Generosity
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Intro
One of the most disgusting blights on the Church in the last century has been the rise of the so called “prosperity gospel”. The basic idea is this: God doesn’t want you to suffer, and he has unlocked health wealth and happiness for you and you only need faith to access it. Part of Jesus atoning work on the cross was to overcome poverty. God’s got riches ready to hand out to you, if you have enough faith, God will give you your hearts desire.
But how do you know you have enough faith? Well, if you “sow a seed” of faith and give a gift of money to the speakers ministry, God will reward you with temporal prosperity, health and other blessings. Often it is couched in the language of reaping a harvest of finances - if you want prosperity you have to sow money to make money.
Now, I shouldn’t have to tell you - this is false teaching.
This is a false Gospel!
As with all false teaching, there is a kernel of truth in there. But this “gospel” subverts the message of salvation and preys on desperate people by validating their fleshly desires. There are some famous characters out there who are known especially for doing this, names like:
Joseph Prince
Joel Osteen
Joyce Myer
Kenneth Copeland
T.D. Jakes
Benny Hinn
If you have any of their books and material, when you get home throw it out! If you’re subscribed to their YouTube channel or newsletters, unsubscribe!
A little leaven leavens the whole lump. Get rid of them.
Paul says:
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.
Let them be anathema. Let them be accursed! Let them be cutoff!
This is serious stuff.
Today we’re looking at generosity, but not the type of generosity sold to you by slimy con-men.
As we look today at what it means to live Gospel Shaped Lives with generosity, I wanted to get this straight from the outset! Lets get that out of the way because the passage that we’re looking at today is a favorite of these false teachers and has been regularly abused. We’re going to work though the passage and then spend a decent amount of time camping our on application toward the end.
I have never preached on this topic specifically before, in my 9 years as a pastor. Let’s acknowledge up front the awkwardness as aussies talking about money, and about the fact that one of the applications of Gospel shaped giving is that you should give to the church, and I will be a direct beneficiary of that. It’s uncomfortable for me, and quite possibly for you! Yet we’re not here to please ourselves, but to please God, so we should see what his Word says, and follow that whether or not it comes naturally to us, or whether it cuts across our cultural sensitivities.
Cheerful Generosity
Cheerful Generosity
As we come to our text in 2 Corinthians 9:6–15, we need a bit of the back story.
There was famine in Israel and rough times
Paul went around collecting money to help support the poor of Israel
Paul sent a letter ahead to the Corinthian church so they could pull together the funds ahead of time.
Some people suggested that Paul’s request for money actually had a selfish motive.
In our passage Paul is trying to convince the Corinthians how good it is for them to give generously
He starts with by applying The Law of Fruitfulness
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
An agrarian principle. But Paul says it applies to spiritual matters too.
God has built fruitfulness into the nature of the universe. Do things his way and their is joyful multiplication, do things our way and there is death.
But in case someone were to take this principle and manipulate and force people to give, Paul explains that God is interested in their heart
Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Cherful, willing offerings.
Much like the tabernacle offerings. Free will offerings.
God is Generous
God is Generous
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”
The righteous man gives generously
The RIGHTEOUS man (jesus) gives generously!
Gospel!
Given gifts to all
Givens especially the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ
Pure grace. Pure generosity.
God gives Righteousness
He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.
The result of generosity os not always material wealth, but you will reap a harvest of righteousness and GOd will supply what you need initially to enable you to spiritually flourish.
Everyone is dependent on the Lord’s provision, from go to woe. And just as he gives seed for farmers, he gives what we need to grow in godliness.
Generosity produces Thankfulness
Generosity produces Thankfulness
Out of God’s generosity, you can be generous to others, which brings praise to God.
You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.
God works through his people such that we can say “god gave us this food” while undertanding the supply chain and all the people who made it happen.
God provides for his people, and they thanks him, even though he used other to do it. Generosity helps turn hearts to God in thankfulness!
For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.
Generosity Glorifies God
Generosity Glorifies God
In a similar vein, this generosity leads to glorifying God!
By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others,
Corinthian generosity leads to others glorifying God!
Overflow of a true Gospel submission.
Then it also leads them to pray for you!
while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!
Application
Application
God has been Generous to You
God loves it when you cheerfully give to others. Roughly break down two types of giving:
Giving to Church
The Tithe - for the maintenance of the Levites who were dedicated to the temple.
“To the Levites I have given every tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service that they do, their service in the tent of meeting,
In the New Covenant God has not given us specific provisions about how to financially support the maintenance of church affairs. We are not bound to give 10%.
10% is a good rule. It has been the standard of old. It is a good baseline to have. If you decide in your heart to give 10%, give a true 10% of your pre-tax income. Do not play games with committing to something but doing something else.
The fact that the government takes alot of your income does not mean you should be ungenerous with God’s Church. The scandalous amount that government exacts from you should should be taken up with them, not go back on your commitment.
We should give more to God than to government, but the Government of our day oppresses it’s people with tax burdens. You would need to be on a very good ticket to give more to God than to Gov! Nevertheless - you should joyfully give what you can to God, not just the leftovers but the first fruits. Not just what is left over after you have paid for your Netflix subscription and your holiday and your shopping spree.
I recommend sit down and decide how much you will give, then plan your other living around that, especially the luxury items. Should you live in a paneled house while the Lord’s house is in ruins?
So while 10% not required, it is a biblical principle that is good. Give cheerfully.
Even though the specifics are not provided the principle remains that those who serve God’s people in spiritual leadership should be supported by the people they serve.
Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”
Give on Sundays - 1 Corinthians 16:2. Not a hard and fast rule, but it was Paul's recommendation that they give bit by bit when they meet to store up a good size offering.
Give financially for the spread of the Gospel.
Giving to the needy
Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.
your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness.
They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Hospitality - Not just dinner parties. We have know hospitality among you!
Generosity produces thankfulness
Generosity Glorifies God
