Jesus sat down to watch what people put into the offering boxes. Mark tells us that many wealthy people threw in large amounts, and some made a show of what they gave, but a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Then Jesus commended her by saying. Mark 12:43 "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything — all she had to live on." She gave in faith, and she gave cheerfully. We have seen the principle of Godly giving, Proper sowing, and proper attitude, finally.
Notice the emphasizes on God. “God is able to make all grace abound to you --so you will have all you need.” God promises that when we seek him first and his kingdom, that all the needs of life will be provided for us. The proper focus is to focus on Jesus. The bible says. Heb 12:1-2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Throw off the sin of greed, the sin of unbelief, the sin of hording, and run the race of faith as you focus on Jesus, who he is and what he did for us. That's exactly where Paul takes us in his closing remarks on giving. Quoting from Isaiah, “It is God who supplies both the seed and bread and he will also supply and increase your harvest.” “You will be made rich in ways that result in thanksgiving to God.” When we give and the moneys are used for the kingdom, like Paul tells us in V12 &13 may people, will give praise and thanks to God. When you send a teen to camp, when you invest in Vacation Bible School, when you help with the Nicaragua outreach, others will come to know Jesus. Your seed of money will result in God's work in others lives. That is the proper focus, looking not for a tax right-off, but looking to what God is going to do with your investment. And that is just what our giving is, an investment in the kingdom of God. In closing Paul gives us the proper focus. 2 Cor 9:15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! Rom 8:32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all — how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? God has given the biggest gift, he desires that all would receive his gift, the gift of salvation, the gift of his son Jesus. Where is your focus in giving? It needs to be on God's gift, Jesus. When Jesus spoke to a women at a well in Samaria, she was confused about worshiping God, and certainly giving is an act of worship. But Jesus told her that God was looking not for people who are worried about where they worship but that their worship is in Spirit and in Truth. Then Jesus said something amazing to her. John 4:10 "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." Like that woman who was confused, when we know the Gift of God, he will pour out in our lives living water, teaming up into eternal life. Prov 11:24 One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. In grace giving, our motive is not "to get something," yet God's blessings result when we give God's way, sow seeds with the proper attitude, and keeping the proper focus -- that is giving God's way. 2 Cor 8:9 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. PRAY, COMMUNION, BENEDICTION, SING. Series: 2 Corinthians -Through the Bible |
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