Practical Guidance for giving -Pt. I

Paul’s appeal continues

Paul started an appeal for liberally giving to help the needy saints in Jerusalem and in our passage today will continue with some practice guidance that will carry into next week too.

Paul’s appeal for liberal giving, or generosity.

He used the example of the churches (2Cor8:1-2)

Demonstrated the extent of their giving (2Cor8:3-4)

Shared the purpose of their giving (2Cor8:5)

And finally the encouragement in the giving through Titus (2Cor8:6-7)

Paul will continue with speaking about the liberality, the generosity of giving, not under commandment but as a sincerity of love.

2 Corinthians 8:8–9 NASB95

8 I am not speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also. 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 through His poverty might become rich.

Question: in looking at (2Cor8:8-9) what does the giving prove that Paul is speaking of?

The sincerity of your love.

Money is a touchy subject, many preachers do not like to talk about this sensitive issue. It must be addressed with great care. From Paul’s teaching about responsibility to contribute financially to the kingdom of God, specifically in this case to the needy saints in Jerusalem we can still learn much. So, this morning we are going to look at:

Strong Advise (2Cor8:10-15)

Safeguards in handling money (2Cor8:16-24)

Strong advise

Paul does not command the Corinthians to contribute to the saints in Jerusalem, but he does strongly advise to. And he builds a case, a defense, a reason why.

2 Corinthians 8:10–11 NASB95

10 I give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it. 11 But now finish doing it also, so that just as there was the readiness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability.

2 Corinthians 8:11–12 NASB95

11 But now finish doing it also, so that just as there was the readiness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability. 12 For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.

2 Corinthians 8:13–14 NASB95

13 For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality— 14 at this present time your abundance being a supply for their need, so that their abundance also may become a supply for your need, that there may be equality;

2 Corinthians 8:15 NASB95

15 as it is written, “He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little had no lack.”

What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?

Paul wanted to see the church abound, to be blessed, and to be a blessing at the same time

2 Corinthians 8:7 NASB95

7 But just as you abound in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you abound in this gracious work also.

May we glean from our text together?

Question: Look at (v.10) what is Paul giving them?

He is giving his opinion. It is not a commandment.

Question: Still looking at (v.10) he gives a great commendation, can you see it?

Yes for being the first to do this and also to desire to do this.

Question: In (v.11) he calls for them to do something, what is it?

To finish doing it, to bring to completion.

Question: In (v.11-12) Paul makes two points about the finishing, the completing, can you pull those two things out?

To do it by your ability (v.11)

According to what a person has, not to what does not have (v.12)

Point: Paul is not asking them to give so others are enriched and they are deprived but to give to help that there may be equality (v.13, 14).

(Insert Developing the passage PowerPoint)

Now may we develop the passage.

Starts with a commendation (v.10) that they were the first who wanted to give, and they desired to give to the church at Jerusalem, but they did not follow through due to circumstances outside of Paul’s control.

Remember the church had people telling them that Paul did not care about them, that he was in ministry for selfish gain, so their eagerness to give was extinguished

Paul is reminding them about their willingness needs to be reignited and brought to completion.

This collection is not about money for the church, but for benevolence for the poor saints in Jerusalem. This is separate and aside from their purposed contribution on the first day of the week.

This gift was to be proportional - according to what one has (v.12) - the church at Macedonia gave beyond what they had (ref. 2Cor8:3), but that is not what Paul is asking them for.

When you look at (v.13, 14) you see the word “equality” and we need to be careful with the word here and not take too much from it. This is not saying that all economic inequalities should be done away with. What it is saying is what the O.T. and the N.T. have already said.

Old Testament principle of equality giving (Lev19:9-10; Deut24:12-15)

Leviticus 19:9–10 NASB95

9 ‘Now when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 ‘Nor shall you glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather the fallen fruit of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the needy and for the stranger. I am the Lord your God.

And let me give another so you can get the spirit of the principle even more

Deuteronomy 24:12–13 NASB95

12 “If he is a poor man, you shall not sleep with his pledge. 13 “When the sun goes down you shall surely return the pledge to him, that he may sleep in his cloak and bless you; and it will be righteousness for you before the Lord your God.

Question: What was the intended result if giving, helping the poor (v.13)?

- A blessing and will be considered righteousness for you before the Lord.

Deuteronomy 24:14–15 NASB95

14 “You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your countrymen or one of your aliens who is in your land in your towns. 15 “You shall give him his wages on his day before the sun sets, for he is poor and sets his heart on it; so that he will not cry against you to the Lord and it become sin in you.

Question: From blessing in (v.13) now it would appear that not helping is something else, what is it (v.15)?

The poor will cry out against you and it will become sin in you.

New Testament principle of equality giving (Act2:44-45, 4:34)

Acts 2:44–45 NASB95

44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.

The equality of giving had to do with taking care of need. Here is another example

Acts 4:34 NASB95

34 For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales

Point: The selling was by those who are willing, willing to give so that no one had need. It was not a command, it was not for everyone.

Just as Moses directed the people to care for the poor so the church has the same instruction to do the same and it comes through generous giving.

Reason for the giving (vv.14-15)

_______________________________

_______________________________

The physical reason - they had the ability and the means to give.

One day they may be the ones who are in need

The theological, spiritual reason - God took care of all needs of Israel in the wilderness so no one had too much or too little.

God worked all things out, to the one who gathered much it did not result in an overabundance, to the one who gathered little, it did not result in a serious deprivation. God knows and meets the needs of the people and here the means is the church helping the church.

(Transition) Remember Paul had been accused of not caring for them and for raising money for selfish gain. Now now goes onto the next portion of the handling of the money so there is no questions raised (a good defense is a good offence here)

Safeguard for handling money

Paul is going onto in this section to explain the procedure he is using to collect the contribution. He wanted to give them some safeguards that this is not about selfish gain.

2 Corinthians 8:16–17 NASB95

16 But thanks be to God who puts the same earnestness on your behalf in the heart of Titus. 17 For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest, he has gone to you of his own accord.

2 Corinthians 8:18–19 NASB95

18 We have sent along with him the brother whose fame in the things of the gospel has spread through all the churches; 19 and not only this, but he has also been appointed by the churches to travel with us in this gracious work, which is being administered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself, and to show our readiness,

2 Corinthians 8:20–21 NASB95

20 taking precaution so that no one will discredit us in our administration of this generous gift; 21 for we have regard for what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

2 Corinthians 8:22–23 NASB95

22 We have sent with them our brother, whom we have often tested and found diligent in many things, but now even more diligent because of his great confidence in you. 23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brethren, they are messengers of the churches, a glory to Christ.

2 Corinthians 8:24 NASB95

24 Therefore openly before the churches, show them the proof of your love and of our reason for boasting about you.

What did you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?

Gleaning from the scripture:

Question: Paul gives another commendation (v.16), what is it?

Same earnestness in you is in the heart of Titus.

Question: look at (v.19) what can you learn about the brother whose fame is known (v.18)?

He has been appointed to travel with them in this gracious work.

Question: Why was the person (vv.18-19) appointed, what is the purpose of the appointment (v.20)?

In taking precautions so no one will be discredited in this gracious work.

Question: What does Paul have honorable regard for (v.21)?

Things in the sight of God and man.

Question: Jump down to (v.24) we see a commendation again and a call to action, can you see them?

Commends them by his boasting of them, calls them to show the proof of their love.

Titus came with a love for the Corinthians not just because of Paul’s love for them that he conveyed but because of their reception of him when he came with the “hard letter.”

Notice how Titus came (v.17) of his own accord. He was willing to go, not under compulsion, but under compassion and care for them as a emissary sent by Paul.

we don’t know who the brother mentioned in (v.18) is, but we can know he is known, he is approved and he had a readiness to do it (vv.18-19)

Some believe it could be Timothy, Titus, Barnabas, Silas, maybe even Apollos or Aristarchus.

What about you, could you be one trusted with such an awesome task?

Like this person charged with the gospel (v.18) we too are, and it is an awesome responsibility and privilege to have it, know it, share it.

Paul was taking on the role of helper, assistant in the administration of the gift. For there were accusations against him already and he did not want to leave anything to chance (vv.20-21)

Paul wanted to stay clear of any wrongdoing not only in the eyes of God but in the eyes of men. Think of this.

Proverbs 3:4 NASB95

4 So you will find favor and good repute In the sight of God and man.

Now we know there were other times he was not worried about men (ref: Gal1:10-12)

So having giving the practical advise for giving, Paul calls for action (v.24)

2 Corinthians 8:24 GNB

24 Show your love to them, so that all the churches will be sure of it and know that we are right in boasting about you.

Show you love to them, to who? To the poor saints in Jerusalem. Also, to all the churches whom Paul boasted about the Corinthians to would see it and know it too.

This ends this portion, we will pick up on this next week starting in 2Cor9:1-15, in part II of this teaching.

(Prayer) (exit)