Grace of Giving
2 Corinthians 8
Blessings flow from
heaven and hardships grow in the earth
Both are real
God enjoys giving you
not only the blessings
But making you the
blessing to others
You could call that
the double blessing
So when our gratitude
goes beyond what we receive
And we see the joy of
helping others with what we have
We double our
blessing and double the joy
This is the way we
excel in the Grace of Giving
Grace of Giving
2 Corinthians 8
Money
Money is a very sensitive subject.
The subject of money has caused
many arguments and division.
All of us have opinions about
money and the money of others.
We may not speak publicly, but we
do have thoughts about money.
2 Corinthians 8 and 9 addresses the issues of money.
These two chapters are full of wisdom.
The caution and accountability of
handling money is addressed by Paul.
Even though the Corinthian Church has
come a long way from where it was
when Paul wrote them
the first letter…
Paul knew there would still
be those who distrusted him.
So Paul goes to great lengths to safe
guard their gift to the poor in Jerusalem…
“We want to avoid any
criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift.
For we are taking pains to do what is right,
not only in the eyes
of the Lord but also in the eyes of men.”
The Corinthians
started to set aside gifts for
the needy just like the Macedonia Churches.
Romans 15:2
Paul gives comparisons as he
encourages the Corinthians to give.
He compares the Macedonian churches…
Who “Out of the most severe trial, their
overflowing joy
and their extreme
poverty welled up in rich generosity.
For I testify that
they gave as much as they were able,
and even beyond their ability. Entirely on
their own,”
Paul compares Christ…
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he
became poor,
so that you through his poverty might become
rich.”
Paul gives us the reason for the comparisons…
“I am not commanding
you,
but I want to test the
sincerity of your love
by comparing it with the earnestness of
others.”
Wow!
Where do we stand when our love is
compared with others and Christ?
There is something good about proper motivation…
“Let us think of ways to motivate one
another to acts of
love and good works.”
Hebrews 10:24
Paul commends the Corinthians…
But just as you excel
in everything —
in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete
earnestness
see that
you also excel in this grace of giving.
In Faith,
Faith is first because…
“Without faith it is
impossible to please God”
Hebrews 11:6
Hebrews 11:6
In Speech,
Our word must be more than talk
our words need follow through.
"Just
let your 'Yes' mean 'Yes.'
Let your
'No' mean 'No.'
Anything
more than this comes from the evil one.”
Matthew 5:37
In Knowledge,
Knowledge needs to be acted on.
“Therefore,
to him who knows to do good
and
does not do it, to him it is
sin.”
James 4:17
In Complete Earnestness,
Diligence Eagerness
“Whatever
you do, work at it with all your heart,
as
working for the Lord, not for human masters”
Colossians 3:23
In Love,
Godly leadership is for the perfecting of the saints
so they can do the work of the ministry.
So in love…
“Dear brothers and sisters,
honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s
work.
They work hard among you and give you
spiritual guidance.
Show them great respect and
wholehearted love because of their work.
And live peacefully with each other.
1 Thessalonians
5:12-13
See that you also
excel in this grace of giving.
The word “Grace”
Greek “Charis” means gift, gratitude
Paul appeals to the blessings
the people in Corinth have.
There are times we enjoy more than
we need and times when there is lack.
Paul says in our time of more…
Than we need to show
our gratitude
by sharing with those who have a lack.
We should note it was not a lack of diligence
that the believers in Jerusalem were in need.
They lacked because of war, famine and hardships.
If a person won’t
work, they should not eat.
But those who work but have little…
We, who work and
receive abundance,
should be willing to share the blessing
of God we have received with others.
but making you the
blessing to others.
You could call that
the double blessing.
So when our gratitude
goes beyond
what we receive and we
see the joy of
helping others with
what we have…
We double our blessing and double the joy.
Scripture Reading
2 Corinthians 8 NIV
8:1 And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace
that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 Out of the most severe
trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich
generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even
beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded
with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 5 And they did not do as we expected, but
they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's
will. 6 So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also
to completion this act of grace on your part. 7 But just as you excel in
everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in
your love for us-see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
8 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the
sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9
For
you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for
your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
10 And here is my advice about what is best for you in this
matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the
desire to do so. 11 Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do
it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12 For if
the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not
according to what he does not have.
13 Our desire is not that others might be
relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14 At
the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their
plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, 15 as it is
written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered
little did not have too little."
16 I thank God, who put into the heart of Titus the same
concern I have for you. 17 For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is
coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative. 18 And we are
sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his
service to the gospel. 19 What is more,
he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which
we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to
help. 20 We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this
liberal gift. 21 For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the
eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men.
22 In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has
often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so
because of his great confidence in you. 23 As for Titus, he is my partner and
fellow worker among you; as for our brothers, they are representatives of the
churches and an honor to Christ. 24 Therefore show these men the proof of your
love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it.
No comments:
Post a Comment