Grace Giving

Context

the Mosaic law tithe

we have been taught that god requires 10%

but what was the tithe?

1 for the income for the Levites who worked in the temple

2. for giving to the poor

3. an expression of worship and trust

the tithe was different taxes up to 25%

some was money some was grain and fruit

       An example of one of the tithes is found in

Nehemiah 13:10–12 LSB

I also came to know that the portions of the Levites had not been given them, so the Levites and the singers who did the work had fled, each to his own field. So I contended against the officials and said, “Why is the house of God forsaken?” Then I gathered them together and had them stand in their posts. All Judah then brought the tithe of the grain, new wine, and oil into the storehouses.

I believe the institution of the tithe is an Old Testament command

If someone wanted to use that as a rule for their lives thats ok

but instead of 10 percent why dont you go all the way and do 25%

1 Corinthians 16:1–3 LSB

Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. On the first day of every week each one of you is to set something aside, saving whatever he has prospered, so that no collections be made when I come. And when I arrive, whomever you may approve, I will send them with letters to carry your gracious gift to Jerusalem,

the collection of the saints

the mother church in Jerusalem was going through hard times

there was a drought

these churches heard of the need and wanted to give

so when you gather bring your money and put in the collection

Corinth had pledged also to give generously

but they had stopped. so Paul was encouraging them to continue.

Grace Giving

we think of grace as what God gave to us when we were saved

Ephesians 2:8–9 LSB

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, so that no one may boast.

but we receive grace and give grace to others our entire Christian life

and what is grace

Grace is   the desire and ability to do the will of God

Philippians 2:13 LSB

for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

God's Spirit is continually giving us the grace (desire and power) to do what pleases Him!

       So, to these churches in Macedonia God has given the desire and ability to do something

Grace also means charity when God saved us through grace. He saved us through His charity

with that in mind lets go to 2 Corinthians 8 V1

The Macedonians

V 1

Paul wants to encourage the Corinthians by telling them about the Macedonians

these churches were not expected to give because of their deep poverty

so being poor does not prohibit you from giving

remember this is grace giving

Philippians 2:13 LSB

for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

Grace the will and means

this is what God has done here

He has given them the will to give

V 2

out of their affliction their poverty they still have great Joy in the Lord

we a lot of times give out of our abundance give grudgingly

many times it’s the poor who give generously to someone in need

V 3

Beyond their ability

Is this taking money that was for food?

is this borrowing money?

somehow they were able to give beyond their ability to give

this is where grace comes in

God’s grace of money to the church at Jerusalem through Macedonia

V 4

Paul knew how much they suffer

so Paul had to be convinced to take the money

this money that was beyond their ability they could have easily justified as God blessing them with it

after all they were in deep poverty

V 5

Paul was totally surprised at the enthusiasm and ability of these churches to give so much, and they gave it freely without any manipulation from anybody

       Free will giving is the rule in the New Testament. 

       If someone is somehow manipulating, you to give to a cause.  If they are saying if you don’t give, then this will happen.  

let’s look an the second half of this verse

V 5

They first gave themselves to the Lord

Romans 12:1–2 LSB

Therefore I exhort you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice—living, holy, and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may approve what the will of God is, that which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Grace giving One should give not because he is well-off but because he has a willing heart! The Macedonians saw giving as privilege not as a problem.

because They gave themselves to God as a living sacrifice, they sacrificially gave above and beyond their means

       Their lives and possessions are not their own but belong to God therefore it was not a problem for them to give so much

their lives were bought with the precious blood of Jesus

they belong to God

their belongings belong to God

so of course they with Joy begged the apostle to be able to help

So Paul is turning from telling them about The Macedonians to giving

Encouragement

an encouragement to be a giver

V 7

a gracious work

God wants to work through them also to help the saints in Jerusalem

V 8

not a command not a tithe that you must do

this is grace a generosity

God working the will and means to get money to Jerusalem

V 9

Remember who you are and how you got here and the sacrifice that was made for you

Paul has a way of not commanding something then making you feel rotten if you don’t

skip to V 13

this is not a one way street

one giving giving giving and the other taking taking taking

V 14

we have supplied much to India and our friends there

but they give us something more valuable

prayer many times a week they meet in different peoples homes and pray for us

Grace Giving

Grace giving involves God wanting to bless you as the giver and bless someone in need

God gives you the will to do it and the means to be charitable

whether it’s supporting the local church

I remember one family who gGod put on their heart to buy an old tour bus. so they bought it fixed it all up. after it was finished the heard of a ministry family who needed a bus to minister around the country. so they gave them the bus

the Joy of grace giving

God wants us to be the Fed-Ex man to deliver the package

what ever it is

Be looking for God to drop something unexpected in your lap

this is not for you but for someone who desperately needs it