What God Did with My Gift

2 Corinthians 9:12-15

What God Did With My Gift

For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission flowing from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift![1]

I am blessed beyond all imagination in my ministry. Last month, after preaching here at First Baptist Church, I fed a starving child in Brasilia and intervened to free a young woman from prostitution in Sao Paulo, earning a hearing from each of them as I spoke of the love of Christ. I gathered the children of prisoners incarcerated in Bolivian jails so that I could teach them about Christ and His love. I trained ministers of the Gospel in Indonesia and encouraged them in the task of evangelising their island nation. I helped start a Chinese congregation in Venezuela while I ministered to Angolan refugees, many maimed by the ubiquitous landmines planted throughout that impoverished nation.

As I served Christ, I encountered a homeless man on the streets of Victoria and sheltered him for the night; the act gave me opportunity to speak to him of Christ. A man recently released from prison and living on the streets of Edmonton was fed a hot meal and heard the message of life in Christ. I encouraged a sister church in the Lower Mainland through providing a pastor. I helped resolve a conflict between a pastor and a church, bringing each into warm fellowship with one another and so strengthened the witness of Christ in their community. I taught theology to students in Calgary, church history at Carey Hall and homiletics to ministerial students in Edmonton. I helped start a church in a Saskatchewan community where there was no longer a Christian witness.

I preached to thousands around the world, delivering the message of life and light in Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean, Romanian, Croatian, Serb, French, English, Hutu, and a number of other languages. I also ministered among Romanian, Korean and Chinese communities in the Lower Mainland of our own beloved province. I did all this and never left Dawson Creek, as did you if you are sharing in the giving of our church.

No, I am not superman; and I am not some sort of mystic. I am speaking of the way in which our gifts to the work of Christ are distributed through our congregation. As we develop our budgetary process, we will forward a portion of our gifts to the Baptist Union of Western Canada, which in turn forwards a portion of their receipts to Canadian Baptist Ministries and to the various area ministries, including British Columbia. In addition to our regular giving, we receive special offerings for various associated ministries including: special projects for Canadian Baptist Ministries; the Retired Ministers Fund and the White Gift Offering for the Baptist Union of Western Canada. All this says nothing of the service provided through gifts distributed more immediately. We provide emergency relief to qualified recipients, counselling to needy individuals who would not otherwise have access to such relief, home visitation, soul winning outreach, and preaching the Gospel.

When I give a gift through my church, I reach out to a far greater world than what my eyes see. My gifts to the cause of Christ reach far beyond myself, extending my influence to the farthest reaches of the earth, and in this manner I bring glory and praise and honour to Christ through co‑operating with multiplied believers around the world. Fellow believers are encouraged through my generosity and in turn, they praise and thank God for my participation in their ministry. Outsiders are confronted with the Gospel of Christ and some are brought into the Faith to the glory of God. All this is result of my service through giving.

In order to understand more thoroughly the impact of our gifts, and in order to grasp more thoroughly the world-wide influence of our participation in the act of giving, let’s consider the Apostle’s closing words concerning the collection for the Jerusalem saints.

God, Through My Giving, Supplies the Needs of His People. The ministry of this service is … supplying the needs of the saints. The method approved by the Lord for supplying the needs of His people is through gifts and offerings. Never, in the whole of the Word of God, is found encouragement or permission to generate moneys through solicitation from outsiders. Needy members of the Israelite community were provided relief through a divinely commissioned welfare program. They were permitted to glean and owners of the fields were directed to avoid harvesting so thoroughly that nothing was left. Listen to these commands from the Law.

When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God [Leviticus 19:9, 10].

When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. When you beat your olive trees, you shall not go over them again. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow. When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not strip it afterward. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow. You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I command you to do this [Deuteronomy 24:19-22].

No Israelite was to be permitted to be reduced to penury, to begging. Although we do encounter beggars in the New Testament, this was foreign to the will of God for His people. Those of His people whom He blessed were to bear responsibility for supplying the needs of those of His people who discovered themselves in need—whatever the cause. Neither was the work of God, the work of the Temple, to be dependent for provision beyond the offerings given by the people of God.

When we examine the detailed instructions provided for the churches, we discover that the principle laid down of God providing for the needs of His people and His work through the offerings of His people appears to be a divinely appointed principle which shall endure throughout this present age. Listen to a brief excerpt from John’s Third Epistle: Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth [3 John 5-8].

The brothers mentioned in verse five are missionaries or perhaps itinerating evangelists, sent out by one church and visiting other congregations as they travel. They are supported by the gifts of fellow saints as they travel. More specifically, notice verse seven, where we discover the motive of their going and the method of financing explained: They have gone out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Motivated by love for Christ, missionaries and other labourers go forth, receiving no assistance from outsiders to whom they are dispatched.

Because these workers were dependent upon the gifts of God’s people to supply their need, Gaius was encouraged to participate with them in their labours through send[ing] them on their journey in a manner worthy of God [verse six]. In other words, participating with them in their mission is participating with God in His greater labour. After all, God is the One who calls each labourer to his or her ministry. God is the One who places in the heart of the labourer where he or she should work and in what manner he or she should conduct the service they are offering. Therefore, to participate with the labourer is to become a fellow worker with God.

This practise is in keeping with the explanation provided in 1 Corinthians 3:5-9: What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labour. For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.

The principle of supplying the resources for Kingdom work through our gifts is biblical. The more immediate context of our text this morning speaks of the provision for relief of God’s people when they are in need. Although not often practised in this day, relief for God’s people is the responsibility of the churches! The first example of this principle discovered in the New Testament is that of the First Baptist Church of Jerusalem.

Listen again to the familiar words of Acts 4:32-35 with the understanding gained thus far: Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

As I give through my local congregation, God supplies the need of His people. Thus I am responsible to both supply the ability of my congregation to minister to others and to insure that the funds passing through the congregation are distributed in a manner worthy of the Name of Christ. I am responsible to know how my church allocates the gifts of God’s people and to insure that I participate in the distribution through making myself aware of the budgetary process and through making myself aware of the distribution on a regular basis.

God, Through My Giving, Strengthens Others. God strengthens others as my gifts create thankful hearts: The ministry of this service … is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. In a very real sense I have lived—and continue to live—by the gifts of God’s people. Most of you are not dependent upon the giving of the people of God, but almost any minister engaged in full-time work will discover that he is dependent upon such gifts. As a professor at Criswell Collage, my income was provided by the gifts and annuities provided through God’s people.

As a missionary to British Columbia, I was supported by the gifts of God’s people which were channelled through the Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. As a pastor, I have lived by the offerings of the people of God. This says nothing of the multiplied times that I have received gifts from people whose hearts were motivated by love for Christ.

Whenever I pray, I cannot pray without gratitude to God for His people. Many expressions of thanks to God for you have escaped my heart and the lips of my family. During a difficult family crisis, a Baptist congregation supplied a generous gift to assist Lynda and I to defray expenses. To this day, we often give thanks to God for such generosity. It is not unusual that even in the process of depositing a cheque written on the account of this church, that I should pause to offer thanks for the supply of God through His people.

When we were beginning services in a former charge over which I accepted responsibility, I had no income promised since the congregation had no denominational support. The assembly was small at the first, and although they were a generous people, they could not always meet the needs of our family. On many occasions, I would instruct the treasurer to write off past support, counting it as a gift to the church.

However, God would take note of such times and supply in most unusual ways. On one occasion, we received a sizeable gift from a family I had met in Wisconsin almost ten years previously. On another occasion a family which had moved to Ontario was moved to send a generous gift designated for Lynda and I. On yet another occasion, we received a gracious and generous gift from a friend in Vancouver. Throughout the nine years, I laboured with that congregation and until the assembly was self-supporting, such occasional and unexpected gifts supplied our needs. Would you be surprised if I should tell you that on each such occasion we would gather as a family and offer prayers of thanksgiving to God, asking especially that He would return a generous yield on the investment of these precious friends? Each such experience made me thankful for the friendship of the Family of God, for the love discovered among the people of God, for the grace of God revealed through such friendship.

How often have I been privileged to hear exclamations of thanksgiving to God because as the minister of this congregation I was able to transport our gifts. Perhaps it was foodstuffs received from our people and distributed to families with needs. At other times I have heard people exclaim their gratitude because I was able to act in God’s Name and on behalf of the congregation to provide emergency shelter or to supply some necessary and immediate relief. At yet other times, I have heard exclamations of praise and thanksgiving because I was able to transfer a cheque in support of some particular work in which servants of the Most High God were engaged. The principle to remember is that generosity arising from God’s prompting always results in spontaneous exclamations of thanksgiving.

God strengthens others as our gifts generate praise to His Name. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission flowing from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others … because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. It is axiomatic that the thankful heart is a heart filled with praise. There are a few old grouches in the world; however, we should never permit a grouch to deter us from generosity when it is in our hands to honour God through providing for the needs of His people, for recipients of our largess will give praise to God.

In all my years of ministry, I can remember but few occasions when someone complained about the provision of God’s people. Perhaps others griped when I was not near, but I know of only two occasions when a recipient of God’s goodness complained. Those instances surrounded the provision food to people who complained because the food did not meet their expectations.

In the Old Testament is found an example of the praise which arises when a godly individual is supplied through the generosity of another. David’s response to the gifts brought by Abigail was praise to God. You will remember the account found in the twenty-fifth chapter of 1 Samuel. David instructed his men to protect the livestock of a wealthy man living at Carmel. Later, David had dispatched some of his men to ask that provisions for his men be supplied.

The name Nabal translated somewhat freely into our English tongue means Fool. Later, pleading for David to demonstrate moderation, Abigail, Nabal’s wife, makes a play on his name. Let not my lord regard this worthless fellow, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name, and folly is with him. But I your servant did not see the young men of my lord, whom you sent [see 1 Samuel 25:25]. Nabal dismissed David’s request with scathing words and an utter lack of concern save for himself, incurring the wrath of David. David, incensed at the treatment his men had received at the hand of Nabal, moved to slaughter the entire household of Nabal. In the interim, a servant of Nabal hastened to Abigail, Nabal’s wife, to inform her of the actions of her husband. Wise woman that she was, she quickly gathered provisions worthy of David’s position and following in the train of the foodstuffs, she pled for the life of her husband.

I ask that you zero in on David’s response to the gifts, found in verse 32. David said to Abigail, ‘”Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me” [1 Samuel 25:32]. David praised God, not only for the provision of food, which was desperately required by his army, but he praised the Lord because through this act God had kept him from needless bloodshed. There can be no doubt that God was glorified, just as there can be no doubt that David was made yet stronger as he realised he need not avenge himself, resting instead in the confidence that God would provide for him. Just so, the obedient member of the household of faith can rest assured that each act of generosity, each act which provides for God’s people, results in praise to God as the recipient is made strong in the Faith.

I find another, more powerful example of praise to God resulting from giving by the people of God in Paul’s letter to the Philippians. You may wish to turn to Philippians 4:10-20 to read this passage with me. I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

That is exciting and powerful! God is glorified by a joyful heart which is amply supplied.

God strengthens others as He leads them to pray for me: They [will] long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. I shall never move beyond my need for the prayers of God’s people. I am a fallen man, a member of a fallen race; and as a fallen man I am in constant need of grace and mercy. Not only do I need mercy and grace, I am not always aware of my overwhelming need! I need the people of God to pray for me. Without question, the people who know me best pray for me; otherwise I would have no impact in ministry.

In this sentence, Paul indicates something greater then we could ever imagine, however. The Apostle teaches us that those who are recipients of our grace of giving pray for us who give! Though they don’t even know our names, they pray for us. Through this means the whole of the Family of God is strengthened and joined more closely in their work as they experience a bond which transcends race and culture and language in expressions of concern for one another.

Let me give a wonderful example of such prayers found again in the pages of the Old Testament. You perhaps recall the account of Ruth, the Moabitess who returned to Israel with Naomi, her mother-in-law, to find a new life among the people of God. Being widows, the two women had no means of support other then the largess of the surrounding peoples beyond what limited income they might produce through their own efforts as should have been practised under the Law. Therefore, at the time of harvest Ruth ventured out into the fields surrounding Bethlehem to glean behind the harvesters. Guided by the good hand of God, she happened into the fields of Boaz and received a generous reception from the man.

At this point, let me take up the account provided in Ruth 2:17-21. She gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. And she took it up and went into the city. Her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. She also brought out and gave her what food she had left over after being satisfied. And her mother-in-law said to her, “Where did you glean today? And where have you worked? Blessed be the man who took notice of you.”

Naomi’s immediate exclamation is in the form of a prayer that blessing should crown the man who noticed Ruth. The reason for this exclamation is that upon returning home that evening, Ruth showed Naomi the grain she had gathered. The amount she had was far beyond anything which might have been anticipated, indicating that she had received some form of generous assistance or special consideration. Ruth volunteered some information concerning the generous man who had shown her such kindness, which led Naomi to again break out in prayer.

So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked and said, “The man's name with whom I worked today is Boaz.” And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!” Naomi also said to her, “The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.”

Joy and gratitude fill the heart of Naomi causing her to break forth in spontaneous prayer for God’s blessing on the one who is so sensitive as to serve as God’s conduit. Moreover, that man was a near relative who could perform an even greater service to the two women by serving as a kinsman redeemer. Our gifts have resulted in untold numbers of prayers for God’s blessing on us as we continue in His work. Those blessed by our obedience to the Gospel and more particularly our sensitivity to God’s Spirit to provide for His people constantly result in prayers for His goodness to crown our lives.

God, Through My Giving, Stimulates Others to Acts of Generosity. The ministry of this service … is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. When I read these words in verse twelve, I am convinced that Paul had in view not only the recipients of the gifts the Corinthians would provide, but that he had in view as well those who wished to give to relieve the burden of need but were unable to do so and those who in turn would receive ministry from the saints in Jerusalem once they were set free from need.

You see, when the people of God see God work to supply the need of His people, they rejoice. As opportunity presents itself in days to come those so stimulated to generosity will no doubt be inclined to even greater generosity. Likewise, when freed from the pressure of caring for immediate needs, the people of God are freed to serve others. Together we encourage one another. Together we strengthen one another. Together we build one another in the Faith and enable one another to accomplish great deeds in the Name of our God and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Nothing I do in the realm of the Kingdom of God is without implications in the lives of others. Nothing I do in the realm of the work of Kingdom of God is done without impact in the lives of others. When I pray, others are effected. When I serve, others are effected. When I give, others are effected. Paul notes this in the opening words of this very letter when he writes of God: [God] delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many [2 Corinthians 1:10, 11]. Paul anticipated continued deliverance as the people of God participated in that loosening of bonds. The impact of his free ministry to the world was that many will give thanks.

When pressed by need, God’s people may be hindered in pursuing the work assigned. Frequently I meet people who complain at the thought of supporting a minister. Some groups, usually associated with various cults, boast that their elders receive no moneys from the people. Their position of refusal to support their elders is understandable since the labourer deserves his wages [1 Timothy 5:18], and also since the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel [1 Corinthians 9:14]. Let them preach the gospel and they, too, can receive their living from the gospel. If they have no support, it may be that they deserve no support.

Although Revenue Canada views those funds as income, the support provided is a gift from the people of God to set the minister of God free to fulfil his calling. The impact of that ministry is not the result of the labours of one man, but the impact of that service is the result of a congregation united to honour God and to reach the lost. Each soul saved through the preaching of the Gospel, each believer built up in the Faith, each servant encouraged through the preaching of the Word, is the result of the entire congregation united. The moneys provided this pastor are but the expression of support of the entire congregation, and thanksgivings will overflow to God.

I have preached a rather extended series of messages on the unwelcome subject of giving. I trust that you have discovered through these studies that the matter is not a plea for your wealth. The issue of giving is nothing less than insuring that you and I have set our priorities in line with those of our Father. The issue of giving is nothing less than an expression of our worship and our witness. The matter of giving is nothing less than a demonstration of our voluntary participation in the work of God. Our giving must always be tied to the fact that we are rich in Christ and that we share in the extension of His Kingdom.

If you have shared our service this day and you have never trusted Christ, a message such as this you have just endured must be enigmatic. How could believers rejoice in the opportunity to give? How could anyone associate giving with worship? I concur with you that by the standards by which you live the message must be foolishness because it is utterly opposed to common sense as you have defined common sense.

May I say, however, that Christians are a rich people, endowed with wealth of which you neither know nor recognise. Neither shall you ever value the wealth of heaven until you have experienced the true wealth which is found in Christ alone. Christians look to a day when gold shall have value only as paving material, when diamonds and pearls are treated simply as building supplies, and when precious stones serve as foundation stones. Christians look forward to a day when eternal investments shall be redeemed, and the souls of many people are presented as precious, priceless, eternal treasures before Him who enriches all who call on His Name.

I am not speaking in a secret code, but I am speaking of Christ and the life which is true life and which is found in Him alone. I speak of freedom from guilt, freedom from condemnation, freedom from living with eyes which can see only the transient and the ephemeral. I invite you to life in Christ, even as the Word promises:, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” [Romans 10:9-13]. Be saved today. Amen.

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