2 Corinthians 8:1-13; 9:6-18 Called to Stewardship Overflowing Giving

Power of an overflowing river

The Johnstown Flood (or Great Flood of 1889 as it became known locally) occurred on May 31, 1889. It was the result of the catastrophic failure of the South Fork Dam situated on the Little Conemaugh River 14 miles (23 km) upstream of the town of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, USA, made worse by several days of extremely heavy rainfall. The dam's failure unleashed a torrent of 20 million tons of water (4.8 billion U.S. gallons;) from the reservoir known as Lake Conemaugh. With a volumetric flow rate that temporarily equaled that of the Mississippi River,[2] the flood killed 2,209 people[3] and caused $425 million in 2012 dollars).

When we think of overflowing we often think of destruction

However, we can also think of impact instead

Let’s skip across the world to another flood.

The Nile River has flooded since creation itself.

But the overflowing river has great impact.

Flood of the Nile each year has been essential to crops and wildlife

Forms a lush plain of vegetation up to 50 miles wide.

From this area Egypt has feasted in the midst of parching desert.

Grace and fertility and life

And so overflowing giving can produce life as well.

Abundant giving offers refreshment/fertility/life for both the giver and the receiver. It is one of the means God using to bring blessing to His people.

We have been talking about Stewardship. Stewardship includes giving. Let’s explore the theology around giving from 2 Cor 8-9

We are Called to Stewardship. We are called to Overflowing Giving

I. Overflowing Giving: From the inside

A. Circumstances: Overflowing trials

(NKJV) 2 Corinthians 8 1 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: 2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality.

1. Don’t have to be rich to overflow in giving

2. Great trials -

3. Deep poverty -

4. Normally turn inward – all about me – enable me – give to me – I deserve it – you owe me

5. Turned outward instead – the issue is one of perspective

B. Attitude: Overflowing responsiveness

1. From joy

(NKJV) 2 Corinthians 8 2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. 3 … they were freely willing, 4 imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints

2. Willingness

3. Abundant joy at the opportunity to help others

4. Urgency / won’t take no for an answer / saw the significance of the need

5. So afraid of being taken advantage of have no compassion for people – don’t even look around with eyes open

C. Expression: Overflowing liberality

(NKJV) 2 Corinthians 8 2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. 3 For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, According to their ability – an expectation

1. Overflowed in liberality – like they were rich

2. Did not consider themselves

3. Beyond their ability – an expression of grace

II. Overflowing Giving: Based on God at work

A. Begins with the grace of God

(NKJV) 2 Corinthians 8 1 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia:

1. A responsibility from God

2. An enablement from God

B. Surrendering to God – then others

(NKJV) 2 Corinthians 8 5 And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselvesto the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.

1. First offer self to God

2. Then offer self to others

C. Showing sincere love

(NKJV) 2 Corinthians 8 8 I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others.

1. The Lord first

2. Then others must follow

3. Actions are the proof/demonstrations of one’s love (to God/others)

D. Desiring to do / then doing

(NKJV) 2 Corinthians 8 10 And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago; 11 but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have.

(NKJV) 2 Corinthians 8 7 But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also.

1. Desire comes from God – a good thing

2. But the desire is not enough – complete it

3. Includes giving along with other involvement

E. According to what one has

1. Then equipped to see others / engage in ministry / see the opportunities

(NKJV) 2 Corinthians 8 12 For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have. 13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened;

2. Begin where you are

3. A case of willingness

4. Responsibility is proportional

F. The example of Christ

(NKJV) 2 Corinthians 8 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

1. The prime example / gave up all His riches / became poor / for out sake

III. Overflowing Giving: A Principle of blessing

A. Blessed in the same measure as you give

(NKJV) 2 Corinthians 9 6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

1. Not a prosperity gospel – give to get to keep / But

2. Blessing based on activity

3. Reap to the level you sow / like a farmer

4. Expect an overflow of blessings when engaging only a trickle outside ourselves

B. When driven from the heart

(NKJV) 2 Corinthians 9 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

1. An issue of the heart

2. God delights in those who delight to give

C. God will provide to enable giving

(NKJV) 2 Corinthians 9 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

1. Enable to give appropriately

2. Provide so you can give

IV. Produces Results

A. Supplies the needs

9:12 For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, …

B. Causes thanksgiving to God

12 … but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God,

C. Brings glory to God

13 while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men,

D. Produces grateful prayers for the giver

14 and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!