Sermon 2: "Blessed to Bless"

Hello everyone, how are you all doing? Welcome kids including high-fives and welcome online folks as family. Mention that this will be Steve and Donna’s last Sunday with us as residents of Illinois.

Now you will notice we did things a little different today. Normally we would have already passed the offering plate and worshiped through giving. However, this morning I wanted to take that moment of worship after we focus on Gods word specifically about worship. Now, I want to be very clear here for a moment. I did not move the offering so that everyone would give more out of guilt…No, that is clearly an unbiblical reason to give, which is what we are going to talk about this morning. So, I changed the order simply to ensure that before we each give this morning, we each have our hearts focused on the Lord properly and not on some other motive.

So, we are currently in the middle of a new series called Abundant Life. In this series we are looking at the art of stewardship and the promises that come from managing God's resources with a faithful heart. Last week we talked about having a heart of stewardship. Seeing that everything we do begins with a heart motive, it is important to to recognize what our own heart motives are with everything we do…including giving. Now, last week we also talked about how when we think about stewardship we really need to be thinking about more than simply our bank account…we need to be thinking about all of the blessings God has given to us. I even gave us a definition last week so that we are all on the same page while we are thinking about Biblical stewardship through this series. I said thatStewardship is understanding our role as caretakers of God's blessings . I don’t know about you, but I think this makes alot of sense. Especially if we can come to grips with the idea that what I have isn’t actually even mine, it is simply in my possession for the moment. That includes my finances, sure…but it also includes my talents and abilities, it includes my relationships, it includes my time, as well as anything else that God blesses me with from time to time. Think about the vehicle that is outside in the parking lot right now…is that yours, or is that God’s, who is allowing you to use it right now. You see, having the realization that everything belongs to God, not only carries the weight of stewardship, but it also relieves the pressure if if something outside of my control happens to it.

See, when we begin to view everything as God’s then we become less and less angry over loosing it don’t we? Sure, loosing something can still hurt, but if it’s God’s, not mine, then this is God’s to avenge, not mine. Think about the time that you had something stolen from you. It is not yours to find and avenge because if it actually belongs to God, then someone just made the mistake of stealing from God, not you. We also will tend to be less bitter over loosing something when we realize that it was never mine to begin with, right? It becomes easier for me to just be happy with the time that God allowed me to use it. We also really saw last week that true Biblical stewardship is an act of worship, and should be seen as such. That means that what we have, both tangible and intangible should be used in the way that God would use it, because this is an act of worship as you are giving back to God what he has given to you to steward. However, we must remember that everything was, is, and will be forever..Gods. Therefore, what I do which what I have, is an act of worship to the God who created the universe…or an act of worship to myself…make sense

Ok, so what are we going to talk about this morning? Well, since last week we learned about having a heart of stewardship. This week I figured it might be good for us to see how we really are

Blessed…to Bless

What does that mean though? Well, in order to understand what this means, we need to understand the definition of blessed according to Scripture. So, what is a good Biblical definition of blessed? Blessed speaks of our inner state of well-being, the security of our souls in Christ. You see, throughout Scripture we see various types of blessings. We see everything from speaking a blessing over someone’s life, as in speaking good will over them. We see, financial prosperity being a blessing through Job as God blessed him with more than he ever had before. We see the numerical blessings of a great nation that God promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel) back in Genesis, but all of these tie back into an inner state of well being. Really it’s even more than that, you see, The one who is blessed trusts in God’s love, no matter what: “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or tragedy, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? . . . No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. Now you will remember last week we talked about the fact that everything is from God and that everything belongs to God, and so that means even the blessings that you and I receive, come from God…not us, amen? Great...

Now, this morning we are going to be back in Scripture again, just like we are every Sunday, so Im going to ask you to go ahead and open up your Bible to 2 Corinthians. Last week we were in Chronicles from the Old Testament, this week we are in Corinthians in the New Testaments. We are going to be in 2 Cor. chapt 9 so go ahead and turn over there....Now, while you are turning there I want to give you a little background on what we are reading this morning. What we are reading this morning is a small excerpt from the second letter that Paul wrote to the church in Corinth. Now, this morning I was to ask you to imagine that this man Paul who started churches all over wrote this letter specifically to us. You see, while Paul didn’t actually know us…God did, and God directed Paul to write these words just as much for us here at LRBC in 2023 as he did for the church in Corinth around 56 AD. Now, lets read...

2 Corinthians 9:6–8 (ESV)

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.m And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

So this is an interesting situation here. You see, Paul has written the church in Corinth because they had promised a particular gift to him. The reason that this is important is because it gives context to what Paul is talking about in this section. You see, in the verses prior to this, Paul was reminding the church at Corinth that their gift was to be a willing gift, not an exaction, or the expecting something in return, in other words, not out of greed. So Paul is speaking to the state of their hearts when they give, very much like we talked about last week. Sometimes we can learn principles in Scripture, and then we can apply those principles to various areas of our lives and faith. Well, today we are going to look at a principle that is, or should be, very familiar to a big agricultural community. Let’s take a look at

The Principle of Sowing and Reaping

So what does this mean? Well, frankly, you guys could likely teach this concept far better than me, but I’ll give it a shot here this morning. You see, this principle of sowing and reaping is actually found throughout Scripture. From a agricultural perspective it refers to planting and harvesting, right? This is a law of creation. Starting all the way back in Genesis we see that God commanded the Earth to bring forth the plants with their seeds, and we read that Isaac sowed a crop and harvested a hundred fold as a blessing from the Lord in Gen. 26. Then we still see this metaphor continuing as Paul writes to the church in Corinth. So…what does this all mean?

Well, there is more than just a natural law at work here. There is a spiritual law as well. Let’s take a look at that together this morning. Really this fits into a few different aspects, and so I am just going to give you a few quick comments about the spiritual application of sewing and reaping. First of all, sewing and reaping implies a wait. Ask any farmer, you do not harvest the day after you plant…it just doesn’t work that way. You plant, or you sew, and then you wait for the proper time to harvest, or reap. Nothing good grows overnight. Second, you reap in kind to what you sew. If you plant a tomato seed, you will harvest tomatoes. If you sew anger, you will reap bitterness. If you sew in the flesh, you will reap destruction, but if you sew in the Spirit you will reap eternal life. Third, you reap more than you sew. Every gardener knows this instinctively. If you plant on seed corn, you will harvest a corn stalk with multiple ears of corn, just like if you sew one little lie, you can reap a frenzy of falsehoods.

But that’s not all though…what we are looking at today is that, Fourth, you reap proportionately to what we sew. The more seed planted, the more fruit harvested, right? The Scripture we read earlier applied this very principle to our giving. Whoever sows sparing reaps sparingly, and whoever sow bountifully, reaps bountifully. Here is what is really important though. This particular application is not concerned with the amount of the gift but with the spirit in which it is given. See, Paul tells us that everyone must gives as he has decided in his own heart. I love this passage here so much…You see, this passage talks about how we are to give based on what we have already decided to give. That means, when we pass that offering plate in a few minutes, if you have not already decided to give something between you and the Lord…then you should not give anything. You see, God does not bless the last minute rushed guilt driven giving. Oh, he will use those funds for sure, don’t get me wrong. But we are talking about God blessing you and you living a life pleasing to the Lord. Well, if you did not arrive this morning having already decided in your heart that you are giving a particular amount, then you are better off to simply hold off until next week. That said, if you and God have had a conversation in which you have made a decision since you have been here, that is fine as well. But, do not ever just look into your wallet and see what you have and throw that into the plate when it passes. Listen to what Paul said again.

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver — 2 Cor. 9:7

So what is the purpose behind this? Really…what is

God’s Purpose in Blessing

That’s a big question huh? Why would God want to bless us? God wants to bless us because that is who God is. When you open the Bible, you realize the first thing God does in relation to man is to bless him. The first interaction God had with man, after creating man, was blessing man…How great is that. Then we move into the Psalms and we read that the very first Psalm is about living life in God’s blessings. Look at the most famous sermon ever preached in Matthew 5 and we see all about the many ways man in blessed. Dr. John Piper says it this way, When God blesses us, it is what He really loves to do. So…what is God’s intention behind blessing his children…honestly, God is truly acting out His deepest delight when He blesses.

Of course that’s not the only thing that blessings are for is it? I mean, does God bless us simply for us, or does God bless us so that we are able to be a blessing to others. In other words, Does God bless you, in order to be able to bless someone else through you? Of course he does…that is called stewardship. When you receive a blessing, you are now a caretaker of that blessing. You can hold on to it, and allow that blessing to die..or you can pass on that blessing making room for God to continue to bless, not just yourself, but others as well. You see, You are blessed, to bless others. Actually, I love this idea so much. You see, you are able to be a conduit of God’s blessings to other people. We see how that works in

Philippians 2:4 (ESV)

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

See, just like electricity travels through wire, and water travels through pipes, God has chosen to use you as a conduit of his blessings for others. The question is…are you willing to use what God has blessed you with for others…or will you keep that for yourself?

See, if you remember from last week, we are talking about more than simply finances, right? We are talking about everything that God has blessed you with. Whatever it is, We are called to live a lifestyle of generosity and selflessness, not a lifestyle of greed and selfishness, amen? You see, Christian stewardship flows from a heart of love for God, and others…not from a sense of duty.

So…what kind of heart do you have this morning? Have you been able to experience

The Joy of Giving

Listen, even the secular world around us says that it is better to give than to receive. Of course, they say that without a Christological view. Meaning the secular world says it is better to give than to receive and they say that without Christ. If someone can say that without Christ, how much more should those with Christ not only say this, but live this? You see, there genuinely is a warm feeling when you help someone else. That is why there are soup kitchens that get filled up with helpers on Thanksgiving and Christmas. That is why there are companies with social outreach missions like Tom’s Shoes who gives away a pair of shoes to a third world country for every pair of shoes that is sold states side. That is why after Black Friday, and Cyber Monday there is Giving Tuesday. That way after you have just made yourself feel guilty spending thousands on yourself you can feel a little better by giving to your favorite charity. Because giving to others just feels good.

Listen, the secular world, meaning the world away from Christ knows this, but we know this so much more being in Christ. Did you catch the last verse from our passage today?

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work

This verse really tells us the most important reason for generosity, whether financially or otherwise. You see, God is incredibly generous and supplies more than enough for us with everything necessary to have enough for our own needs and to be generous with others. What happens when most people struggle to be generous is that they are worried that there will not be enough for their own needs. Of course, Paul tells us that God will supply our needs at all times, so really anyone who claims to trust the Lord for your salvation, but fails to be generous…well you reveal where your heart truly lies. You see, when you are reluctant to sow generously, this reflects a refusal to trust that God is all sufficient and all gracious. This also shows that you believe you can only give when you are prospering and have extra you can do without. Well, Paul says that at all times God provides us with what we need so there is never a time when we cannot be generous. Sure, you may be led to make adjustments here and there, but to only give when you have plenty would be a massive lack of faith, wouldn’t it. That would be you rely on your own strength and not on the sufficiency of God.

Now, all of this conversation about Biblical stewardship may require a change of heart in some areas... So, how do you

Develop a Heart of Giving

As we close this morning Im going to give you three things to get you on the journey of developing a heart of giving. However, you must know…These are not simply words, they require your sacrifice. These are not simply words, they require a heart of stewardship…remembering that everything belongs to the Lord and everything you call yours, is only yours only by the grace of God. So, first of all you much have

1. Gratitude for God's Provision:

Sit back and think about the amazing things God has already done in your life. Think about how God saved you from illness, or saved you through illness. Think about that time God led you to the right spouse, or the right job, and then gave you the perfect family. Express gratitude to the Lord for his faithfulness and generosity towards you every single day. When you give, whether of your finances, or your talents, or something else, that is one way of acknowledging God’s abundant grace in your life. Next, you must

2. Invest in Eternal Treasure:

Stop thinking about yesterday or today. Stop thinking about temporal things, meaning things of this Earth. Think about your real home…your heavenly home and the eternal blessings that await you there. Store up today treasures in Heaven, not on Earth…When you give, this is more than a transaction, this is a spiritual investment in the eternal.

Finally...

3. Partner for Kingdom Building:

When you give, whether here financially, or in some other capacity through stewarding your talents and your time you are actively participating in the eternal work of the Kingdom. How amazing is it to think about the fact that not a single one of us would be sitting here today if it were not for the initial sacrifice of the original families that met and prayed and decided that there needed to be a church in Leaf River. What a blessing is it to realize that we would not have the ability to have the same level of impact on the communities around us if it were not for 5 years ago a group of families decided to get together and pay off 100% of the debt that the church had on this facility. We are here today because of the sacrifice and the giving mindset of all of those that have come before us that have paved the way for us to be here today. Are you prepared to invest in the eternal kingdom in the way that those who came before us invested so that we would have a spiritual home to worship in?

Listen, when we join together and we each commit to steward the resources God has blessed us with in a way that we are able to bless others, then we will have a stronger tomorrow. We see many things in the culture all around us that we desire to protect out children from, but that only happens if we steward what God has given to each and every one of us. That is how we will see a deeper, stronger, more unified, more vibrant, more solid spiritual family…when we are all focused on using God’s blessings to bless others from a heart of stewardship.

Hey, I know this doesn’t necessarily fit every single person every single day, having a heart of giving…that’s ok…God is good, and God is a forgiving God, so let me just ask you right now. Whether you are here or joining online, if you guilty of having a heart of pride or a heart of selfishness…Listen, simply have a conversation with God where you repent of that selfishness and recommit your heart to be focused on the Lord and not on yourself. Also, let me be clear about this…This applies to every aspect and every blessing that God has blessed you with. That means, if you are generous with your talents, but selfish with your time…repent. If you are generous with your finances, but figure that’s good enough…repent. Listen, God is interested in every aspect of you, and blesses you in various ways…it is your opportunity to worship the Lord through blessing others…showing that you are blessed to bless others..

Lets Pray( prayer of gratitude and commitment to be faithful stewards of God's blessings)

Whether you are here or joining us online, if you are unsure what any of that means, but know that you have not been living in a way that pleases the Lord…then let me encourage you to let that go and fall into the arms of the Lord. I don’t know your situation, but I know the one who does, and he is by far big enough to hold you up right now. Listen, it’s easy…admit you have been living sinfully, believe that God raised Jesus from the dead, and commit your life to the Lord and continuing to learn and grow more every day. Thats its…If that’s you, then please reach out to me and let’s have a conversation.