“Guidlines for Giving!”

This topic (which we began in chapter 8) has presented a twofold challenge in regards to GIVING: To give by faith (TRUST) in God, and to give demonstrating our COMMITMENT to God!

THIS MORNING I AM ASKING YOU TO GIVE TO GOD, remembering the promise of Jesus!

Luke 6:38 CSB

38 Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over—will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”

IN chapter 9 Paul gives some very practical guidelines for giving:

I. Giving is for the Purpose of Blessing Others – (9:1)

(v.1) – (NKJV) “Now concerning the ministering to the saints…”

The first issue you need to face is that the purpose of your giving is to minister, or serve others, and not yourself!

In other words, don’t give for the purpose of being blessed, but rather that your giving will minister to others!

To put it even more bluntly, “CUT THE STRINGS!” Don’t give for the purpose of being a spiritual power broker!

II. Giving is the Result of a PROMISE – (9:1b-2)

Until I had studied this passage several years ago, I formally held that there was no Biblical example of making pledges or commitments to give.

That did NOT mean I thought it was wrong to do so, but that it did not have a Biblical precedent.

HOWEVER, here we have an example of a church (whether individually, or corporately, we are not told) making a pledge—and with some positive results: (v.2b)

Their EXAMPLE “…stirred up most of them [in Achaia]!”

There is NO WAY for us to anticipate how God will use our generosity to “stir up the Body of Christ!”

III. Giving is to be PREPARED or PLANNED – (9:3-5)

Paul had previously given them instructions concerning the collection of this offering:

1 Corinthians 16:1–4 CSB

1 Now about the collection for the saints: Do the same as I instructed the Galatian churches. 2 On the first day of the week, each of you is to set something aside and save in keeping with how he is prospering, so that no collections will need to be made when I come. 3 When I arrive, I will send with letters those you recommend to carry your gift to Jerusalem. 4 If it is suitable for me to go as well, they will travel with me.

NOW Paul is admonishing them to prepare or plan for this gift.

(v.5b) – “…so that it will be ready as a gift and not as an extortion.”

(NKJV) “…as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation.”

WHAT insight into human nature!

It would have been embarrassing for the men to have to ask, “Is the offering ready?”

IV. GIVING is to FOLLOW Biblical PRINCIPLES – (9:6-15)

A. You are to give GENEROUSLY – (v.6)

1. You reap in DIRECT MEASURE to your sowing! – (v.6)

2. You reap WHAT you sow!

Galatians 6:7 CSB

7 Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a person sows he will also reap,

3. You reap MORE than you sow!

Mark 4:31–32 CSB

31 It’s like a mustard seed that, when sown upon the soil, is the smallest of all the seeds on the ground. 32 And when sown, it comes up and grows taller than all the garden plants, and produces large branches, so that the birds of the sky can nest in its shade.”

4. You reap LATER than when you sow!

Mark 4:8 CSB

8 Still other seed fell on good ground and it grew up, producing fruit that increased thirty, sixty, and a hundred times.”

B. You are to give INTENTIONALLY – (v.7a)

C. You are to give CHEERFULLY – (v.7b)

D. God will BLESS you in your giving – (vv.8-11)

1. FINANCIALLY – (vv.8-10a) (Psalm 112)

2. SPIRITUALLY – (v.10b)

3. In EVERYTHING – (v.11a)

E. Giving has incredible OUTCOMES – (vv.11b-15)

1. It supplies the needs of God’s people – (v.12a)

2. It overflows in expressions of thanks to God – (vv.11b, 12b, 15)

3. It demonstrates the obedience (commitment) that is appropriate to our profession of faith – (v.13)

4. It generates prayers for the giver by the one who receives – (v.14)

5. It permits us to experience the faithfulness of God who is able, and does supply our needs!