Giving is Good

I remember the first time I stood up in front of a church to preach on the topic of giving. Perhaps no sermon, except when I preached on pastoral authority, made my hands sweat, and my heart beat in my chest? I remember that young 29 year old pastor in his first pastorate 15 years ago, and I still, all these years later feel a bit of the anxiety that comes from a sermon series on giving. As we have just completed our series on “WHo’s your One” and begin to move into the holiday season, I thought, before we jumped right back into Romans, that it would be helpful for us to talk about giving.

Giving advances the WORK OF THE GOSPEL

Philippians 4:14–18 ESV

Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.

One reason we give is because when we give, the gospel is advanced. Paul notes this in speaking to the Philippian Christians. He notes that it was through their partnership with him “in the beginning of the gospel.”

When we give, God uses those gifts for the furtherance of the gospel.

Throughout the world, right here in our local churches, and through the United States thousands of men and women are serving as missionaries both home and abroad and advancing the gospel through the gifts they give.

As Paul reminded the Corinthians that our sowing as a church and as individual believers is tied to our reaping.

Here’s the principle: All that we have belongs to God. Every gift, including every financial gift that we receive is a gift from God.

The reason we don’t give is because we do not trust what Paul says in v. 8. We don’t trust that “God is able to make all grace abound to you.”

We think we can do more with our money that then church can. But no, God can do more with the 90%, or 75% or 93% we keep than we can do with the 100% we hoard when we do not give.

But notice what Paul says,

2 Corinthians 9:12 ESV

For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.

When we give, God overflows with blessings upon those who hear the gospel and are transformed by it.

Giving provides for the WORD OF OUR MINISTERS

1 Timothy 5:17–18 ESV

Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”

Galatians 6:6 ESV

Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.

Not only is the gospel advanced by the gifts of brothers and sisters in Christ, but also

Giving is a demonstration of our commitment to the church, the hands and feet of Christ. Pastors, missionaries, and other Christian workers are obedient to the ministry to which God has called them, trusting in him to provide the necessary means to carry out the task. At the same time, the Holy Spirit moves in the hearts of believers to give generously and support the work that God is doing, also learning to trust God with their own finances.

If a lack of prayer is our declaration of independence from God, the a lack of giving is a declaration of our lack of need for God’s help. It proclaims that I can do more with my money than God can.

Paul

Giving Promotes the BLESSING OF THE SAINTS

2 Corinthians 8:1–4 ESV

We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints—

Notice what Paul says again in v. 12

2 Corinthians 9:12 ESV

For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.

Notice, that it’s not only the overflowing of salvation, but it’s also the needs of the saints that are provided by our gifts.

This is done as we give benevolence to saints in the body, as we give food to the needy through our Food pantry, as we send flowers of remembrance to grieving families. Each of these things provide for the saints.

I am proud to pastor a church that cares for the poor among us. In the next few months we will be participating in Operation Christmas Child, our annual TurkeyDay Give-Away where we bless 15 families with complete thanksgiving meals, our quilting ministry that provides blankets and walker bags for those in the nursing home or at home on hospice.

And its through the faithful giving of our members that we can do these things. If we don’t give, then we cant bless these families.

Giving Proclaims the GLORY OF GOD

Finally, our giving proclaims the glory of God.

Back to v. 12 and v. 13

2 Corinthians 9:12–13 ESV

For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others,

When we give faithfully, we proclaim our faith in God.

Dallin H. Oaks once noted the following story:

“During World War II, my widowed mother supported her three young children on a schoolteacher’s salary that was meager. When I became conscious that we went without some desirable things because we didn’t have enough money, I asked my mother why she paid so much of her salary as tithing. I have never forgotten her explanation: “Dallin, there might be some people who can get along without paying tithing, but we can’t. The Lord has chosen to take your father and leave me to raise you children. I cannot do that without the blessings of the Lord, and I obtain those blessings by paying an honest tithing. When I pay my tithing, I have the Lord’s promise that he will bless us, and we must have those blessings if we are to get along.””

When we give, we are testifying to the fact that we trust God. That we believe he can do more with his some that I can do with my all. When we give, sacrificially and faithfully, the gospel is proclaimed, those who work for the church are provided for, the saints are blessed, and God receives the glory.

So let me ask you a question today? How much is God worth to you today? How much is the gospel worth to you today?