An Example of Giving

2 Corinthians 8:1-15

Introduction:

In this chapter Paul is writing to remind the Corinthian Church of their obligation earlier to send a gift to help the Church of Jerusalem.

*Evidently they had failed in this obligation

Paul is writing to encourage them to fulfill this obligation. To do this he is using the example of the Macedonian Church.

A message on giving is probably not anyone’s favorite message to preach or to listen to.

The subject of giving is certainly an important one in the Scriptures

ð In OT God’s people were instructed to give a tithe of all that they had

ð Even before God gave that as a command, we see Abraham and Jacob committing a 10th of their income and belongings to the Lord

ð In Matthew, Mark, and Luke 1 out of every 6 verses deals with money. Of the 29 parables Christ told, 16 deal with a person and his money.

ð Someone said, “Jesus spoke more about money than heaven, hell, salvation, and repentance.

Today as we look at the example of the Macedonian Church I want to look at 10 principles that apply to our giving.

1. The amount of our giving is not to be based on how much we have

2. Our giving is an opportunity for us to be a blessing to others and to further God’s work

3. Proper giving flows out of a relationship with the Lord

4. We must be committed to giving

5. Giving is a test of the sincerity of our love for God and mankind

6. To have the right perspective we must compare our giving with that of Jesus

7. We need to give out of a willing heart

8. Our giving should not leave us at the mercy of others

9. Giving often works both ways

10. Proper giving is rooted in God’s faithfulness

I. The amount of our giving is not to be based on how much we have

Illustration of the calves:

The situation the Church was in v. 2

Great trial of affliction: Not completely sure what this trial was

Someone mentioned 3 civil wars that affected the region

Whatever it was it was GREAT, it was a TRIAL, and there was AFFLICTION.

This is when people generally turn inward: “I cannot help someone else; I have enough of my own problems.”

Deep poverty: They were checking under the couch cushions to go and buy milk at the store.

They did not have money in the bank

They did not have a great income source

Often this is an excuse for not giving today.

The sacrifice of the Church v. 3

Play on words at end of verse 2: deep poverty yet abounding in riches of liberality.

They gave beyond their ability. They dug deep and sacrificial gave to the need

They did not make excuses or hoard what they had

Statistics:

US News and World Report: those with lowest incomes gave 5.5%

Those with higher incomes gave 2.9%

Confident Living: Half of all contributions to charities come from homes making less than $30,000.

Applications:

God is more interested in our sacrifice than He is in the amount we give

Mark 12:41-44 Widow that put in two mites

Focus is not on how little but how much she gave: sacrifice

How much or how little we have should never affect how we are willing to give. The question is more, “How much are we willing to sacrifice in order to do what God lays on my heart to do?”

Some with a little are willing to do much

Some with much are willing to do little.

II. Our giving is an opportunity for us to be a blessing to others and to further God’s work

1. The attitude of the Church v. 4

Paul was not begging the Church for $$ they were begging him to take it

Almost as if they were saying, “Please let us help you with the work God has called you to do, we desperately want to be a part of the ministry!!”

This certainly was a blessing to Paul and the people that he was ministering to and gave the Macedonians a part in what the Lord was doing.

2. What is the attitude today when we see people in need or are asked to be a part of someone’s mission work?

Often it is, “O, here is someone else who wants MY money!!”

I am not saying that we can help or support everyone, we cannot, but too often we look at opportunities with the negative rather than the positive.

3. Giving is not only a blessing to the one receiving, but also to the one giving. There is an element of joy in giving as the Lord enables us to.

III. Proper giving flows out of a relationship with the Lord v. 5

1. They gave themselves to the Lord

First they gave themselves to the Lord, then to others

Hymn 496 I Surrender All

2. Then they gave themselves to others

Note why: It was the will of God, i.e. “It was what God wanted us to do.”

One of the ways that we show that we have truly given ourselves to the Lord is that we are willing to sacrificially give to the Lord’s work and to others in need

The hymn says, “I surrender all.” Yet how is that proven by our attitude toward giving?

If we know the Lord, and IF we have given ourselves to Him, they we can not help but give to others.

**The Lord is not interested in our gifts and giving unless we have given ourselves to Him.

IV. We must be committed to giving vv. 6-7

1. Paul had written to the Church concerning giving to the Church in Jerusalem in 1 Cor. 16. Now Paul is writing to encourage them to fulfill the commitment that they had made

2. Paul encouraged them: They had abounded in

Faith

Speech

Knowledge

Diligence

Love

Now they needed to abound in the grace of giving as well

They had made a commitment and now I believe that Paul is writing to encourage them to fulfill that commitment.

When it comes to giving I believe that it is important for us as Christians to make a commitment as to what we feel the Lord would have us to give, and then stick with it.

We should also be willing to go above and beyond it

V. Giving is a test of the sincerity of our love for God and mankind v. 8

Paul is not writing here to give them an absolute command that they give to this offering.

But, how they respond to this need would show the sincerity of their love toward other believers.

The same thing is certainly true today: Love for the Lord, love for others

VI. To have the right perspective we must compare our giving with that of Jesus v. 9

Often we compare our giving to what others are doing and feel satisfied with that. Paul here encourages them to compare themselves with Jesus’ giving

He was rich: He had it all as creator and sustainer of universe

He became poor: He left it all behind

That YOU might become rich

VII. We need to give out of a willing heart v. 12

Earlier in verse 2 he mentioned that they had given with joy. I believe that the two go hand in hand. We cannot give with joy if we do not give with a willing heart.

Why can we give joyfully with a willing heart?

1. It is an opportunity for us to help others

2. It is an opportunity for us to be a part of what God is doing

Missions: Penny Warner translating God’s Word in new language

Earl and Joan building Churches

Dan and Peggy: Helping to reach new tribes with gospel

Here in WC reaching people with a message of hope

3. It is an opportunity for us to show God’s love: His love gave

4. It is an opportunity for us to see God’s faithfulness: Supplying our own needs

VIII. Our giving should not leave us at the mercy of others v. 13

If we give away everything that we have then we will become a burden to others ourselves.

Yet many use this as an excuse not to give when they are able to do so.

We need to carefully consider what we need.

IX. Giving often works both ways v. 14

This is the working of the body of Christ

When one part lacks the other supplies and vice versa

X. Proper giving is rooted in God’s faithfulness v. 15

We are able to give because God is faithful to supply our needs

Phil. 4:19 is often quoted, but few stop and realize that God made that promise based on the Philippians giving.

Could be understood to say, “Because you are giving to Paul’s need, be sure that your own needs will be supplied.”

Fear of future needs is often used as an excuse for not giving. “What if….”

See Psalm 37:25-26

I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lends; And his descendants are blessed.