Biblical Giving Part 2

Review from last week: We laid down 4 basic biblical principles on giving….

They are:

1. Giving is a measure of one’s love for God

2. Giving is an expression of your faith

3. Giving more results in receiving more

4. Giving should be done in secret

*With these four points in mind as our foundation, let’s look a little deeper into this doctrine of giving.

Our text today will be 2 Corinthians 8:1-15

Paul is writing the church in Corinth teaching them the principles of biblical giving, using the Christians at Macedonia as examples.

We will attempt to cover ___ points in our text today:

Poverty is not an excuse to not give 2 Cor 8:1-2

Giving is a privilege to share in the ministry of others 2 Cor 8:3-4 (they shared in Paul’s ministry)

Give yourself first! Giving(money) in place of Giving yourself does not work! It is a disgrace unto the Lord…. 2 Cor 8:5

Giving is proof of your love of God 2 Cor 8:6-8 This passage explains why Paul was describing the way the Macedonians were giving to the Jerusalem collection. He would send Titus back to return to Corinth and encourage the believers to complete their share in this ministry of giving—in other words, to finish the collection efforts there.

THE MINISTRY OF GIVING

Paul encouraged the Corinthians to excel in the grace of giving (8:7). Too often, stewardship of money is given a different status than other aspects of discipleship. Most believers would not want growth in faith, knowledge, or love to stop at a certain level. Yet many decide a fixed percentage to give and stay there for life. True discipleship includes growing in the mature use of all resources, so giving should expand as well. God can give you the desire and enable you to increase your capacity to give. Don’t miss this opportunity for growth

5. Christ is our example of the GREATER giver 2 Cor 8:9

6. If you purpose to make a commitment to give, be faithful to follow through 2 Cor 8:10-11

7. Give willingly, from what God has blessed you with. Not from what you don’t have 2 Cor 8:12

8. Do not give to the point of poverty, but to the point of equality 2 Cor 8:13-15

From the NLT Version:

13 Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality. 14 Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal. 15 As the Scriptures say,

“Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over,

and those who gathered only a little had enough.”