The Grace of Giving

The real test of any person lies in what he gives. Someone has said there are three books that are essential for a worship service: the first book is the Bible, the second is the hymn book, and the third is the pocketbook. Giving is a part of our worship to God.

McGee, J. V. (1991). Thru the Bible commentary: The Epistles (2 Corinthians) (electronic ed., Vol. 45, p. 103). Thomas Nelson.

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Over the past few weeks, we have been looking briefly at key characteristics of the church. In doing this, we have considered Luke’s description of the very first church in Acts 2:42-47.

Today, our focus will be on theme of service. Serving in a variety of ways is essential for a local church. We must depend on volunteers for a variety of functions in our church.

From leadership, such as those who serve on the board of deacons, to teachers of Bible classes to musicians and singers, to those who help plan, organize and implement various special events, those decorate the church, prepare bulletins, and more.

These are just some of the functions that are necessary for our weekly services to go well, but truly there are a variety of ways that churches need volunteers throughout the week to properly and fully function.

Sometimes, churches pay people to do certain jobs. That may be necessary. Some churches rely on volunteers for work that others pay for. Regardless, a healthy church is marked by an attitude of serving … and giving.

Someone has noted:

The pathway to fellowship is often through the pocketbook because our money is representative of our time and energy. Therefore, when you give a check to a brother, a sister, or a ministry, you’re actually giving a part of your life. Thus, the most practical way of laying down your life is to give financially.

Courson, J. (2003). Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (p. 1131). Thomas Nelson.

Some may serve by actually doing certain ministries. Others serve by giving financially. We see this in the very first church.

Acts 2:42–47 ESV

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

A number of the Christians were involved in distributing money to those in need. But if there were not those who were selling their possessions and giving to the church, there wouldn’t have been anything to distribute!

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In the early days of the Church, the people in Judea were in great financial need. From the very beginning, the church worked to alleviate the financial distress of the people in the community.

This, of course, resulted in different challenges. At one point, the widows of those who had come back to Judea from other countries felt overlooked in the daily distribution of food.

The first deacons were appointed to oversee this ministry so the apostles could be freed to focus on prayer and study of God’s Word.

Later, Barnabus sold some property and made a large donation to the church. Another couple wanted to gain the same notoriety and sold their property, but only gave part of the proceeds to the church. God judged them severely for lying to the Holy Spirit.

This need of the people in Judea persisted for a number of years. A number of years after the Holy Spirit was first poured out on the believers and the church was born, a Jerusalem Council was convened in which the church determined that God did not require Gentiles to become Jewish proselytes in order to be saved,

This council asked Paul and others to share with the churches this determination. Paul later wrote that the leadership also asked him to remember the poor.

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Paul, then, on his missionary journeys after that time asked the churches he planted to give to the poor in Judea. It seems like Paul hoped that this gift of money from Gentile churches would help build and solidify their relationship with the Jewish church.

This helps us understand the context of our main text today from 2 Corinthians 8.

The church of Corinth, of course, was plagued with several difficulties. 2 Corinthians is actually the fourth letter Paul wrote them.

When Paul had visited them previously, the church had expressed its desire to participate in this act of serving, of giving, to the church in Judea.

Difficulties had arisen. The offering to Judea had been put on the back burner. Finally, the church repented and Paul wrote them this letter, assuring them on his love and seeking full reconcilition.

Now, in 2 Corinthians 8, Paul delicately addressed the issue of the offering for the church in Judea.

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2 Corinthians 8:1–15 ESV

We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 6 Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. 7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also. 8 I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. 9 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 by his poverty might become rich. 10 And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. 11 So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. 12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. 13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness 14 your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. 15 As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”

J. Vernon McGee, in his commentary on this passage, makes a fascinating observation:

The theologian defines grace as the unmerited favor of God. I agree with that, and yet it does not adequately describe this word. It may cause you to miss the rich flavor of it.

… the Greek word charis means an outward grace like beauty or loveliness or charm or kindness or goodwill or gratitude or delight or pleasure.

The Greeks had three graces: good, fine, noble. The Greeks were missionary–minded about their culture, and they wanted to impart this to others.

The Holy Spirit chose this word, gave it a new luster and a new glory, and the Christian writers adopted it. Paul uses it again and again.

Now notice carefully this definition: The grace of God is the passion of God to share all His goodness with others. Grace means that God wants to bestow upon you good things, goodnesses. He wants to make you fine and noble, and He wants to bring you into the likeness of His Son.

McGee, J. V. (1991). Thru the Bible commentary: The Epistles (2 Corinthians) (electronic ed., Vol. 45, pp. 98–99). Thomas Nelson. (Emphasis mine)

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As we consider what we can learn about service in the church from this passage on giving, the central truth we find in Paul’s note to this church is:

Big Idea: Through our generosity we express God's grace to others.

When we give to God and to others in God’s name - whether financially or through serving in a variety of ways, our giving shows…

1. Our Delight in God, vv. 1-3.

As Paul sought to encourage the church of Corinth to resume its collection for the poor, he appealed to the churches of Macedonia - the churches of Philippi, Berea and Thessalonica.

These churches were quite poor in comparison to the church in Corinth. These churches faced opposition to the Gospel that the church of Corinth did not experience nearly as much. Yet Paul wrote:

2 Corinthians 8:2–3 ESV

for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord,

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Isn’t that amazing? Even though these churches were struggling, even though they didn’t really have money to spare, their joy in Christ overflowed in a wealth of generosity!

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Notice: Paul said that they gave according to their means. In other words, they may not have given nearly as much as their brothers and sisters in Corinth could give.

If there had been a list of the totals given by each church in a “denominational” report, these churches may not have been in the top ten.

Yet, as Paul continued, they gave beyond their means, of their own accord.

Like the widow in the Temple who gave a very cheap coin in the offering but Jesus said she had given more than those who dumped lots of money in because she had given all she had, so these churches in their joy, their delight, of knowing Christ, had given all and even more than they could.

Some years ago, a family was visiting a country that is extremely under-resourced. … On their trip, they met a woman from a rural community who captured their hearts.

While she had great needs herself, they discovered that this woman kept giving away anything she received so she could help others who were in greater need than she was. 

Her [own] family was trying to convince her not to be so generous, but she desperately wanted to help the people around her. This [visiting] family … pulled together a sum of money, all the cash that they had, and they handed it to the woman.

They told her that, because she was such a giving person, they wanted to help her with her generosity. They gave her the money to give away. 

For weeks afterward, they received text after text telling them about people living in incredible poverty and how she was giving to them. This lady was ecstatic about each gift that she was able to give to others.

Adapted, https://www.ncfgiving.com/stories/a-preponderance-of-joy-in-giving/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Through our generosity, we express God’s grace to others. Secondly, notice how our giving shows…

2. Our Desire for God, vv. 4-5.

2 Corinthians 8:4–5 ESV

begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.

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Isn’t this amazing? The churches of Macedonia were begging for the favor, the privilege, of sharing in this offering.

Notice something fascinating here. The Greek word translated as “favor” here is charin. This is the same word for grace that we find in verse 1 and so many other places in the New Testament.

In their desire to live for God, to please God, to express their love for God, these believers recognized it was “grace” to serve, to give, to God and to others in God’s name.

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Sermons like this one today sometimes make people uncomfortable. They are uncomfortable for the audience because they may feel like the preacher is just trying to get their money.

Such sermons are also uncomfortable for the preacher because he doesn’t want to be seen as “out for the money.”

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We have this mindset, often, that people are unwilling to give and maybe also that should be unwilling to give.

It’s like that story of a carnival that visited a small town in Oklahoma. [This carnival supposedly] featured the “strongest man in the world.”

To demonstrate the power of his grip the barker would cut a lemon in half and give it to the strong man. With his left hand he would squeeze every drop of moisture out of it. The barker would then work the crowd to sell tickets for the rest of the performance inside the tent.

And as an additional come-on, he said the carnival would pay anyone from the audience twenty-five dollars for every drop of juice that person could squeeze from the lemon. This attention-getter attracted the usual run of local talent, but none of them was successful.

Then a small nondescript man asked if he might try. Using only his thumb and two fingers of one hand he squeezed three additional drops of juice from the lemon half.

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As the amazed carnival barker paid him his seventy-five dollars, he asked for the secret to his ability. He replied, “I’ve been the treasurer in our church for twenty-five years, and compared to trying to squeeze money out of reluctant members for the budget, that lemon was easy.”

Chafin, K. L., & Ogilvie, L. J. (1985). 1, 2 Corinthians (Vol. 30, pp. 255–256). Thomas Nelson Inc.

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The churches of Macedonia show us a better way! Their passion for God drove them to the point of begging for the grace of sharing with those in need.

They understood that through our generosity we share God’s grace to others. You see, our giving - and serving by extension, thirdly, demonstrate…

3. Our Devotion to God, vv. 6-11.

The church of Corinth was proud of the many spiritual gifts manifested among its members. You may recall how Paul addressed this pride in 1 Corinthians, explaining that without God’s love, all such expressions are worthless.

So now Paul wrote:

2 Corinthians 8:7 ESV

But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also.

Again, notice how Paul referred to giving, and their service through giving, as the grace of God. Paul urged them to excel in this grace. Why?

2 Corinthians 8:8 ESV

I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine.

Paul then gave another illustration to challenge the church of Corinth.

2 Corinthians 8:9 ESV

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 by his poverty might become rich.

Think about this. Essentially in the midst of a fundraiser speech, Paul pointed to the profound theological truth of Christ’s pre-existence.

Before the Son of God became flesh, he existed, having no beginning, as the second Person of the Trinity, seated at the right hand of God the Father in Heaven. He was fully God. Truly, He was rich for all the universes and creation belong to Him!

But God the Son willingly left the glories of Heaven to become flesh, to be born of a poor unknown Jewish girl, in a stable in a small town in the middle of nowhere and to be placed in a feeding trough.

Jesus gave up his riches to become poor so that by his poverty we might become rich.

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As followers of Jesus, we are called to imitate his example. Therefore, we too should be willing to sacrifice our all for God’s glory.

In verse 10, Paul expressed his belief that by giving the church of Corinth would truly be benefited. He challenged them to finish the work they had started a year before.

2 Corinthians 8:11 ESV

So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have.

There is a key principle that is introduced in this verse and continued in the next. Paul did not call the believers to give beyond what they were capable.

Rather, as we understand that through our generosity, we express God’s grace to others, we find that our giving demonstrates…

4. Our Dependence on God, vv. 12-15.

2 Corinthians 8:12 ESV

For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.

The point in giving to God and God’s cause is not how much you give.

As one commentator explains…

Paul says that if the church desires to give, then what they have to give at the time is acceptable to God, even if it is less than they desired to give in the first place.

This verse shows God’s generosity in rewarding obedience. In Christ God accepts a person’s works according to what the person has, not according to what the person does not have. This means that God is not stringent in rewarding Christians’ works.

He is generous and looks at motivations first, not means. Another such idea is found in Jesus’ words that God rewards even a cup of water given in his name (Mark 9:41). God rewards even small gestures, if done in faith and love.

Mangum, D., ed. (2020). Lexham Context Commentary: New Testament (2 Co 8:8–15). Lexham Press.

We must avoid the tendency and temptation to become legalistic in our giving and serving and in what we expect of others. God is not concerned so much about amounts and percentages. God cares about our motivation.

Why should we give to others who are in need?

2 Corinthians 8:13–14 ESV

For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness.

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There are some, when they hear these words, who get a little antsy. These same people may also get antsy when they read Acts 2:42-47 where it speaks of the believers selling all their possessions and having everything common.

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We can relax!

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This scripture is not speaking about communism or socialism. Please note that the giving in both cases was voluntary. Rather, as someone has written:

In Christianity, it is love that causes us to give to others, not the government. We give freely, not by law. And, relative to our means, how much we give will depend on the needs of others (see Acts 2:44–45; 4:34–35).

Paul doesn’t say that all Christians must have exactly the same amount of money and possessions. God has assigned to Christians different ranks, different jobs, and different gifts. Some are rich, some are poor. But there must always be generous sharing between those who have enough and those who don’t. No Christian should ever remain in need. Those who have enough should give according to their means, and those who don’t have enough should receive according to their needs. All that we have has come from God (see 1 Corinthians 4:2). Whatever we have is God’s, not ours.

Hale, T. (1996). The Applied New Testament Commentary (p. 681). David C. Cook.

2 Corinthians 8:15 ESV

As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”

This scripture is a quote of Exodus 16:18, which was written describing God’s provision of manna for the Israelites in the wilderness.

In that passage, Moses wrote that some gathered much every morning; others gathered less. But everyone had just what they needed!

God’s provision of manna was not to make anyone rich. God’s provision didn’t depend on how hard one worked to gather the bread. God’s provision was to supply their needs.

Remember… the manna would spoil if they tried to keep it overnight - except for the Sabbath day so that they did not have to “work” on the day God set aside for the people to rest.

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Think about that!

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If God had allowed the Israelites to store up manna… can you imagine the hoarding, the fighting over collecting… and the pride and self-sufficiency of those who “scored” more than their brothers?

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God was teaching the Israelites to depend on him. And through our generous giving and serving, God teaches us also to depend on him.

When we have more than enough and others have need, our love for God and God’s people should compel us to share. And when we are in need, God’s love for us and God’s people who love God will share with us.

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As we have studied this scripture about giving today, we see an important truth that may be easily overlooked about giving.

Big Idea: Through our generosity we express God's grace to others.

Giving is a grace of God. Through our giving, we share God’s love, God’s favor, God’s passion for those in need. And so…

Our giving shows our delight in God, our desire for God, our devotion to God, and our dependence upon God.

This biblical understanding of giving should free us. So often we are bound by legalistic expectations about what percentage we should give God or simply that we should be expected to give, kind of like tipping today is more and more seemingly expected for any and every service rendered.

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A biblical understanding of giving and service frees us from legalistic expectations, but should also fill us with a passion to share God’s love with others.

Consider these stories of people who have embraced the grace of giving. One mother writes how giving unites their family:

“The greatest joy I experience in giving is when our family is like-minded and we share a common heart space about where we want to give. When we discuss various causes to support and we come to a unanimous decision about where to give, it warms my heart and brings a smile to my face. Knowing that we all have different motivations and knowing there are so many amazing causes, when the places line up for each of us to have an impact together, it brings me so much joy.”

https://www.ncfgiving.com/stories/a-preponderance-of-joy-in-giving/

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For the last 15 Christmases, Steve and Marie* have found great joy in giving extra financial gifts to people around them. Last year, they gave to a longtime friend who is extremely sick and needs help with a medical treatment that could prolong her life. They also gave other gifts, like college tuition for a young immigrant friend and a financial gift to a friend who recently lost her husband and is facing serious financial hardships.

“We saw generous hearts modeled by my parents who blessed us with so much,” Marie says. “It is our desire to continue to model that legacy. There is a world of need, and we experience such joy in giving!”

https://www.ncfgiving.com/stories/a-preponderance-of-joy-in-giving/

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Jeanine* described a gift she and her husband made early in their marriage. At the time, they wanted to make a significant gift to an organization, and they wanted to do something above and beyond what they originally had intended to give. They decided to increase their donation by adding in the money that was set aside in their travel budget – a considerable amount for this young couple who loved exploring places around the world. 

They held off on any trips for three years and donated it as part of the multi-year gift. Now, of all the gifts they have given, the one that they sacrificed for stands out as the one that brought the most joy. 

“We feel an immense sense of joy when we give instead of getting for ourselves,” Jeanine said. “With this type of giving, I know without a doubt, my full heart is in it. It is one thing to give out of abundance; it’s completely different when you give forfeiting something important to you.”

https://www.ncfgiving.com/stories/a-preponderance-of-joy-in-giving/

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With all this in mind then, we come to our challenge: understanding that through your generosity you express God’s grace to others…

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Will you spend some time this week to ask God how he would like you to commit to giving or serving in our local church?