The Word Giving
Notes
Transcript
For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you: For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.
Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready: Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.
Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness. But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
(As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men; And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.
Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
Introduction
Introduction
Words are an important part of our lives. Without words, we would not be able to communicate. In our series on the Key Words of the Bible, we are looking to define these important words as we study the Word of God.
The sixth word that we are going to see in this series is the giving. The words “give” and “giving” are found 909 times in the King James Version. God is the example of the perfect giver. He gave His Only Son to die for mankind. God gave life to mankind in Creation and the gave man dominion over the world. Giving is commanded with regard to the supply for the Tabernacle and the Temple. To give is to show the grace which God gave to us. The word giving involves more than just money in the Bible.
Webster defines “give” as
Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (Eleventh Edition) (Give)
give \ˈgiv\ verb
1: to make a present of 〈give a doll to a child〉
Giving in the Bible follows the pattern of the gifts given by God! God gave Adam and Eve the garden to protect and care for. But we rejected the gifts of God and took what was not given.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
As we look at the passage here in 2 Corinthians, we see the idea of giving that is carried on from the context of chapter 8. In chapter 8, Paul commended the churches in Macedonia for their generosity that began with giving themselves to God.
Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
Their actions were patterned after the gift of Christ on the cross for us.
For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
The choice to give to their lives was exactly what Christ did for us. When we give, we need to realize that we cannot out-give the God that would send His Only Son for us. This gift is the basis for all of the gifts we give back to God.
Declaration
Declaration
The Father gives to men. He owns and controls all that we have. Our resources must be stewarded and given as He has given to us. We see in this passage a Principle, a Purpose and a future Provision regarding giving.
1. The Principle of Giving
1. The Principle of Giving
For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you: For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many. Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready: Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting. Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness. But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
What is the Principle of Giving?
What is the Principle of Giving?
By sowing more seed, we reap a greater crop!
By sowing more seed, we reap a greater crop!
The people in Corinth had committed to giving over a year before. Paul is not writing because he feels that they have forgotten. He knows that they are wavering in their obedience due to their walking in carnality and their refusal to give themselves to God as the Macedonians did. The idea of giving as a form of ministry is significant. This was an opportunity for the people of Corinth to do something that would serve others.
2 Corinthians 2 Corinthians 9:5
Paul mentions that they had already pledged to make a generous gift. If they renege on their promises, they would be pledge dodgers. Betz notes that the names of pledge dodgers were published in the Athenian Agora. The Corinthians would be familiar with such public dishonor, and Paul may be asking them, “Do you want to be known as pledge-dodgers?”
The testimony of Paul to the people in Philippi and Thessalonica was that the people of Corinth were the leaders in this project. He was taking pride in what the people of Corinth had committed to do for the project. This was a godly pride in the growth of the people in the church. Paul used this word often in his epistles. James uses this word as well and it is translated as rejoice.
Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:
Paul uses the word bounty to describe the status of the gift by the Corinthians. This word shows that the people were gathering a present for the needy with joy. Blessing by God for the Macedonians allowed generous giving. Paul did not want the gift to be treated as an exploitation or something grasped or taken. Giving is to be a joyful and bountiful thing. The word bounty elsewhere in the Bible is translated as blessing. God had blessed the Corinthians more than the Macedonians so that they could give more to Him.
Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
The principle of giving is found in verse 6. If the Corinthians chose to follow through on their promise, if they chose to increase their pledge, God would bless more as He does the generosity of the farmer. There is no concept of a reason for sowing by the farmer except to reap a crop. Motive is not involved. The result is what he is looking for. Sowing sparingly means meagerly or sparsely. If I sow seed in my yard sparingly, it will likely be eaten by the birds or washed away by the rain.
There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth;
And there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.
The liberal soul shall be made fat:
And he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
The word for bountifully living is the idea of generosity or liberalness in sincerity. Giving for the sake of others and without a hidden motive for yourself.
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
The Principle in Giving is that the more that we give, the more that God will give us to give!
2. The Purpose for Giving
2. The Purpose for Giving
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
A. The Purpose begins in our heart
A. The Purpose begins in our heart
And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing.
Giving to God is not a tax to be collected. Giving is not a requirement to fulfill to get into heaven. Giving is not a way to bring honor or glory to ourselves. Giving is a choice that we make to return to God a portion of what He has so generously bestowed on us.
Unlike the farmer, our motive is a choice of the heart. We are deciding several things:
Everything is God’s because He created it all
God has given things to us for a reason and we must be faithful in this charge
God has a plan for each and every thing He has given to us
When God says to give, He wants to bless and use our gift that is willingly given
God will supply what we need in the future
My Favorite Illustrations The Nature of Stewardship
Charles Simmons said, “As to all we have and are, we are but stewards of the Most High God. On all our possessions—our time and talents and influence and property, He has written ‘occupy till I come.’ To obey His instruction and serve him faithfully is the true test of obedience and discipleship.”
We choose what to bring forth out of the storehouses of our heart. That is what this word means. It means that we bring forth from our heart what God places there. It can be said that there is a direct connection between our heart and our wallet.
B. The Purpose must be greater than our sinful nature
B. The Purpose must be greater than our sinful nature
Paul gives two negative conditions and one positive condition regarding the gift of our heart. We must be on the guard for our sinful nature to take away the good that God is working in our lives.
1. Not grudgingly
1. Not grudgingly
God doesn’t want us to give with regret. He doesn’t want us to give with pain or trouble. There is going to be in your sinful nature the desire to hold onto what you have purposed in your heart. The writer of Hebrews uses this word and we see it translated as grievous. Grudging is an emotional response that will eat you up inside and make you bitter and defensive.
Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
2. Not of necessity
2. Not of necessity
The other extreme of our sinful nature in giving is to feel obligated to give. The idea here is of someone that is coerced or required to give by another. God is never going to force you to do anything. Instead, He asks us to show the love back to Him that He has shown to us. Jesus says, “Give!”
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
3. Cheerfully
3. Cheerfully
Cheerfully is the idea of being happy to obey God. One Greek writer used this word to refer to the color of gold in a furnace. The fire is what purifies the gold. When you look at the color of the gold, you see that it is bright, not dark in color; it is warm, not cool in touch; it is valuable not worthless. Don’t grasp your giving but give it with the joy of the fire of the Holy Spirit in you! Are you cheerful about giving to God? He rejoiced to give His Son to die for us.
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
A giver is someone who exchanges something with another not expecting payment in return. Here there is a reference to a passage in the LXX regarding the cheerful giver.
He that sows wickedness shall reap troubles; and shall fully receive the punishment of his deeds. God loves a cheerful and liberal man; but a man shall fully prove the folly of his works.
Nelson’s New Testament Survey 2 Corinthians 9:6–15
Cheerful givers always receive God’s loving approval.
The Principle of Giving
The Purpose for Giving
3. The Provision by Giving v. 8-15
3. The Provision by Giving v. 8-15
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men; And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you. Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
A. God provides for the giver v. 8-11
A. God provides for the giver v. 8-11
There is a promise here regarding great grace. This is an out working of the grace that we receive from Christ! God is able to give this abounding grace to those who give cheerfully. The opportunity here is to have plentiful grace so much that it would spill over and remain after we die. There is more than enough grace in God.
And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
The truth behind this promise is that God is all sufficient. The sufficiency of God results in contentment for the Christian. This word was used by the Greeks to refer to a reliance or sufficiency of one’s self. Instead, Paul uses it to point out the generosity of God. Sufficiency is exact amount needed. When we receive the grace that is abounding to sufficiency, we will never have a situation in which we do not the grace that we need. This includes giving.
Sow to yourselves in righteousness,
Reap in mercy;
Break up your fallow ground:
For it is time to seek the Lord,
Till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
But godliness with contentment is great gain.
Paul quotes
He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor;
His righteousness endureth for ever;
His horn shall be exalted with honour.
The reference to Ps 112 is important to the concept of how we give. We give as our wealth is so much that it must be scattered everywhere. There is too much for us to hold on our own! God gives the seed that the farmer needs to plant his field. This is a partnership between the farmer and God.
For as the rain cometh down,
And the snow from heaven,
And returneth not thither,
But watereth the earth,
And maketh it bring forth and bud,
That it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
The status of God is that He is able to give grace to everyone. Receiving the grace results in us being rich. We are made rich through the blessings of God. This bountifulness is thanksgiving to God!
That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;
B. God provides for the receiver v. 12-15
B. God provides for the receiver v. 12-15
For the person receiving the gift, there is also a provision here. The word service here is the idea of a priestly service with a requirement. This was service in the Temple in Jerusalem.
Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.
God wants us to be a part of serving others. Through giving, we serve. God is supplying or filling up what was previously emptied. He is adding and adding until it is full.
And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.
The giving is part of the thanksgiving that we give to God. We show gratitude for what He has done for us. This word is where the word Eucharist comes from. The Lord’s Supper is a time of thanksgiving to Christ for giving His life for us on the cross so that we can be made righteous.
And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
The blessing of God and the receipt of the giving contributes ultimately to the unity of the church! Is your giving contributing to unity or self-sufficiency?
Conclusion
Conclusion
What have we seen? We have seen that readiness must manifest through action. We have seen that bounty given becomes more. Giving equates to cheerfully not grudgingly sowing seed. As a result of the cheerful giving of His people, God will bless this grace with abundance.
In verse 15, we see that Paul refers to the reciprocating grace of the gift that God gave. We give grace (thanks) back to the Person who gave grace to us! When God sent His Son to die for us, He gave Him willingly in our place. Giving generously is what God had done for us. Paul gives grace back to God for the amazing gift that He gave to us! No words can describe the amazing giving of the Father.
What is the status of your giving? Giving begins with a purpose in your heart. While the immediate passage before us is referring to giving money, the context is the idea of giving all that we have to God. The example of the Macedonians was one of giving theirselves first.
Have you given to God yourself? We begin this process through salvation. Have you been saved?
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
Choose to give from your heart today! This is the truth behind the word giving in the Bible.