Practical Guidance for Giving - Pt. II

Liberality of giving

Keeping things in context Paul had been addressing, encouraging, imploring the collection for the Judean saints. Still the overall principle of the liberality of given has been displayed (2Cor8)

The scripture is has much to say regarding the liberality of giving in teaching from Jesus and the Apostles.

The teaching of Jesus (Lk6:30, 34-36, 14:12-14)

Give to those who ask (Lk6:30)

Lend without expectations (Lk6:34-36)

Invite the outcasts (Lk14:12-14)

Example of Paul (Act20:33-35; Gal2:9-10)

Help the weak (Act20:33-35)

Remember the poor (Gal2:9-10)

Paul’s teaching (Gal6:9-10; Eph4:28)

Do good (Gal6:9-10)

Share with others (Eph4:28)

Do good, be rich in good (1Tim6:17-19)

We have already seen the liberality of giving exampled by the Churches of Macedonia, Antioch, Jerusalem. From people like Barnabas and Dorcus to name just a few places and people.

Remember Jesus words to us via Paul.

Acts 20:35 NASB95

35 “In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

yet today, if we are honest, brutally honest giving liberally is not the norm, people sow sparingly not trusting the Lord with first fruits. Giving can be a very joyful, cheerful experience and it should be. Even if it is not much and it is given from our poverty (think of 2Cor8:1-5)

We are going to focus on (vv.9-15) becoming a cheerful giver, but I cannot leave out the beginning of the chapter so let’s look at that first.

The Willing giver

Ministering means to serve, a giver is someone who is serving the body of Christ. There has to be a willingness and an action within the means that God provides.

2 Corinthians 9:1–2 NKJV

1 Now concerning the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you; 2 for I know your willingness, about which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal has stirred up the majority.

2 Corinthians 9:3–4 NKJV

3 Yet I have sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this respect, that, as I said, you may be ready; 4 lest if some Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we (not to mention you!) should be ashamed of this confident boasting.

2 Corinthians 9:5 NKJV

5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation.

As I mentioned we will focus on (vv.6-15) but still need to glean from this portion of scripture too.

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

Just a few quick points to glean from the passage.

Question: Looking at (v.2) what does Paul note about the Corinthians and them ministering?

He knew their willingness, and their zeal

Question: What did Paul do to the churches of Macedonians about the Corinthians (vv.2-3)?

He boasted of them.

One more thing to take notice of

Question: Look again at (v.5)for them to be ready as a matter of?

Be ready as a ready of generosity not as grudging obligation.

Let me make a comment or two.

Paul is boasting of the Corinthians to the Macedonians and he is boasting of the Macedonians to the Corinthians (2Cor8:1-5)

There are four ways that gifts can be given and I’m not talking about in the basket or on-line.

You can give as a duty

We may say we give from heart outwardly but inwardly you are giving from what you believe to be an obligation, doing it under compulsion as if you were paying your taxes not giving to your Lord.

You can give for self-satisfaction

Giving for the good feeling by giving, this is being able to say “i give” but oftentimes there is no true heart consideration on why the giving and what the giving does.

You can give for prestige, pride

This is the gift that is given to help but to glorify the giver, “look at what I give, etc.”

You can give out of love

Now if we are honest, giving in the other ways is still giving and still accomplishes in the end a part of what it is intended for (to help others).

The real was to give is out of love not out of compulsion, to give because you cannot but give from your heart to God’s. God gave us Jesus, our giving is giving back to God. It is a demonstration of our love for Him

It is also a demonstration of our faith in Him to meet our needs when our giving does not seem to make sense at times because of our worldly wants, desires and supposed needs.

(Transition) So what is the secret of joyful, cheerful giving and being a cheerful giver? Well, Paul gives us some guidance in our passage this morning. While in context it is about helping the need saints in Judea (Jerusalem) there are still some principles we can pull from it for today. First our passage then will get into looking at the principles

2 Corinthians 9:6–7 NASB95

6 Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

2 Corinthians 9:8–9 NASB95

8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; 9 as it is written, “He scattered abroad, he gave to the poor, His righteousness endures forever.”

2 Corinthians 9:10–11 NASB95

10 Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; 11 you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God.

2 Corinthians 9:12–13 NASB95

12 For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God. 13 Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all,

2 Corinthians 9:14–15 NASB95

14 while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

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

Gleaning from the scripture:

Question: Principle found in (v.6) what is it?

Sow bountifully will reap bountifully

Question: Another principle found (v.7); can you see it?

Give as you have purposed in your heart.

Question: A promise is found in (v.8) can you give it?

So that you may have all sufficiency in everything, an abundance for every good deed.

Question: When looking at (v.10-11) who is the supplier of the seed and the bread and what is the promise from that person?

The person is God who supplies the seed

The promise is will be enriched in everything for all liberality.

Question: Because of the gift given (v.13) that is from their obedience and confession of the gospel, what will be the results?

They (the recipients) will glorify God.

Question: Just one more for now, look at (v.13-14), how is the gift given (v.13), and why is the gift given (v.14)?

It is given in liberality

From the surpassing grace of God in them.

So, we have seen some of the principles, but now lets focus on those and others we can see in the passage now.

God loves a cheerful giver

Consider this to help us learn to be cheerful giver.

A cheerful giver can know God will meet his needs.

As David taught (Ps41:1-3)

Psalm 41:1–2 NASB95

1 How blessed is he who considers the helpless; The Lord will deliver him in a day of trouble. 2 The Lord will protect him and keep him alive, And he shall be called blessed upon the earth; And do not give him over to the desire of his enemies.

Psalm 41:3 NASB95

3 The Lord will sustain him upon his sickbed; In his illness, You restore him to health.

As the Lord spoke through Isaiah (Isa58:6-11)

In summary give to meet the needs of others and here is what you will get in return.

Isaiah 58:11 NASB95

11 “And the Lord will continually guide you, And satisfy your desire in scorched places, And give strength to your bones; And you will be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.

You will have the Lord’s guidance, He will satisfy your desire, give you strength, make you like a well watered garden who will not go dry!

(Transition) So if those things hold true then we can know that he who gives:

A cheerful giver need not worry

He who gives in service to God need not worry (Mt6:30-33)

(Insert Don’t worry about picture here)

You may remember this section, where Jesus speaks of God taking care of clothing the grass of the field. So know He will take care of the things He knows that you need, so don’t worry, seek Him first, don’t worry about tomorrow

God watches over those he loves (Lk12:6-7)

Luke 12:6–7 NASB95

6 “Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. 7 “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.

YOU ARE VALUABLE!

(Transition) - so that is an encouragement to us that God loves a cheerful giver and he takes care of those He loves, so give cheerfully. That brings us to our next one.

God provides seed to the sower

I think you have heard this a time or two if you have been around here, “context matters” so let’s not be like some and take any of this out of context.

Be careful don’t misuse for personal use (v.6)

2 Corinthians 9:6 HCSB

6 Remember this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously.

There are many who come from the word of faith (prosperity gospel) movement that use this verse to entice people to give more so they can get more for personal consumption.

Question: Consider, who is Paul writing to and about, is it a person or a church, for personal consumption or for others?

Our context of the passage teaches different, it is about giving for others, the needy saints in Judea (Jerusalem) also, that the purpose of reaping bountifully.

Purpose is found in (v.8) having all sufficiency that you may have an abundance for every good deed.

Its not for personal gain, it is so that you may have more to give more for others. for every good work!

For your consideration on this look at (Ps112:5-9)

Psalm 112:5–6 NASB95

5 It is well with the man who is gracious and lends; He will maintain his cause in judgment. 6 For he will never be shaken; The righteous will be remembered forever.

Psalm 112:7–8 NASB95

7 He will not fear evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. 8 His heart is upheld, he will not fear, Until he looks with satisfaction on his adversaries.

Psalm 112:9 NASB95

9 He has given freely to the poor, His righteousness endures forever; His horn will be exalted in honor.

Now moving to (vv.10-11) Paul states, prays that God will supply the seed and multiply the seed sown. And that the seed will be reaped bountifully, so they may be enriched in everything for all liberality, in other words so that they can give more.

Principle for us to get from this

Be willing to give cheerfully, the more we give the more God can use and increase ability to give to meet the needs

Giving is not limited to money, it can be in giving of your time, your talents etc too.

The more we give of ourselves to God the more God can use us and bless us even more.

Giving produces thanksgiving and glory

Produces thanksgiving and glory to God

Because of the needs of the recipients being met they thank God and give God the glory.

Glory to God and thanksgiving in the giver too for God blesses (2Cor9:8, 14, 8:1-2, 6-7)

That all grace abound in the giver. Grace that is surpassing in you!

Grace that abounds from the giver to the receiver also as seen in the Churches of Macedonia (2Cor8:1-2) So remember this is a gracious gift given from abundance of grace supplied by God.

As a disciple of Jesus Christ who does not want to give glory and thanksgiving to God (consider Mt5:16)

Check it out on your own from a translated version, see what the Message has to say on it. I think you get the jest of it.

Matthew 5:16 The Message

16 Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

(Transition) Cheerful giving I think we get the point, but there is yet more too.

It increases affection

It increases the givers affection which can affect others (non-believers) too.

Giving is a sign of God’s grace working in you.

Giving is a demonstration of Your hope, faith, trust in God and leaves others wanting to know that hope (consider Php1:3-8)

Giving is also a means of teaching the gospel (2Cor8:9)

2 Corinthians 8:9 NCV

9 You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. You know that Christ was rich, but for you he became poor so that by his becoming poor you might become rich.

Christ gave it all so that we may be rich in grace, rich is mercy, rich in Christ so that we may also be rich in abundance of giving to help others as we were helped.

(Transition) One more point still before closing this morning.

Purposeful giving leads to cheerful giving

Planning, setting aside purposefully brings, leads to a cheerful heart.

(giving purposefully picture inserted here)

If planned, purposed and set aside prior it is less likely to be done under compulsion or begrudgingly.

Christian Apologiest Aristides (Apology 15 writings) said this

“and if there is any that is a slave or a poor man, they fast two or three days and what they were going to set before themselves they send to them (who are in prison) considering themselves to give good cheer even as they were called to give good cheer.”

So plan and purpose your giving if you wish to give cheerfully!

Plan your giving to help the needy just as the Corinthians were told to help the saints in Jerusalem.

Giving does not again have to be limited to money, nor does it have to be exclusively for the church, it can be done or given in other places too, but still it should be something you plan and prepare for.

(Conclusion)

God loves a cheerful giver

God provides the seed for the sower

Giving provides thanksgiving and gives glory to God.

Giving increase affection and can affect others

Giving become one of generosity when it is planned and purposed.

Be a cheerful giver that has purposed in his heart and set aside to be given.

(Prayer) (Exit)