A Lesson in Giving

Text:

Text:

Theme: To help Christians recognize that our giving is an expression of worship, and a recognition of the sovereignty of God over every area of our life. What you do with your wallet gives others around you an indication of how deeply your commitment to Christ runs.

Theme: To help Christians recognize that our giving is an expression of worship, and a recognition of the sovereignty of God over every area of our life. What you do with your wallet gives others around you an indication of how deeply your commitment to Christ runs.

John Wesley, the 19th century Methodist preacher said this about money, “Make all you can, save all you can, give all you can.” Wesley practiced what he preached, but it took an embarrassing incident to help him understand the importance of sacrificial giving. It was the winter of 1730. Wesley, a successful professor at Oxford University, had just finished buying some pictures for his room when one of the chambermaids came to his door. It was bitterly cold that day, and he noticed she had only a thin linen wrap to wear. He reached into his pocket, intending to give her money to purchase a coat. He did not have enough to do so. It then struck him that he had spent his money solely on his own pleasure which left him nothing with which to help a truly needy person. He resolved never to let it happen again.

John Wesley, the 19th century Methodist preacher said this about money, “Make all you can, save all you can, give all you can.” Wesley practiced what he preached, but it took an embarrassing incident to help him understand the importance of sacrificial giving. It was the winter of 1730. Wesley, a successful professor at Oxford University, had just finished buying some pictures for his room when one of the chambermaids came to his door. It was bitterly cold that day, and he noticed she had only a thin linen wrap to wear. He reached into his pocket, intending to give her money to purchase a coat. He did not have enough to do so. It then struck him that he had spent his money solely on his own pleasure which left him nothing with which to help a truly needy person. He resolved never to let it happen again.

Wesley went on to limit his expenses so he would have more to give away. In 1731 Wesley’s income was £30 (a ‘Pound’ referring to the paper currency of Great Britain). £30 in 1731 would be the equivalent of about $64,000 in today’s American currency. That year he earned £30, and he lived on £28 — about $59,700 and gave away £2 — or about $4000. In 1732 his income doubled, but he continued to live on £28 a year, and gave the rest away. In 1733, his income went to £90 a year. Once again, he continued to live on £28, and gave away £62. In 1734 Wesley was making the princely sum of £120, or about $256,000 in today’s American currency. He was still living on £28 a year and gave away £92 — almost $200,000.

Wesley preached that Christian should not merely tithe, but give away all extra income once the family had been provided for and one’s creditors paid. He believed that with increasing income, the Christian standard of giving should increase, not their standard of living. Wesley lived out the spirit of this morning’s text.

“And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 5 And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will. 6 So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. 7 But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. 8 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. 10 And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. 11 Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means.” (, NIV84)

This morning begins our annual Missouri Missions Offering. It’s an offering we take yearly for mission and benevolent work right here in Missouri. It seemed appropriate, therefore, to preach about a mission offering that the apostle Paul was taking up for the believers in Judea. From that offering we glean some insights into the nature of benevolent giving by God’s people.

I. THESE CHRISTIANS GAVE GENEROUSLY BECAUSE OF GRACE

“We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia,” (, ESV)

“and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.” (, ESV)

• “and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.” (, ESV)

ILLUS. Let me begin by giving you the back story. It is A.D. 45, and the church has grown exponentially. Barnabas and Paul are in Antioch planning their first missionary journey. In we read that a prophet in the church at Antioch named Agabus foretold, by the spirit, that there would be a great famine over all the world. His prophecy proved correct, and beginning in A.D. 46 there were three successive crop failures in the Middle East. In the late autumn of A.D. 49, Paul embarked on his second missionary journey. He went through Turkey, and Greece revisiting the churches he had helped to plant on his first missionary journey. Everywhere he went he encourage the saints to remember their brothers and sisters in Jerusalem and Judea. He talks about this offering frequently in his letters. While hanging out in Corinth he writes his letter to the Christians at Rome, and speaks about the collection with great excitement. Here, in 2nd Corinthians, he encourages these believers to emulate the generosity of the Macedonian Christians in giving to the “Jerusalem Offering.” It was to be what we would call “a love offering.” Everyone would give according to their ability.

exponentially. Barnabas and Paul are in Antioch planning their first missionary journey. In we read that a prophet in the church at Antioch named Agabus foretold, by the spirit, that there would be a great famine over all the world. His prophecy proved correct, and beginning in A.D. 46 there were three successive crop failures in the Middle East. In the late autumn of A.D. 49, Paul embarked on his second missionary journey. He went through Turkey, and Greece revisiting the churches he had helped to plant on his first missionary journey. Everywhere he went he encourage the saints to remember their brothers and sisters in Jerusalem and Judea. He talks about this offering frequently in his letters. While hanging out in Corinth he writes his letter to the Christians at Rome, and speaks about the collection with great excitement. Here, in 2nd Corinthians, he encourages these believers to emulate the generosity of the Macedonian Christians in giving to the “Jerusalem Offering.” It was to be what we would call “a love offering.” Everyone would give according to their ability.

1. so important was this offering that Paul spent an entire two chapters talking about it here in second Corinthians

here in second Corinthians

a. he uses the generosity of the believers in Macedonia as an example of sacrificial giving to mission and benevolent causes

giving to mission and benevolent causes

b. they remain our great example to this day

A. GRACE PRODUCES GRACE

A. GRACE PRODUCES GRACE

“We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia,” (, ESV)

1. the apostle reminds us that grace produces grace

a. God is the first and greatest cheerful giver

b. Our God delights in giving

1) in man’s loneliness He gave a helpmeet

2) in man’s ignorance He gave a revealed word of truth

3) in man’s lostness He gave a Redeemer to die for us

4) in man’s impotence He gave the Spirit of Power

5) in man’s mortality He gives the hope of eternal life

2. the apostle now points the Corinthian church to the example set for them by the neighboring churches in Macedonia

neighboring churches in Macedonia

“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.” (, ESV)

a. he tells them of the unstinting grace of these believers

a. he tells them of the unstinting grace of these believers

1) the abundance of God’s grace in their lives was manifested by their generosity to the Jerusalem Offering

3. Paul had a burden — a burden for the poor and struggling Christians in Jerusalem and Judea

the Jerusalem Offering 3. Paul had a burden — a burden for the poor and struggling Christians in Jerusalem and

Judea

a. every time the apostle went to Jerusalem he saw widows and orphans — some of whom he had probably made widows and orphans years earlier when he was Saul the persecutor of the church

a. every time the apostle went to Jerusalem he saw widows and orphans — some of

whom he had probably made widows and orphans years earlier when he was Saul the persecutor of the church

b. so now he rallies the churches of Turkey, and Greece to sacrificial giving

4. the grace of God in our lives is exemplified in the grace we extend to others in need

a. the Macedonian believers remain our example in this

b. Paul refers to the wealth of generosity that the saints in the Macedonian churches had displayed

had displayed

1) these are Christians, who themselves, had experienced a severe test of affliction (a reference to the persecution they’ve received from both Jew and Gentile alike)

(a reference to the persecution they’ve received from both Jew and Gentile alike)

2) these are Christians, who themselves, were in extreme poverty

3) but, these were also Christians who had an abundance of joy that overflowed in a wealth of generosity

a wealth of generosity

c. so impoverished were these believers that Paul evidently doesn’t even mention the Jerusalem offering to them

Jerusalem offering to them

ILLUS. Macedonia would be considered what we refer to as The Sticks. It would be like a New Yorker moving to western Kansas. It was primarily a rural area, and agricultural area, and the poorest part of Greece. But poor as they were their faith in Christ had made them rich in love and grace and generosity.

like a New Yorker moving to western Kansas. It was primarily a rural area, and agricultural area, and the poorest part of Greece. But poor as they were their faith in Christ had made them rich in love and grace and generosity.

1) they literally had to beg Paul to let them take an offering for the Saints in Jerusalem and Judea

Jerusalem and Judea

“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—” (, ESV)

of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints—” (, ESV)

d. the key to their rich generosity is found in vs. 5

“and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.” (, ESV)

ILLUS. Hurricane Harvey had not finished lashing the Texas and Louisiana coasts, and thousands of Southern Baptists across this nation were packing vans, U-Hauls, and semi trailers ready to head out to the stricken residents of that area. What motivates a person to put their life on hold, to take time off from work — perhaps without pay, and to be away from family, all in order to help strangers whose lives have been turned topsy-turvy by a storm?

and thousands of Southern Baptists across this nation were packing vans, U-Hauls, and semi trailers ready to head out to the stricken residents of that area. What motivates a person to put their life on hold, to take time off from work — perhaps without pay, and to be away from family, all in order to help strangers whose lives have been turned topsy-turvy by a storm?

1) the Macedonian believers help us to understand why

a) this is what Christians do — they do it because they are committed first to the Lord, and then to helping others in the name of the Lord

Lord, and then to helping others in the name of the Lord

e. because God gave out of the abundance of his grace, we are able to give out of the overflowing grace of our lives

overflowing grace of our lives

5. These Christians Gave Generously Because of Grace

II. THESE CHRISTIANS GAVE GENEROUSLY OUT OF JOY

“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.” (, ESV)

1. the Macedonian believers had received the grace of God, and that grace produced grace, but it also produced joy

grace, but it also produced joy

a. the verb overflowed in this verse is literally super-abundance

2. their joy in Christ expressed itself in their liberality of giving

a. over the years I’ve discovered that there are four motivations in Christian giving

1) 1st, some Christians give out of a sense of law and duty

a) their attitude is, “God is going to “get me” if I don’t.”

2) 2nd, some Christians give out of a sense of loyalty and dedication

a) their attitude is, “This is my church, and I must help support it”

3) 3rd, some Christians give out of a sense of reciprocity

a) their attitude is, “If I give X-amount, God will bless me with X-amount.”

4) 4th, some Christians give out of a deep sense of joy because of the grace they’ve received in Christ

they’ve received in Christ

a) their attitude is, “With all that Jesus has done for me, how can I do less then give him the firstfruits of my life?”

give him the firstfruits of my life?”

A. JOY DOES NOT COUNT THE COST OF OUR GIVING

A. JOY DOES NOT COUNT THE COST OF OUR GIVING

1. let me make an observation that will upset some of you: – Most American evangelicals are stingy — I don’t know if that includes you, but a large percentage of Christians are stingy in their giving.

are stingy — I don’t know if that includes you, but a large percentage of Christians are

stingy in their giving

ILLUS. Only 5 percent of American Christians tithe. The average evangelical Christian gives a mere 2.5 percent per capita. Some believers are so tight when it comes to money that had they been present at the Last Supper, they probably would’ve asked for separate checks. My objective is not to send you on a guilt trip, but if it does … good. The larger point is what would happen if evangelical believers were to actually give 10% of their income to Christian causes. There would be an additional $165 billion for churches to use and distribute. The global impact would be phenomenal. Here’s just a few things the Church could do with the kind of money:

Only 5 percent of American Christians tithe. The average evangelical Christian gives a

mere 2.5 percent per capita. Some believers are so tight when it comes to money that had they been present at the Last Supper, they probably would’ve asked for separate checks.

My objective is not to send you on a guilt trip, but if it does … good. The larger point is what would happen if evangelical believers were to actually give 10% of their income to Christian causes. There would be an additional $165 billion for churches to use and distribute. The global impact would be phenomenal. Here’s just a few things the Church could do with the kind of money:

$25 billion could relieve global hunger, starvation and deaths from preventable diseases in five years.

– $12 billion could eliminate illiteracy in five years.

$12 billion could eliminate illiteracy in five years.

$15 billion could solve the world’s water and sanitation issues, specifically at places in the world where 1 billion people live on less than $1 per day.

– $15 billion could solve the world’s water and sanitation issues, specifically at places in the world where 1 billion people live on less than $1 per day.

$1 billion could fully fund all overseas mission work.

– $1 billion could fully fund all overseas mission work.

– $100 – $110 billion would still be left over for additional ministry expansion.

$100 – $110 billion would still be left over for additional ministry expansion.

2. those are some amazing numbers

a. so why don’t we give?

b. the real problem when it comes to our giving is not about money — not really

3. actually, the Bible says it’s about our eyes

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” ( KJV)

a. the truth is: Giving is a heart issue, not a money issue

b. when Paul spoke about the legendary giving of the Macedonian church he urged the Corinthian church to prove their love like the Macedonians proved theirs

the Corinthian church to prove their love like the Macedonians proved theirs

“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.” (, ESV)

c. then he took it a step further and talked about the highest standard in love and giving

giving

“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.” ( NLT)

4. These Christians Gave Generously Our of Joy

III. THESE CHRISTIANS GAVE BEYOND THEIR MEANS

1. as Wesley discovered, there is a unique relationship between our theology, and our philanthropy

philanthropy

A. THE MACEDONIAN BELIEVERS LOVE EXCEEDED THE LIMITS OF THEIR WALLETS

A. THE MACEDONIAN BELIEVERS LOVE EXCEEDED THE LIMITS OF THEIR

WALLETS

1. the Macedonian believers were facing severe trials, they were in deep poverty, yet when they heard about the needs of the Christians in Jerusalem they begged Paul — they incessantly pleaded with him — to let them give in order to help

when they heard about the needs of the Christians in Jerusalem they begged Paul — they incessantly pleaded with him — to let them give in order to help

a. they stepped out in faith and gav e beyond their ability

1) my guess is that few, if any of us, give beyond our ability

2. Paul testifies that the Macedonians have done all that could be expected of them; they have responded to the appeal according to their means

have responded to the appeal according to their means

a. but Paul feels forced to add and beyond their means

b. Paul says of the Macedonian believers that they have contributed to the collection for the poor in a way that was over and above anything that could be expected from them, given their situation

for the poor in a way that was over and above anything that could be expected from them, given their situation

1) they evidently understood the truth of Jesus’ words, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’ ()

than to receive’ ()

ILLUS. In Mark’s Gospel we have the account of Jesus in the Temple standing off to the side watching the people give in the temple — I think He still does that. The rich came in and gave large gifts, but it is the poor widow who came and put in her two mites that Jesus pays special attention to. The Lord said she had cast in more than they all (see ). She gave of her poverty and she gave all that she had. If you measured the value of those little coppers against the riches of that temple, they didn’t amount to anything. But the Lord Jesus gives God’s evaluation: “And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. 4 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”” (, ESV)

to the side watching the people give in the temple — I think He still does that. The rich came in and gave large gifts, but it is the poor widow who came and put in her two mites that Jesus pays special attention to. The Lord said she had cast in more than they all (see ). She gave of her poverty and she gave all that she had. If you measured the value of those little coppers against the riches of that temple, they didn’t amount to anything. But the Lord Jesus gives God’s evaluation: “And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. 4 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”” (, ESV)

IV. APPLICATION

1. Giving Is a Test of the Sincerity of Our Love

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

“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”” (, ESV)

• “In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”” (, ESV)

a. Paul would remind the Corinthian believers that giving to the church is absolutely voluntary — the apostle does not prescribe a fixed amount or a fixed percentage of giving

voluntary — the apostle does not prescribe a fixed amount or a fixed percentage of giving

1) Paul is not commanding that they give

b. on the other hand, giving does test the reality of our faith, and in the apostle encourages the Corinthian believers to also excel in this grace of giving

the apostle encourages the Corinthian believers to also excel in this grace of giving

1) genuine faith genuinely changes us — it causes us to see the world through the eyes of our Savior; it causes us to love those who are hurting as Jesus loved them

eyes of our Savior; it causes us to love those who are hurting as Jesus loved them

2) and when we see the world through the eyes of Jesus we will become serious about alleviating the needs of others as we have opportunity to do so

about alleviating the needs of others as we have opportunity to do so

3) earnestness is a word that means an eagerness to act

4) this eagerness to act grows out of our love for others

c. Paul reminds us that our example is Jesus himself

“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.” (, ESV)

d. in Paul quotes Jesus as saying,‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.' 

receive.' 

ILLUS. The context of that verse is this: This is part of the apostle’s farewell speech to the elders at Ephesus. He’s probably never going to see these people again. He’s on his way to Rome, and is convinced that, while there, he will die a martyr to the faith. Okay, we know historically it didn’t happen — he doesn’t die during this visit to Rome. But he is convinced he will, and so he is giving his last words to these Ephesian elders. While most of what he says is for another time, and another sermon, he ends by telling these people to be radically generous.

the elders at Ephesus. He’s probably never going to see these people again. He’s on his way to Rome, and is convinced that, while there, he will die a martyr to the faith. Okay, we know historically it didn’t happen — he doesn’t die during this visit to Rome. But he is convinced he will, and so he is giving his last words to these Ephesian elders. While most of what he says is for another time, and another sermon, he ends by telling these people to be radically generous.

1) Paul tells the Ephesian elders to emulate his behavior in regard to generosity

“I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. 34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. 35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”” (, ESV)

2) the apostle is telling these Christians that if you recognize that you are sinners saved by grace you will live lives of radical generosity

saved by grace you will live lives of radical generosity

2. Giving Is a Test of Our Attitude

“The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (, ESV)

ILLUS. Can I be honest with you this morning? There is a part of me — hopefully a very small part — that doesn’t care why you give as long as you do. If you give because you think that if you don’t God will “get you,” or if you give out of a loyalty to your church, or if you give because you think it obligates God to bless you, hey — I’m cool with that. We have a budget to meet. We have mission obligations that we’ve made.

small part — that doesn’t care why you give as long as you do. If you give because you think that if you don’t God will “get you,” or if you give out of a loyalty to your church, or if you give because you think it obligates God to bless you, hey — I’m cool with that. We have a budget to meet. We have mission obligations that we’ve made.

a. I may not be overly concerned about your attitude in giving, but God is

b. in these verses Paul talks about the attitudes behind our giving

1) it’s to be done cheerfully — this is what God loves

2) it’s to be done bountifully

3) it’s to be done wholeheartedly — not reluctantly or under compulsion

3. Giving Is a Test of Our Faith

“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.”” (, ESV)

a. in vs. 15 I think a lot of you recognize the reference the apostle is making

1) he is referring to the Israelites and their wilderness wanderings in their daily collection of manna

collection of manna

a) manna was the miraculous provision of God that coated the ground like frost every morning when the Hebrews woke up to a new day

every morning when the Hebrews woke up to a new day

b) every day they had to go out and collect it — and regardless of how little or how much they might have collected, there is always enough to go around for the family — “whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered a little had no lack”

how much they might have collected, there is always enough to go around for the family — “whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered a little had no lack”

2) the apostle is reminding Christians that giving our wealth away is an act of faith

a) we give with the understanding that God will take care of both our needs, as well as the needs of those were giving to

well as the needs of those were giving to

b. we do this recognizing that the day may come when the roles are reversed and some church somewhere is taking up a collection for us

some church somewhere is taking up a collection for us

This morning we begin taking up the Missouri Missions Offering, and will continue doing so through the end of September. May we be like the Corinthian believers, and “finish doing it as well, so that our readiness in taking up the offering may be matched by our completion of it according to what we have.”

This morning we begin taking up the Missouri Missions Offering, and will continue doing so through the end of September. May we be like the Corinthian believers, and “finish doing it as well, so that our readiness in taking up the offering may be matched by our completion of it according to what we have.”