Examine Yourselves to See if you Are in the Faith Thanks Be to God for His Indescribable Gift! 2 Corinthians 9

Examine Yourselves to See if you Are in the Faith

Thanks Be to God for His Indescribable Gift!

2 Corinthians 9

How far does your money go?

Today we can see there is no organization on the earth

 That does more to change lives in a positive way than the Church

Imagine the world with no church

The Church is thriving and making eternal differences

 Because the early saints like the Corinthians and Macedonians

Gave to the needs of others and the spread of the Gospel 

Corinth’s enthusiasm to give stirred the Macedonians into action

May their enthusiasm stir us

May our enthusiasm stir others to give regularly

So our righteousness will endure forever

Spend your money in ways it will last

Give so the Gospel of God’s incredible gift will continue

Thanks Be to God for His Indescribable Gift!

2 Corinthians 9

How far does your money go?

I am and never was a pay check to paycheck person.

I always tried to make my money last.

As hard as I tried it seemed

never to last as long as I wanted.

Now at retirement age,

I still have to work to pay the bills.

I have worked hard since 6^th grade.

 I have always had to work two jobs

and I still have loans to pay.

I am not complaining because my life with

all the hardships is abundantly blessed.

My joy does not have a dollar sign on it.

My joy comes from the windows of heaven where

God looks out every day to see how I am doing.

As hard as I have tried to be financially free,

 so I don’t need a paycheck,

 and can do the dreams in my heart,

 I have not been able to reach that goal.

The money I have made does not seem to last.

As I read the powerful words about

giving in 2 Corinthians 8 & 9…

 I am over whelmed with joy as I see how the giving

of the Macedonians and the Corinthians has lasted.

What if the Macedonians and the Corinthians had

not given to the needs of the saints in Jerusalem?

Imagine if they had not given to

the Church and the Work of the Lord?

The giving of the early Christians made

it possible for the Good News of the incredible

Gift of God to reach us almost 2000 years later.

Far beyond their life time their giving has

changed life for untold billions like you and I.

I don’t think even Paul saw the offerings

he was asking for to go beyond the

financial needs of the saints in Jerusalem.

Paul quotes from the Old Testament but

I am not sure he could see the fulfillment

of the words “endures forever”…

 

"He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor;

his righteousness endures forever."

  

There are some things I regret

buying but in my entire life…

 I don’t regret one dollar or even one

penny I gave to the Work of the Lord. 

I have tithed and gave offerings all my life,

 yet, I do not wish I had a penny of it

back so I did not have to work now.

Why?

 Because I see how the giving of the early church

has made it possible for the Gospel to reach me.

We can get excited about reaching the world for Christ.

We can get excited about reaching generations for Christ.

But will we give so that can happen?

Will we give so that the Gospel will

last and reach people not yet born?

This was Paul’s concern.

 Although Paul boasted of the Corinthian’s

 willingness to help, he was concerned that when

it came down to giving, they may not follow through.

Paul instructed them in his first letter to give weekly.

Paul knew that it is easier to give a little at a time

than make a large contribution all at one time.

We, too, should regularly give so we will have

our money working till Christ comes again.

I have not always agreed with the way the

Church spent the money I gave, but God is

able to make all things work together for the good.

Today we can see there is no organization

on the earth that does more to change

lives in a positive way than the Church.

Imagine the world with no church.

The Church is thriving and making eternal differences

because the early saints like the Corinthians and Macedonians

gave to the needs of others and the spread of the Gospel.

 

Corinth’s enthusiasm to give

stirred the Macedonians into action.

May their enthusiasm stir us.

May our enthusiasm stir others to give regularly

so our righteousness will endure forever.

Spend your money in ways it will last.

Give so the Gospel of God’s

incredible Gift will continue.

Scripture Reading

2 Corinthians 9 NIV

9:1 There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the saints. 2 For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. 3 But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be. 4 For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we — not to say anything about you — would be ashamed of having been so confident. 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.

6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written:

"He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor;

his righteousness endures forever."  

10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!