Faithful Generosity
Notes
Transcript
Last time:
we saw the fruit of godly sorrow, that lead to repentance and salvation
Not a worldly sorrow that leads to death, but a godly sorrow.
Because of this, Paul was able to rejoice in them.
Next 2 chapters:
We get to talk about giving. Not to be confused with tithing, which we talked about before. These next 2 chapters deal with above and beyond your tithe, our giving
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Illustration:
I was in my early 20’s, and I had a friend from Chicago who had never been to the PNW. So naturally, we decided to take him to Seattle so he could see all the spots, and most importantly, get a Dick’s burger. As we were walking, a homeless guy comes up to us, and instead of asking for money, he says “Hey, give me money.” I was shocked, and said “excuse me.” He then went on to say “I said, give me money for a bus ticket.” “Yeah, buddy, I ain’t got money for you.” So we walked away, but I was a bit shocked by what I heard and how aggressive he was. But unfortunately, this is sometimes how we feel what it is like to give money to the church and missionaries, like people are always demanding money from us, and we become reluctant to give because of it. Today, and even next week, Paul helps us to understand Biblically how our giving should be and why we do it.
Generosity of Macedonia (V.1-5)
V.1
O: Now, brethern, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia.
I: Paul starts by wanting them to know what the Lord is doing through those in Macedonia
A: Why would Paul want us to know about what is going on with the Macedonians??
24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,
25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
V.2
O: That in a great ordeal of affliction, their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality
I: Even though the Macedonians were going through heavy trials, their joy was abundant. Even though the Macedonians were impoverished, they became generous in what they did have
A: Here is how we can be encouraged by what Paul is saying… don’t let your circumstances dictate what you do, how you feel, or what you give.
The Macedonians didn’t care how little they had, they wanted to be generous with what they did have.
Is your lack of resources preventing you from being generous?
V.3-4
O: For I testify that according to their ability and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord, (4) begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints;
I: We see that they went above and beyond their ability, freely giving of their own will, and they had to beg Paul to allow them to be participate in the support of other churches.
A: What an example for us??
Here we see some wonderful principles of giving:
Giving will always stretch us and make us less comfortable (ability and beyond)
Giving should always be a choice (own accord)
Giving is a blessing to those who receive and give (favor of participation)
Giving should be for the saints/church
Benevolence= For believers, not outsiders
V.5
O: and this, not as we expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God
I: This was unexpected, but because they first committed themselves to the Lord and then to us through this purpose
A: Our giving should be of ourselves to the Lord, first and foremost. Then, as the Lord leads, to give as He directs, guides, and stirs us to do so. (Will get more into this in Ch.9)
Notice also… giving should be something others don’t expect, just as Paul didn’t expect this from the Macedonians.
Completing Your Work (V.6-12)
V.6
O: So we urged Titus that as he had previously made a beginning, so he would also complete in you this gracious work as well.
I: Paul has been encouraging Titus to see this work be completed in the Corinthian church as well
A: The Corinthians were the ones that actually started this work, to provide a gift for churches that were struggling. Paul is only encouraging them to complete what they had started, and Titus as a person to keep them accountable to what they have already said.
Jesus teaches about this in Matthew 5:37
37 “But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil.
James will say in James 5:12
12 But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment.
What you say you are going to do, do it
V.7
O: But just as you abound in everything in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you abound in this gracious work also.
I: Paul is saying that just as the Corinthian church has abounded in the things of the Spirit, to excel in this work as well.
A: Remember from 1 Corinthians how the church here excelled at these things, although with immaturity, but yet, they grew and did things well. Now, in the same way, Paul wants them to excel in this as well.
We can often get ourselves in this same position, where we excel in certain things, but in pursuit of those things, we excuse ourselves of growing in other things.
This is similar to what Jesus says to the Pharisees in Luke 11:42
42 “But woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithe of mint and rue and every kind of garden herb, and yet disregard justice and the love of God; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.
It isn’t good enough to focus on somethings, the Lord wants us to grow in every aspect
V.8
O: I am not speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also
I: This isn’t a mandatory thing, but you have stirred up other people in this work, we want to prove that this is a sincere work you have started
A: We won’t somehow lose our salvation or standing before the Lord, but this proves to others the sincerity of our love and faith, that we aren’t just a bunch of flakey christians
V.9
O: For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich
I: Jesus, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, God in heaven, became a man of lowly status, lived a life of humble means, and died a death humiliating death being falsely accused, so that we could become eternally rich in Him
A: All we have is because of Jesus and what He did.
Think of what Paul says in Ephesians 2:11-13
11 Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands—
12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
and then in Ephesians 2:19
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household,
V.10-11
O: I give my opinion in this matter…
I: This is Paul’s opinion
A: Why should we listen??
Remember 1 Corinthians 11:1
1 Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.
Because he follows Christ, this is why his opinion matters
O: , for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it. (11) But now finish doing it also, so that just as there was the readiness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability.
I: Paul recognizes this was what the Corinthians both wanted to do and prepared to do it before anyone else, now for the Corinthians to complete it according to their ability
A: It is to our advantage to complete things we set out to do
Ex: When we decided to give a missionary money, but then trouble came up
V.12
O: For if the readiness is present it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have
I: Paul says that if they are ready to do this, that it should be done with what a person has, not anything more than that
A: In order to give, you don’t need to go into debt. Give according to what you have, not what ou don’t.
Not everyone can give $100 towards something, but give what you have
Think of the story in Mark 12:41-44
41 And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the people were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums.
42 A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent.
43 Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury;
44 for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.”
This is acceptable!!!
Providing For Others (V.13-15)
V.13-15
O: For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality; (14) at this present time your abundance being a supply for their need so that their abundance also may become a supply for your need, that there may be equality: (15) as it is written, “He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little had no lack.”
I: This isn’t to make it hard for you and easy for others, but instead, to show that we value one another. In this, we supply the needs of one another, so we all have what we need.
A: Our giving is not meant to be a burden on some and not a burden to others. It is meant to be a blessing to the whole church, something that we can all participate in
O: That there may be equality
I: That we would actually value one another
A: Instead of judging one another in their circumstance, we should value one another.
So that those who have much would not look down on those who don’t, and those who are poor do not despise those who are rich. We would value one another in spite of our circumstances.
It’s a shame:
Poor criticize the Rich
Small churches criticize the big ones
Vice versa
Paul is saying that there would be equality, or that we would hold the same value for one another
O: supply for needs
I: That we can supply the needs for one another
A: Every church, every culture will have needs in different areas.
The best way to function as the greater church is to take care of one another needs.
Keep in mind, the needs:
When it comes to missions, make sure we give for needs. Should also work the other way
EX: Churches, big ministries, etc.
Administration of the Gift (V.16-24)
V.16-17
O: But thanks be to God who puts the same earnestness on your behalf in the heart of Titus. (17) For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest, he has gone to you on his own accord.
I: We are thankful Titus has the same heart for you and he came to you on his own desire.
A: We need people like Titus, who are like minded, who have the same heart. These are people who help us along and help to get things done.
What makes a great ministry partner?
Not the smartest, not the most Biblically literate, not even the most spiritual person, but the one who has the same heart.
Ex: of People who have been well qualified, but not the same heart
V.18-19
O: We have sent along with him the brother whose fame in the things of the gospel has spread through all churches; (19) and not only this, but he has also been appointed by the churches to travel with us in this gracious work, which is being administered for the glory of the Lord Himself and to show our readiness,
I: This man traveling with Titus is well known for his work in the gospel, and not only that, he was chosen by all the churches to go to all the churches in this work, to glorify the Lord and show to everyone that they are ready to do this.
A: We don’t know much about this guy, except for this:
He was known for his work in the gospel.
I want to be known for my work in the gospel of Jesus Christ. What a thing to say about this guy.
He was appointed by the churches to travel with this distribution of the gift
He was trustworthy
Remember what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 16:3
3 When I arrive, whomever you may approve, I will send them with letters to carry your gift to Jerusalem;
Some believe this is the same guy, and very well may be
This work was to glorify the Lord.
Think of John 13:34-35
34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Our greatest witnessing tool is our love for one another, and this is what people can see, and therefore, glorify the Lord.
This is what is happening, Love being displayed to the churches
V.20-21
O: taking precaution so that no one will discredit us in our administration of this generous gift; (21) for we have regard for what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
I: Paul does not want the ministry to be discredited because of mishandling this gift, instead, being sure to be honorable before God and men
A: Remember what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 6:3-4
3 giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited,
4 but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God…
What are the 3 biggest disqualifications in the ministry?
Taking God’s glory, God’s money, and Gloria
Many ministries have been destroyed by men running off with all the money in the church. It is very damaging
We have to be careful, people get funny with money
V.22
O: We have sent with them our brother, whom we have often tested and found diligent in many things, but now even more diligent because of his great confidence in you
I: There is another man with them who has been proven and found faithful
A: It is what Paul says to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:2
2 The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
We need faithful men who are willing to do difficult things. We don’t need charismatic nor the strongest, we need faithful, just like this guy was
O: because of his great confidence in you
I: because he is sure of what the Corinthians are doing, he is more persistant in what he is doing to help out
A: This is why we build relationships with people, specifically those we support, because it builds confidence.
V.23
O: As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you;
I: Paul is telling them that Titus is a man that he trust to take care of the Corinthians, he was a fellow worker
A: (Put your application here)
O: as for our brethren, they are messengers of the churches, a glory to Christ
I: As for the rest, they are those who bring the message to the body, bringing glory to Christ
A: This word for messengers is the word “apostolos”, which we get the word apostle from.
V.24
O: Therefore openly before the churches show them the proof of your love and of our reason for boasting about you
I: For all these reasons, Paul is telling the Corinthian church to prove to everyone the love that Paul has been bragging about to all the churches
A: Being faithful to our callings, to our promises, to the work the Lord has placed before us, is the greatest way to show our love to the church.
If the Lord has called you to something, be faithful to it. It is not only a witness of love to our brothers and sisters, but to the world who is watching us and how we love one another
