We the Church 8 - Dealing with Giving

Introduction

Last in the series of We the Church out of 1 Corinthians. Again a church in crisis dealing with some major issues.

At the end of the letter Paul deals with the need for generosity and giving. Read 1 Corinthians 16:1–4

The Message of 1 Corinthians 1. A Church Which Is International but Also Interdependent

He was burdened with the needs of the mother-church, which had been facing very straitened circumstances for a long time as a result of a severe famine (this had been foretold by Agabus in a word of prophecy), a natural disaster that would have hit Judaea particularly hard because it was not a very wealthy area, especially around Jerusalem. In every church for which he was responsible Paul stressed the opportunity, privilege and responsibility of thus meeting the needs of the saints (1) in Jerusalem. There was no better or more tangible way of cementing relationships between Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians

From the beginning of this movement the new Jewish converts gave freely to make sure there was no needs among the thousands of Jewish pilgrims. It has always been a natural part of the DNA of the church and now passed to the Greek Christians.

Acts 2:44-45  “All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need”

Two quick insights from this short practical passage:

1. There was routine in their giving. They gave every week. This was a both strategic in saving up for Jerusalem, but also a blessing to the giver to make it a part of their routine in life.

Routine creates culture. Giving can’t be sporadic it has to be a consistent part of your life.

What if your savings account wasn’t actually for your security but for your generosity.

2. There was proportion in their giving. There was no flat rate to giving. It was in relation to your prosperity. Note this doesn’t say percentage but yet there is some proportion to income.

Dealing with Giving 2 Cor 8

1). Giving is about the first before the amount. Paul speaks of giving first of all to the Lord and then to the people. This is the principle of first. 2 Cor 8:5

Gen 4:3-5 Cain brought some, and Abel brought the first and the best. God does not accept the leftovers as an offering. Otherwise you are just giving to a non-profit.

First and foremost your giving to this church is not to this church. It is a firstfruit offering to God. Second it is to the ministries of Eastern Hills.

2). Giving is not a command it is a test. 2 Cor 8:8 The NT command is to love the way Jesus loves. Yet one of the many ways you can test that is by your giving.

Mal 3:8-10 - Israel was robbing God of giving to him first and the proportion He had set. The only place it says you can test God.

I know this scripture has been abused by health and wealth preachers. The blessing doesn’t come individually but communally. Yes it does talk about individual crops and vines but that is because those individual resources are for whole. “No one considers anything their own. “

Not under compulsion or command to give but choice. Otherwise it would be communism.

Matt 6:21 - It is a love test. What do you really love? All you have to do is look at the bank account. That is what you really love.

Conclusion

You have the choice to offer your money to God or not. I would say this, do you control your money or does your money control you.

1 Co 6:12 - Do you feel like money is your master? The god of money is one of the worst taskmasters on the planet and freedom is available from the love, worry, and captivity of money.