Season of Giving 2

2 Corinthians 9:1–7 ESV

1 Now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the ministry for the saints, 2 for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them. 3 But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be. 4 Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—for being so confident. 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction. 6 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.

2 Corin

Review background — Jerusalem Christians in time of famine and persecution. Paul, his contemporaries, and many first century churches were working together to provide and send financial aid to the church in Jerusalem by participating in the grace of giving.

We must be prepared to give.

This financial offering wasn’t new or news to the Corinthian church. In fact, they brought the topic up to Paul and asked him about it.

1 Corinthians 16:1–4 ESV

1 Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. 3 And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem. 4 If it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me.

Paul’s point in 2 Corin 9:1-5 is to invite the Corinthians to be prepared to give.

In life

At Church

In Death

2. Paul offers THE POINT: Be generous.

There isn’t a third point to this sermon.

2 Corinthians 9:6–7 ESV

6 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.

— “For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.”

Isaiah and the coat

He was cheerful to give!

He called us, wanting us to also be cheerful.

Why would he call us?

Because the coat, while his, isn’t actually his. It’s ours.

“I bought a new pair of shoes. Don’t worry. I them with my money.”

He wants to see if his cheer to give can be our cheer to give because he gave away our coat.

We were/ so proud of him!

The Convo turns, “So, do you have another coat?”

Matthew 6:25–34 ESV

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

K&M and the coat — now we have to replace the coat.

Isaiah was not only calling for our cheer… he was also calling to assure us that his gift, while from the tightness of our resources, was a gift that God would and will provide.

K&M and the coat — now we have to replace the coat.

He was sowing generously uneasy if he would reap a replacement coat out of his giving.

Some of the dangers of Giving:

Maybe he was working an angle?

Maybe the lady was working an angle?

Maybe he was being taking advantage of?

Maybe we are being taken advantage of?

We must engage in the acts of generous sowing and giving so we can experience the reaping within the Kingdom — especially when we are taken advantage of.

When you give to O Hills… ministries… facilities… resources… staff… benevolence...

Cathy and those in need...

A REMINDER:

You are a steward of God’s resources.

Giving from a decided heart… without hesitation… not at gun point…

The statement is NOT “God loves it when you give.”

The statement is “God loves a cheerful giver.”