Love Expressed Through Generosity

Bottom line

Who needs to experience God’s love through our generosity?

Opening Line

It is the 4th Sunday of Advent, and this morning’s theme is love.

Introduction

I have appreciated how the advent themes have coincided with where we are in 2 Corinthians really well. This morning we are in the 9th chapter of 2 Corinthians, and Paul is going to unpack the idea of generosity in light of your faith in Christ. Last week, Paul started giving some reasons why being generous is an appropriate response to the faith you have. The joy that the Spirit produces in you, coupled with Jesus’ example of generosity towards each of you, are powerful reminders that we need to be generous. Along with that, our generosity is a way of showing honor to God with everything he has entrusted to each of us.

Main Point

This morning we are going to shift gears from joy to love, and an appropriate starting place is John 3:16

John 3:16 NLT

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave* his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

God so loved the world, that he expressed that love by giving. Giving his one and only Son so that everyone who believes will have eternal life. I want to suggest to you this morning that this is an important understanding you need to apply in the way you show love. Not only is love, according to 1 Corinthians 13, something you do, and choice that you make, but love is something that you give. Love asks the question, “What can I give?” instead of asking, “What am I getting out of this?” According to 1 Corinthians 13, love keeps no record of wrongs. So instead of holding onto an account of the sins committed against you, you instead forgive and let go of the hurts that have been caused.

Why it matters

When you realize that love is something that you give, then it would make sense that giving is one of the most genuine expressions of love you can show someone. Jesus said that the world would know you are his disciples by the way you love one another. In Matthew 25, he also told his disciples that whatever you do to the least of the brothers and sisters, you also do to Jesus.

So as we continue to unpack generosity this morning, I want you to be mindful of the fact that when you give, whether it is to the church or to one of the three causes I talked about last week, it is not just an expression of love for those you are giving to, but it is also an act of love towards Jesus himself.

Love is not about what you are getting, but what you are able to give.

Scripture

With that, we are diving into 2 Corinthians 9 this morning. You can follow along on the app or you bible.

2 Corinthians 9:1–5 NLT

I really don’t need to write to you about this ministry of giving for the believers in Jerusalem.* For I know how eager you are to help, and I have been boasting to the churches in Macedonia that you in Greece* were ready to send an offering a year ago. In fact, it was your enthusiasm that stirred up many of the Macedonian believers to begin giving. But I am sending these brothers to be sure you really are ready, as I have been telling them, and that your money is all collected. I don’t want to be wrong in my boasting about you. We would be embarrassed—not to mention your own embarrassment—if some Macedonian believers came with me and found that you weren’t ready after all I had told them! So I thought I should send these brothers ahead of me to make sure the gift you promised is ready. But I want it to be a willing gift, not one given grudgingly.

Inspire Others to Give

In chapter 8, Paul talked about the Macedonians giving out of their lack. Though they didn’t have a lot, they were eager to give, even if it meant making personal sacrifices. He didn’t do it as a means of guilting the Corinthians, but he wanted to motivate them, that the eagerness of the poorer churches would inspire the wealthy Corinthians.

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Then Paul shines a little more light on the story. He tells the Corinthians that their original enthusiasm to give actually inspired the Macedonians to be as generous as they were. This is why he says in verse 5 that he wants the church to give willingly. He wants the orginal enthusiasm, the original eagerness to fuel the giving, not a compulsion or pressure.

But the big idea is that your giving can actually inspire others to give. The Macedonians were inspired by the generosity of the Corinthians, and the Paul was trying to inspire the Corinthians by the selflessness of the Macedonians. Have you ever considered that an act of generosity could inspire someone else to be generous? I’ve heard stories of people being convicted to start giving to the church because they saw someone else throw some money into the offering plate.

Not that you should be giving to the poor to be seen. Jesus talks about not letting your left hand know what your right hand is doing in regards to giving to the poor. But there is a difference between giving in order to be seen and celebrated, and giving in such a way that it inspires others to be generous as well. Often it doesn’t matter how much you give, but simply being seen giving is enough to stir others on to generosity. In the same sermon, Jesus did encourage the disciples to let their good deeds shine out for all to see, so that God will receive the glory.

So, you are encouraged to be generous because it might inspire others to be generous.

2 Corinthians 9:6–10 NLT

Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say, “They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.” For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.

Reap What You Sow

Here is you fun Greek lesson for the day. The word that is translated ‘cheerfully’ is the Greek word hilaros. What English word does that remind you of?

Hilarious

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Paul isn’t just encouraging the believers to be cheerful in their giving. He is describing giving as something that you are happy to do, excited to be a part of. Giving is supposed to be a party.

But Paul uses an important analogy here. If the farmer only plants a little seed, he should only expect a little harvest. But if he sows abundantly, he should expect an abundant harvest. This is a really important analogy, because this is a conversation I have often with people. How much am I supposed to give? Well what are they actually asking? What is the bare minimum? How much is acceptable so that I can get God’s blessing? It is kind of like the conversation about drinking, or any sin really. How close to the line can I get before I have crossed over and am actually sinning? If you’ve ever asked God that question and not gotten an answer, I want to suggest to you that you are asking the wrong question. It’s not about how close to the line or how little can I give. The question is, how much can I give? How close to God can I get? How do I get closer to the Lord? These are the right questions.

How much should you give? Well Paul said in chapter 8 that you should give in proportion to what you have. Not so much that you are suffering for the sake of someone else’s comfort, but as generous as you can be.

Why? Because God will provide all you need. In fact, God will meet your needs so abundantly that you will have enough to continue to be generous. God will so abundantly meet your needs that you will be inspired to keep giving.

Jesus said that same thing in Matthew 6:33. After a lengthy discourse about how God provides for the birds of the air, and you are worth more than the birds of the air. God knows the needs that you have and He will meet them. So Jesus finishes with this.

Matthew 6:33 NLT

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

So when it comes to giving, it is actually a matter of trust. If you practice generosity, even when it doesn’t make sense, do you trust God enough to meet your needs in those seasons? This is what faith is. In two different places in scripture, you have been told that God will meet your needs. Do you have enough faith to trust God to come through for you? If you do, God will produce a harvest of generosity. He will create a desire in you to continue being generous, so that you can continue to experience his provision and blessing.

2 Corinthians 9:11–15 NLT

Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God. As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you. Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!

Blessings of Generosity

Verse 11 now makes it three times that Paul has said if you will be generous, God will provide for you and enrich you in such a way that you can continue to practice generosity. Good Bible study practice when you are doing your personal devotions: if scripture says something more than once, it is usually worth noting. If the writer says it 3 times in 4 verses, he is really trying to drive the point home! Next time you are having a conversation with someone about how generous you are supposed to be as believers, come to 2 Corinthians 9:8-11. Be generous enough that you experience the blessing and enrichment of God so that you can continue to be generous.

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But being enriched is just the beginning. Paul says that two things will result from your generosity. The needs of people, in this case believers, will be met, and God will be glorified. As well, your generosity will prove your obedience to the Good News of Jesus. Generosity is an act of obedience, and not being generous is actually an act of rebellion.

The final blessing is that when you practice generosity, the person you are giving to will pray for you. I can actually attest to this. There have been times in ministry when things have been tight, and in those moments God has always found someone to provide for us. The first thing I do, and it is probably the most genuine prayer I pray, is I thank God for his generous provision, and I pray a blessing on the person who gave. The beautiful thing about God’s kingdom is I don’t have to know who I am praying for in order for them to get the blessing. God knows, and as soon as I say that prayer, the blessing gets to where it needs to go.

Now some of you might be wondering if giving for the sake of blessing is a good reason to give. Isn’t that kind of selfish? Depends on the reward and the blessing we’re talking about. Scripture is clear that you are to store up treasure in heaven, that there are rewards for those who seek and worship God in Spirit. The problem is that often we expect those spiritual blessings here and now, OR we expect the praise of people more than the praise of God. John 12:43 talks about how people loved human praise rather than the praise of God. You have a Heavenly Father who loves you and wants to richly provide for you. He wants to celebrate you and see you succeed. It is not selfish to live in such a way to receive the approval of the Lord, and the corresponding blessing. It just makes sense.

Transition to Application

So we’ve talked a lot this Sunday and last about the idea of generosity. The next logical question is how are we to practice generosity. I think this is a really important topic, especially as we have a lot of new believers in church.

Main To Do

So as believers, there are four main things that you are supposed to support financially.

1. You are to support Christian workers

Matthew 10:10 NLT

Don’t carry a traveler’s bag with a change of clothes and sandals or even a walking stick. Don’t hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve to be fed.

Galatians 6:6 NLT

Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them.

2. You are to give to Christian missions and outreach

Philippians 1:4–5 NLT

Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now.

Philippians 4:15–16 NLT

As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once.

3. You are to help care for the poor

James 1:27 NLT

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

Proverbs 19:17 NLT

If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord— and he will repay you!

4. You are to support other churches

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So in light of those four areas, this is why, as believers, you are encouraged to give to the local church first, in this case, OneChurch. Because by giving to the church, the church then turns around and gives to each of these areas. Obviously, your donations help keep me going. As a church, we support 4 missionaries and outreaches in Canada and around the world. We not only do our own outreach, but support others. Of everything that comes in, we tithe to the PAOC, who in turns funds programs like ERDO and ChildCare Plus, which is our version of World Vision. Not only that, that tithe goes to supporting churches in Saskatchewan get the coaching and support they need when hard times hit.

I’m not saying you can’t give to other things on your own, because there’s lots of great causes out there. But when you give to the local church, are actually enable us to give to these things more efficiently. We are able to be more generous when we pool our resources than when we give individually.

And then, every once in a while, like today, you get an opportunity to give to something else. This morning, you are encouraged to give to one of three things. You can give to the Food Bank, which we have already rasied some funds for. You can give to ERDO and all the great things they do around the world. Or you can give to the Brownlees as they go to Mexico to serve through the Koenes Ministry. Or you can just throw it in the pot, and we will divide it out equally.

Why it matters

As believers, we are called to be generous. I would even say that Scripture expects us to be generous, especially towards those who are less fortunate than ourselves. When you practice generosity, when you trust God with your finances, it creates an opportunity to experience God’s blessing, his provision, and for him to do a good work in your heart.

Closing Line

So here is how we are going to do things this morning. I want you all to close your eyes, and quiet yourself before the Lord. I want you to prayerfully ask where you are to give this morning, and how much. If you are married, make sure you consult with your spouse before you start throwing funds in the pot.

If you are giving cash, I want you to throw it in an envelope and mark where you would like it to go. Here are your options:

Food Bank

ERDO

Brownlees Missions Trip

All Three

If you are giving electronically, make to sure to note where you would like your funds to go so that they go to the right spot.

There is no rush. Take your time, seek the Lord’s direction, and honor Him with your gift.

Discussion Questions

What stood out from the message?

How does understanding that love is something we give change your perspective on generosity?

In what situations do you find it difficult to be generous, and how can you overcome that?