Motivation For Increased Giving

Motivation For Increased Giving

Text: 2 Corinthians 5:14–15 “14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”

Introduction

True Story: According to the Associated Press, in October 1994, Harvard University Law School announced it had just received the largest cash gift ever given to a law school: a cool thirteen million dollars.

The donors were Gustave and Rita Hauser. What was it that inspired such generosity? Romance and gratitude. Back in 1955 Gustave and Rita met at the law school. The day after final exams in 1956, they married. They went on to become highly successful in business. Hauser, who is chairman and CEO of Hauser Communications and formerly head of the Warner Bros. cable unit, was one of the pioneers of cable television and a developer of the Nickelodeon channel. Gustave Hauser never did practice law. It seems his deep gratitude to Harvard was because of its role as matchmaker. Said Hauser at a ceremony announcing the donation, “The school had a unique role in bringing us together.”

When we are given much—and are mature enough to be grateful—we naturally want to give much. God gave us his only Son, Jesus Christ. It is no wonder, then, that we find great joy in giving back to God our time, energy, abilities, and money. We owe God everything.

Larson, Craig Brian. 2002. 750 Engaging Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers & Writers. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.

Now going on four years of being a dad and by God’s grace trying to raise my boys and point them to Jesus, I often remind myself that my boys were not born with the capacity to be mature. Their frontal lobe is not fully developed to even reason things through. This is why there is a season of mental development they must go through to then think and therefore act more mature.

Every Christian also goes through a maturing process. To be honest, maturing through the Spirit Words and His leadership is a process that will continue until we draw our last breath. That being said, I believe we as God’s people should have a good grasp on why we should mature in the giving back of our lives to God.

There are different areas of giving the Bible speaks very clearly about that we should learn about and then set a course to materialize in our living. To be honest, any area of giving in your life that is less than Biblical is a sign of a lack of maturity. You have to ask yourself, “How mature in my giving do I want my life to end in?”… “What kind of giving maturity would I be presenting to Jesus Christ on my day of judgement?”

You and I have been freed by God’s grace to give our lives in such a way to increase the name of Jesus Christ through our lives.

Question — How loudly does your giving speak about the true Biblical Jesus who loved you first and gave His life’s blood to provide a way of escaping the Father’s future wrath?

Paul mentions how the “love of Christ” forces or motivates their giving. What has the love of Christ provided for us that would have such a motivating effect on the level of which we give back to Him?

1) God’s Love Promises An Eternal New Body

Verses 1-8

A. Christians living within the Greek culture constantly faced false teaching about no bodily resurrection.

So, why was Paul writing as he did about the bodily resurrection?

As I have said, the Corinth believers were surrounded by Greek culture which did not believe in a bodily resurrection.

Most Greeks saw the afterlife as something only experienced by the soul.

Death was simply a release of the soul from one’s body.

Illustration: Have you ever had some teaching or philosophy that clashed with God drawing you to Himself to salvation or accepting a certain truth from God’s Word?

What does God teach us about the resurrection?

1 Corinthians 15:47 “47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.”

2 Corinthians 4:7 “7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”

1 Corinthians 15:46–58 “46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”

B. Paul shares his confidence in the gospel’s universal hope (v4)

The Bible is teaching us that ever human being has a innate sense of something far more transcendent.

Listen to the writer of Ecclesiastes 3:11 “11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.”

There is placed within all of humanity a longing for arriving at that ultimate reality of being in and experiencing the eternal presence of God.

Here is the sad reality……every world religion and cult has attempted to address this inner desire and many have fallen for their dead theology and philosophy.

Q — How many of you have memories of past pain, hurt, and heartache?

The gospel of Jesus Christ (forgiveness by grace through faith alone) guarantees you a full resurrection in such a way that you will be recognizable, never to be touched by sin, and out of reach from death’s grip!

C. God gives to every believer an inner witness and succourer of this hope (v5-8)

I wake up with a desire to live a giving life to my Savior because I am ever reminded of my future resurrection!

Q — How do we know that His Spirit is within us?

We are told he indwells us at the moment of repentance and faith.

He works by reminding you of scripture, reproving you of sin of disobedience, restrains you from certain behaviors, prompts you to love like Christ, and many other things…

What he is doing right now is working the work of transformation.

The aches, pains, and limitations works together to fully renovate your body and soul.

This body must go to the grave before it can ascend beyond it!

Aren’t you thankful the process is not truly taking you to the grave, but a part of leaving it to never return?!

2) God’s Love Promises A Future Judgement

Verses 9-12

A. God’s grace does not free you “from” the requirement of faithful obedience, but frees you “to” live faithfully obedient

There is no doubt God’s gift of salvation is a “free gift.”

Ephesians 2:8–9 “8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

We must also keep in mind of the following truth in these verses:

Matthew 16:27 “27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.”

Romans 14:10–12 “10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”

Notice some words in verse 9:

“labour” = to have a cherished desire or a lofty goal.

The love of Christ should motivate you to set spiritual giving goals.

LISTEN…if Christ set the highest spiritual giving goal and FULLY ACHIEVED IT…should we to aspire to set spiritual goals in order to increase His name?

“accepted” = well pleasing adj. — giving pleasure and satisfaction; perhaps in a greater degree than usual.

B. A maturing fear of God gives us uncommon courage to face the troubles of life

A “matured” fear of God is not the kind that paralyzes you, but mobilizes you!

If more of you would come to our prayer service, you would learn just how much some people actually give back to Christ!!!

The more I read scripture the more I learn about God’s perfection and the fact I will stand before Him in His perfection at judgement.

That spurs a deep hearted desire to pursue a perfect form of giving with all that God gives me.

His gifts should be given in the manner He desires.

THIS IS AWESOME…my all perfect Savior and judge is FOR ME!!!

Romans 8:31 “31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”

Whether I face earthly powers, people, government, or even nature, GOD TAKES CARE OF HIS OWN!!!

Proverbs 3:25–26 “25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, Neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. 26 For the Lord shall be thy confidence, And shall keep thy foot from being taken.”

3) God’s Love Provides A Brand New Life

Verses 13-21

A. This new life came at a steep cost

My first greatest spiritual need prior to conversion and following my conversion was DEATH.

Without DEATH there can be no life.

The death of Jesus brought to me the total death needed to not only be in a right relationship with the Father, but also live in right fellowship with Him.

This death was made available only because He conquered death through His bodily resurrection.

Romans 5:15 “15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.”

Notice verses 14-15:

Salvation — Jesus’ death and resurrection allowed me to die to (be delivered from) my dead spiritual state.

Sanctification — Jesus’ death and resurrection allows me to live “dead” to my former selfish life.

Luke 9:23–24 “23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.”

B. This is an inner new life (v17, 21)

Someone who has trusted Jesus as Savior has experienced the “exchanged life.”

You are “brand new” on the inside!

Illustration: Anyone ever watch any of those home makeover shows? They still end up with a modified old house. Jesus does not simply reform or rehabilitate you. Jesus RE-CREATES YOU.

Colossians 2:6–7 “6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”

Q — Have you ever heard the saying, “I am turning over a new leaf?” Repenting from sin and trusting in Christ is not “turning over a new leaf,” it is a brand new life surrendered to a new Master.

C. This new life is under a totally new covenant

“all things have become new”

No longer God’s enemy.

No longer a stranger or foreigner.

There is now a totally new order of your life.

There is a new way of seeing things, people, creation…

Q — Does your life reflect these new life perspectives?

Conclusion

These very realities that God’s love have made real to all who will repent and believe will lead them to be ambassadors of God’s love giving. It is hard to be a successful ambassador when our giving is less than Biblical.

What about your giving needs to change?