A Willing Heart and a Willing God

Scripture Reading

2 Corinthians 8:10 NKJV

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;

2 Corinthians 8:11 NKJV

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.

2 Corinthians 8:12 NKJV

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.

2 Corinthians 8:13 NKJV

For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened;

2 Corinthians 8:14 NKJV

but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality.

2 Corinthians 8:15 NKJV

As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”

2 Corinthians 8:16 NKJV

But thanks be to God who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus.

Introduction - Jesus Had a Willing Mind to Give

Most people in the Church are not ready for real studies about giving!

We have boiled it down to if we will just help people everything is all good with God.

But when it comes to doing something for the Body directly we begin to have problems because people don’t see certain things as needs.

We build a building and say it is good enough until it falls down rather than the building growing with the people and facilitating it for even more people.

But the one thing I see clearly in the scriptures is God’s belief in the edification of the Body of believers in every aspect of life!

And the building, technologies, and other things we don’t seem to care about is a part of edification whether we accept it or not.

And I say this because the Corinthians had a similar though process as in they had identified a Godly plan, agreed to participate in a Godly plan, but for whatever was not only missing out on showing grace but also being edified!

God had a plan to save the world so he gave!

John 3:16 NKJV

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Jesus believed in God’s plan so he participated in the plan and He gave!

John 10:14 NKJV

I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.

John 10:15 NKJV

As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.

John 10:16 NKJV

And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.

John 10:17 NKJV

“Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.

John 10:18 NKJV

No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”

How is it that God gave The Son and the Son said no one takes his life from?

Because The Father Loved Jesus and He Knew It!

Jesus Loved The Father and God knew it!

Jesus identified the plan as identified the plan as one that would edify the Body and He was in!

Jesus had a willing mind and a desire to complete God’s plan!

Plans in the Church must be able to be identified as God’s Will which is to edify the congregation as it spreads the Gospel of Jesus Christ through His Word and Deeds.

So How Do We Identify if a Plan is Godly?

Does it Edify The Body of Believers? Period!

Once that is identified then the plan is based on I can and not “I can’t,” “or we can’t!”

Plans that edify are identified and done willingly.

The Church will give to organizations and never even know who is getting what or what percentage of the money that is given is given to who!

But then when it comes to doing something for the Church that we can clearly see is a need people will come up with every reason not to do it!

How is it we can identify the unknown through faith but cannot identify clear needs by faith?

Transition

This is the issue at hand the Paul is now breaking down to the Corinthians.

He does not want them to do it by command because then it becomes mandatory!

Paul led by the Spirit does not want them to do it out mandate but from the heart that is thankful for the grace of God.

A WILLING MIND IDENTIFIES THE PLAN AND PARTICIPATES IN THE PLAN

2 Corinthians 8:10 NKJV

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;

Willful giving must be voluntary!

Giving is not a command but a response.

2 Corinthians 9:2 NKJV

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.

A WILLING MIND COMPLETES THE PLAN

Stewardship with Integrity calls for faithfulness to complete the project!

2 Corinthians 8:11 NKJV

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.

Stewardship With Integrity Calls for Proportionate Giving to what One Has

2 Corinthians 8:12 NKJV

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.

Giving is a mindset!

A WILLING MIND IS EDIFIED BY THE PLAN

2 Corinthians 8:13 NKJV

For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened;

God is not a communists!

2 Corinthians 8:14 NKJV

but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality.

God believes in reciprocity!

2 Corinthians 8:15 NKJV

As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”

God was not teaching communism but faith in Him!

Exodus 16:18 NKJV

So when they measured it by omers, he who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack. Every man had gathered according to each one’s need.