Thankful Giving

Text: 2 Corinthians 9

Introduction

Some basic background information about this book:

This was written to the church at Corinth.

This occured during Paul’s third missionary journey.

This was Paul’s second trip to Macedonia.

Paul has sent Titus too Corinth for the second time.

In this letter Paul spend a lot of time authenticating His ministry as well as opening up his heart and shares his motives, spiritual passion and his tender love for the church.

On this veteran’s day we are drawn, not just individually, but as a nation, to reflect on the sacrifice of so many that have collectively made, is currently making and will continue to make this great country free.

Where would our thanksgiving be today for this country’s freedom if not for those who willingly, sacrificially and simply out of raw love for this country surrendered their life in order to keep her free? It would simply not be here today and neither would this country!

You see, the reason we witness an abundance of thanksgiving offered up by so many Americans is FIRST of all this country was gifted to us by the sovereign providential hand of God! Secondly, because thanksgiving was put in them by the those who gave and continue to give graciously their lives to gift us with this free country. In turn, we model such sacrifice today, because of the unmeasured impact of their giving.

(THESIS) You see, inward and outward thanksgiving is not just something that is randomly a part of us. It is something that has been placed IN US by someone outside of us. This is exactly what Paul is teaching these believers in Corinth. In order for thanksgiving to remain a strong aspect of our lives, GIVING MUST also remain STRONG in our lives!

Let us embrace today how to cultivate a life of thanksgiving through grace giving.....

1) God’s Standards For Giving

A. The quantity of our giving (v6)

Illustration: Give $2,000 and feel it!

Turn to: Luke 6:38 “38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”

Quote: Giving is not something we do, but something we are. Giving is a way of life for the Christian who understands the grace of God. [Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 660). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.]

“Soweth” = speaks to making preparation for future growth; harvest.

Paul believed that believers should always rise to the occasion to give to the brethren and to the work of the church.

Now, the blessing of return is NOT OUR MOTIVATION!

Romans 8:32 “32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”

This is exactly why every Christians MUST see all things through a Gospel lens.

B. The quality of our giving (v7)

This standard is of upmost importance!

We are not to be “sad givers” or “mad givers.” We are to be GLAD GIVERS!

Grace giving is not simply gifting someone with your resources or personal time.

Grace giving hinges on the heart’s motives for giving.

Giving has a dual nature and a multitude of benefits:

The gift as well as the spirit of the giver is impactful to the recipient (they witness genuine love, they witness God’s grace)

The motive of the giver will determine their own blessing from the Lord.

2) Our Service With God’s Supply

A. God supplies our giving (v8)

Notice the abundant nature of God’s supply of grace

“all grace” — outworking of God’s good will

“always sufficient” — adequacy (contentment) n. — adequacy especially that results in satisfaction with one’s situation in life.

“all things” — in any and every capacity God leads you to give.

God is ABLE! (sense = capable adjs. — have the skills and qualifications to do something well.)

B. God’s servant is to WORK with God’s supply (vv8-11)

God know us too well.

With such a level of giving, we might stoop to idolatry and begin to think, “I need to care about myself first and others last.”

You might say, “I think God intends for me to benefit me with the majority and serve with whats left.”

Luke 12:15 “15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”

Philippians 4:13 “13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

Notice v11 — You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way!

1 John 3:16-18 “16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”

There is a danger of stepping out of God’s instructions:

Prov. 11:24 “24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; And there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.”

3) God’s Glory In Our Giving

A. Grace giving produces a heart of thanksgiving (vv11-13)

The greater seed sown here is not the seed that gives you a materialistic return, but rather the seed that produces thanksgiving to God.

1 Chron. 29:9 “9 Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the Lord: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.”

The grace gift is not only for the supply of the need, but the supply of thanksgiving.

Every believer is God instrument to cultivate thanksgiving in the hearts of others.

Notice v13 — Their submission was motivated by their confession of the gospel of Jesus Christ

Because of their grace giving, there was now a stronger bond of fellowship!