Don’t Miss The Opportunity | 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (2)

Don’t Miss The Opportunity | 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

Opening Remarks: Turn to 2 Corinthians 8.

So grateful to be here with you

Missions Week is my favorite week of the year because it gets our focus off of self and onto others

We just had our Missions Conference last week and it was wonderful

We had some folks that seriously experienced Revival

But here’s what I’m challenging you with - why does it only have to be “some” folks?

Can you imagine if every person in this room experience a Revival in the area of missions?

If you all did what you’re supposed to do when it comes to giving the Gospel? This church couldn’t hold everyone if that happened.

If you all did what you’re supposed to in Missions Giving? Can you imagine the fruit to your account?

Let’s not make this a “Some” Missions Conference. Let’s make it an “All” Missions Conference.

This morning’s sermon may seem a little different. In many ways it’s an instructional or philosophical sermon because I’d like to help us understand this thing called Faith Promise Missions Giving. Which may not be a familiar concept to everyone.

This church, like the church I Pastor, gives a certain amount above the tithe to support Missionaries and Missions Work and Help ministries both here and around the world. So how does it work? That’s what I’d like to look at this morning.

2 Corinthians 8-9 - Paul writes of receiving offering for church at Jerusalem

There was great poverty largely due to a Great Famine that had decimated the region. So Paul was prompted to receive an offering for them, which is why he wrote in Romans 15:25-26, “But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.”

Look at 2 Corinthians 8:1. Macedonia included cities like Philippi and Thessalonica. So churches in far off places were giving to the needs in Jerusalem.

Look at 2 Cor. 8:2. The people giving were not rich. They had their own trials and poverty. But they were sacrificially and joyfully giving for the church in Jerusalem, which was the flagship church. And even in their need, the church at Jerusalem was still trying to do the work of God in their community.

So Paul addresses the need for Corinth to give for needs outside of Corinth. To look beyond their own church. And in doing so, I believe we get a glimpse into the heart and process of Missions giving. To do so, we’ll focus primarily on 2 Corinthians 9:6-8.

READ

Some call it Grace Giving. Others call it Faith Promise Giving. But there is a biblical precedent for God’s people to give above their tithe for the needs of those involved in the Great Commission. It is biblical and appropriate to support the Gospel efforts of those outside of your church and your city.

TITLE “Don’t Miss Your Opportunity”

PRAY

Introduction: How many of you have heard of Ronald Wayne? I’ve talked about him before, but the reason it’s hard to remember is because he missed his opportunity.

In 1976, Ronald Wayne was the third founder of Apple who sold his 10% stake in the company for $800 two weeks after Apple was founded. If he had kept his investment it would be worth $55 billion dollars today. Talk about a missed opportunity.

We groan about someone like Ronald Wayne, but what if I told you there’s investment opportunity with more significant and guaranteed returns than that one? You’d say, “I’m all in! I don’t care what it costs or what I have to do!”

You don’t pass up opportunities like that. Well, the opportunity I’m talking about is the investment in the souls of men and women and children. An investment with incalculable returns. An investment that will last for eternity.

That’s the kind of opportunity Paul was hoping the church at Corinth would be willing to get behind.

I. There’s A Reward For Giving (Vs. 6)

Giving uses the agricultural terms of sowing and reaping to picture what happens when we give to an eternal cause.

Principles of Sowing and Reaping:

A. #1 – We reap what we sow (sow corn, reap corn)

1. Gal. 6:7 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”

2. Matthew 6 “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven”

3. Jesus indicates that there are two types of sowing - material and eternal. We can either exist to be rich on earth or rich in heaven.

4. Treasures in Heaven are permanent. Riches on earth are temporary.

5. If you want to reap eternal rewards, you must invest in eternal causes.

B. #2 – We reap more than we sow

1. If you plant one kernel of corn, you don’t expect to only get one kernel of corn in return.

2. That kernel might become a stalk that can produce multiple ears of corn. And the average ear of corn can produce around 750 more kernels.

3. So if sowing is like giving, then giving doesn’t produce a one to one result. It produces a one to many result.

4. When we support missionaries, we may get a letter saying that they led someone on their field to the Lord. (Barlow letter - first convert in quite a while on a tough field)

6. We don’t say, “That’s the end. That one missionary produced one so they can come home.

7. No, we assume that missionary will win others, and then those will win others who win others and so on.

8. Giving is not addition. It’s multiplication.

#1 – You reap what you sow. If you want eternal rewards you must invest in eternal causes.

#2 – You reap more than you sow. Abundant returns can be produced from one investment.

C. #3 – We reap in proportion to what we sow

1. If I go out and plant three rows of corn in my backyard and a farmer plants 100 acres of corn on his property, which one of us will reap more?

2. God can take one seed and multiply it abundantly. So if He can do that with one, why not plant as many as possible?

3. When we stand at the Judgment Seat Of Christ we will all wish we had given Him more.

4. We reap in proportion to what we sow.

Illustration: Don Sisk (long time president and director of BIMI) once went to a small church to preach. As churches do, they took up a love offering for him. And he always tries to give, so he gave $1. After the service someone walked up to him with an envelope. In that envelope was, guess…a $1 bill. His wife was laughing at him and said, “Don, if you had put more in, you’d have gotten more out.”

5. That’s a funny story, but it illustrates the principle. The more we invest, the greater our return.

6. Why only plant one seed? Plant as many as you can.

7. If you want to make a bigger difference, plant more seeds.

D. #4 – We reap after we sow.

1. Some say, “If I had a lot of money I’d give more to church and more to missions.” But that’s backwards. You don’t reap until after you sow. So start sowing with what you have, or you’ll never reap anything.

2. I’ve heard people say, “If I win the lottery, I’ll give half to missions.”

3. That’s flipped. That’s like saying, “If I harvest fruit, I’m going to start planting seeds.”

7. If you want to reap tomorrow, sow seeds today. No matter how small.

8. Jesus says, “Give and it shall be given unto you.”

Here are the truths:

1) You reap what you sow. If you want to reap eternal rewards, you must invest in eternal causes.

2) You reap more than you sow. Abundant returns can be produced from small investments.

3) You’ll reap in proportion to what you sow. If you want to make a bigger difference, plant more seeds.

4) You reap after you sow, not before. If you want to reap returns tomorrow, sow seeds today.

Paul starts by saying “There’s a reward for giving.”

Then verse 7 tells us…

II. There’s A Motive Behind Giving (Vs. 7)

A. Paul says, “If a man purposeth in his heart,” that means giving is initiated internally, not externally.

1. Giving is a heart matter. If I give grudgingly or unwillingly, I’m not doing it for the right reasons, and I’ll get none of the returns.

2. Giving shouldn’t have to involve a twisting of the arm. It should involve a moving of the heart.

3. If you consider what you’ve received, giving shouldn’t be hard. Look at 2 Cor. 8:9, Paul wrote, “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.”

4. It’s not like we haven’t benefited from the giving of someone else. Jesus Christ gave His life for us. What more motivation do we need?

5. So purpose in your heart to give to meet the needs of others involved in the Gospel work because of what you’ve received. Don’t do it grudgingly, do it willingly and cheerfully.

And look at Vs. 8.

III. There’s A Beneft Of Giving (Vs. 8)

A. Giving results in God’s grace, which means we have God’s favor.

1. God’s grace is His favor in our lives. Who wouldn’t want that?

2. According to Paul, giving initiates God’s grace in our lives.

3. If giving means I have God’s provision and help in in all things, as Paul wrote, sign me up.

4. If giving will allow me to abound in the work I do, I will gladly and willingly give from my heart.

5. Giving puts me in a position to have God’s help in my life.

B. The benefits of giving are greater than we can imagine.

1. So for me to preach on giving this morning isn’t about Western Hills BC benefitting from your giving. This is about you benefitting from giving.

2. Because giving initiates God’s grace in your life.

So there’s a Reward for giving. There’s a Motive for giving. There’s a Benefit of Giving.

But it’s not easy. Giving involves faith.

IV. There Is Faith In Giving

Paul was asking churches to give by faith.

Vs. 3 says the churches gave “beyond their power.” Meaning, they weren’t giving out of abundance. They didn’t have a lot, but Paul knew that God would bless their faith with His grace.

SLIDE #1

We call it a Faith Promise Missions Commitment. What does that mean?

SLIDE #2

One of the ways I’d like to explain it is by comparing it to our tithes.

3. The tithe represents the Firstfruits (SLIDE #3)

a. In Malachi 3:10 the Bible says, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse…”

b. OT – Tithe means “tenth.” The understanding was when God blessed a farmer, for instance, with a yield, he would bring the first 10% of that return to God. Firstfruits. 10%.

c. We may not bring crops, but we make money in our jobs. And as God blesses us with resources, we give Him 10% back.

d. NT – We’re taught to seek first the kingdom of God in Mt. 6:33. As we invest in God’s kingdom, He takes care of our daily needs. But the principle remains - we give to Him first. Our tithe is for God.

e. Jesus had an expectation of tithe in Matt. 23:23. “These things ought ye to have done.” It’s right to tithe.

f. Our Tithes are for God. It’s a responsibility that we fulfill to God. It’s obedience to God.

g. As God provides, it is right to give Him the first 10% in return.

h. But what about Faith Promise?

4. SLIDE #4 - Faith promise represents the Great Commission

a. Faith Promise is connected to our responsibility to evangelize the world (Matt. 28:19-20)

b. The Great Commission is not optional. You must fulfill it. It’s a matter of obedience.

c. But tell me this, how will you fulfill the Great Commission to “go” into all the world as one person? That’s impossible.

d. Faith Promise Missions allows us to give to others that can go where we cannot.

e. It’s primarily about reaching OTHERS. And it’s more a principle than a command. We’re following a pattern more than a precept.

f. By the way, the Bible says “It is better to obey than sacrifice.” First and foremost, every child of God ought to be giving 10% back to God.

g. Obedience starts with tithe, then Missions Giving comes later. Don’t jump to the sacrifice without first obeying.

B. SLIDE #5 (PURPOSE USED FOR) – There is a difference in what these two are used for

1. TITHE – USED FOR “YOUR CHURCH”

2. The tithe is used for our church’s operation. Salaries, maintenance, activities and events. The things that happen here. If you don’t give faithfully, the church suffers. Start with tithe.

3. SLIDE #6 FAITH PROMISE – USED FOR “MISSIONS” (OTHERS)

4. Faith Promise is used for other ministries outside these walls. Mission giving supports missionaries, church planters, Bible Colleges training pastors and missionaries, and individuals doing anything connected with starting and growing and helping churches.

5. It is the difference between us and others.

6. We need to focus on others. Otherwise, we become incredibly inward. It helps us to consider the needs of others just like Paul encouraged Corinth to focus on the needs of the church in Jerusalem.

We need an “others” mindset. The older I get, giving gifts becomes more enjoyable than receiving. When I was a kid, Christmas was about my presents, but now that I’m grown up, I love to give and watch other people open gifts.

C. SLIDE #7 (THE AMOUNT) – The amount is determined differently for each type of giving.

1. The tithe is determined based on income.

2. A percentage of our income (10%) is designated to God.

3. Missions is determined not by income but by Faith.

4. While the amount of our tithe is set based on what we earn, the amount of our Missions giving is set based on what every man “purposeth in his heart,” according to 2 Cor. 9:7.

6. Paul didn’t give an amount. He said, “It’s between you and God.” That’s a matter of Faith.

V. Faith Promise Missions Card

A. Next week you’ll receive a Faith Promise commitment card.

1. You will determine, based on how the Lord leads you through prayer, to give a certain amount weekly.

2. It’s not about a budget. It’s according to what the Lord leads you to give.

B. This is an amount you determine to give by faith.

1. “By faith” can mean one of two things:

a. Some believe it’s a matter of sacrificial faith. You give an amount that stretches you.

b. Many times Erin and I have pledged an amount that stretched us. But because the Bible says it’s about what every man (or woman, or family) purposes in their heart, I can’t tell you how to decide the amount.

c. If it’s sacrificial, I can tell you this – God has always provided the resources for us to give. It’s grace abounding as our text said.

d. Let me simply encourage you to give in such a way that you’re not just thinking budget, you’re thinking about investment and return.

2. When you decide the amount, don’t just think, “What can we afford?” Think about the truths we’ve talked about today:

a. If you want to reap eternal rewards, you must invest in eternal causes.

b. Abundant returns can be produced from one investment.

c. If you want to make a bigger difference, plant more seed.

d. If you want to reap returns tomorrow, sow seeds today. Don’t wait till you have enough, start now.

3. In the end, it’s a matter of Faith – You claim the promises of God and act on them.

C. PROMISE– You are promising to God that you will give a certain amount weekly for the next year.

1. That’s a matter of faith. You don’t know what the next year holds. You don’t know what trials you’ll face.

2. But you make a promise to God. Every man purposing in his heart (before God).

4. It is between you and the Lord.

D. COMMITMENT– This church has made and will make commitments based on the amount promised.

1. This church will commit to missionaries based on these numbers. You may think it won’t matter if you scale back, but you have no idea who else could be doing that, as well.

2. If folks stop giving faithfully, where does that leave those missionaries? If they’re overseas, how are they going to get home and raise more support?

3. This a commitment, which is why I encourage you to pray about it.

4. In one week, cards will be collected and counted, and support will be determined based on what is received.

5. New missionaries will be considered. Families you ought to get behind.

6. But those decisions will be based on your commitments. Which is why you must be prepared for this. It’s no small thing.

That’s what we mean when we say Faith Promise Missions Commitment.

Three applications:

1. A believer who has benefitted from the Gospel ought to be invested in the Gospel.

If you’ve benefitted from the Gospel, someone gave for you to hear it. Not only Jesus Christ, but a missionary or preacher or faithful witness somewhere down the line.

How entitled of us to gladly receive the benefits of someone giving but not give for someone else to benefit.

2. A believer should view giving as an opportunity, not a burden.

It should be exciting for you to give for someone else to hear.

Have you been giving out of duty, rather than love?

Is giving just something you do but it’s not about faith or love or excitement anymore?

Remember, it’s an opportunity, not a burden.

3. A believer who’s been saved ought to count it a privilege to give back to the God who gave us eternal life.

Jesus Christ, though he was rich, became poor so that we who are poor could become spiritually rich.

That’s all the motive we need to give cheerfully, sacrificially, and generously.

Closing Illustration: Can you imagine if a friend of yours named Jeff had come to you as a friend in 1994 and said, “I have a great idea for an online bookselling website. I’m thinking of calling it Amazon.”

What if you knew then what you know? That Amazon would become what it is. What if you knew that in 1994, would you invest? You’d be foolish not to.

What if I told you there’s an investment with a greater, more guaranteed, longer lasting, more significant returns? Would you invest?

You’d be a fool not to. I’m talking about investing in eternity. In the soul of men. People just like us who have never heard.

Would you consider getting involved?

It’s a guaranteed return.

It allows the lost to hear the Gospel, it initiates God’s grace in our lives, and it produces treasure in Heaven that will last for eternity.

Why aren’t you involved in an investment of that magnitude?

Or would you consider getting more involved in an investment of that magnitude?

Don’t miss the opportunity. It’s not just an opportunity of a lifetime. It’s an opportunity of eternal magnitude. Don’t be the Ronald Wayne of missions giving.