Excelling in the grace of giving

2 Cor 8:1-7

2 Cor 9:6-15

Reason for giving?

2 reasons why Christians give (and neither are based on the New Covenant)

Investment : God will bless me if I do give. Insurance : God will punish me if I do not give.

Old Covenant giving

Giving in the Old Covenant: a) By law – the “tithe” * b) Repaying a debt owing to God c) If not full tithe, robbing God and under a curse

*What about Abraham tithing to Melchizedek before the Law was given? • He tithed the spoils of war (not his own wealth) • He gave bulk of spoils to King of Sodom after 3 of his men had their share • No reference that Abraham tithed again

Purpose of the tithe – provide food for the Levites who do not have land for cultivation.

What is the tithe? (Lev 27:30-34) • a 10th part of agricultural produce. Divide produce into 10 equal parts and separate the 10th part as the tithe. • No scriptural command to tithe money. • Tithe of livestock determined by separating every 10th animal. No 10th animal, no tithe!

Old Covenant giving

30 A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD. (Lev 27:30)

holy to the Lord – separated to the Lord

The tithe: a) belongs to the Lord, and b) holy or separated to the Lord.

32 Every tithe of the herd and flock— every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod — will be holy to the LORD. (Lev 27:32)

Old Covenant giving

Who, then, are the tithe in the New Covenant?

We, the church, are the tithe. We belong to the Lord as His precious possession and have been made holy unto God.

New Covenant : Jesus is the first fruits of the resurrection and of the new creation. (1 Cor 15:20,23)

Old Covenant : the first fruits of grain were harvest presented to the Lord.

Old Covenant giving – New Covenant realities The Law is a shadow of good things to come,

not realities themselves. (Heb 10:1)

Giving in the New Covenant

1 And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.

2 Cor 8

2 In the midst of a very 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 Lord’s people.

5 And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. 6 So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part.

Giving in the New Covenant

7 But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

Grace of giving

1. Giving, a grace given by God — the grace that God has given

overflowing joy + extreme poverty rich generosity

very severe trial

a. They gave as much as they were able and beyond their ability – exceeding expectations.

b. Pleaded for the privilege to share. c. They gave themselves first to the Lord, then others.

Macedonian Churches

Grace: God’s ability in man enabling him to do beyond his natural ability.

2. Giving is an act of grace — this act of grace on your part

We can give because it’s a grace given by God to us. When we give, it is an act of grace on our part.

Grace of giving

Grace of giving

7 But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

3. We can excel in the grace of giving

Grace will take us from being limited by reason into realm of revelation in giving.

2 Cor 9

6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 9 As it is written: “ He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.”

10 Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, 11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.

12 For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, 13 while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men, 14 and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

of sowing and reaping 6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. (NIV)

A natural, universal principle: applicable to Christians and non-Christians alike

Often abused by some to raise money for certain ministries etc.

A principle for : a) Relationship between us and people, b) Not between us and God.

New Covenant truth: our blessings are secured through faith in Christ’s complete work of redemption on the cross and never on what/how much we give.

We should never give to get. Freely you have received; freely give.(Matt 10:8)

NOT: “Freely give, then you can freely receive.”

of sowing and reaping

Giving from the heart

7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (NIV)

The heart of giving Giving from the heart Not reluctantly nor under compulsion; never be coerced or manipulated.

Giving is for each and everyone.

What to give – our decision to make.

If you're not free NOT to give, you are not free to give.

for God loves a cheerful giver.

cheerful = hilaros (Gk) hilarious God loves us to give happily – enjoy giving

True giving comes from a happy heart and it also gives us a happy heart.

To give is to love – For God so loved … that He gave…

Giving from the heart

God is the greatest giver ever. We know we bear the fruit of His nature in us when we give naturally and enjoy doing it.

Why does God love a cheerful giver?

God’s supply side economics 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

Economics: Study of how the forces of supply and demand allocate scarce resources.

A revelation of GODconomics: 1. He is able to make all grace abound toward us 2. At all times, in all things, we have all we need 3. Have an abundance for all good work

God wants us to be channels of blessing, not reservoirs of blessing.

9 As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.” (from Ps 112:9)

Generous giving does not make us righteous, rather it is evidence of right standing with God.

God’s supply side economics

Old Covenant : driven by commandments. New Covenant: moved with compassion, like Jesus was (Matt 9:36)

Who/how to give?

a) Giving is about meeting real needs, and being love in people’s situations.

b) No limits to love: doesn’t matter how, what or when we give. When we love people, that love never fails (1 Cor 13:8)

God’s supply side economics

Give out of the overflow of love in our hearts for those you are giving to.

c) Early Church: gave spontaneously and with great love – not legalism – to those with need. (Acts 2:44-45)

d) Giving to the Lord: “Whenever you fed the hungry, gave drink to the thirsty, visited the imprisoned, took care of the sick, gave to the poor, or clothed the naked: when you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” (Matt 25:31-40 paraphrased)

God’s supply side economics

e) We give to our church because we believe in the ministry of our church - to support and take part in what the Lord is doing in us and through us.

God’s supply side economics

To not give to the poor because of a fear they will misuse the money is a misuse of the money.

Better err on the side of generosity rather than being overly careful and stingy.

10 Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness

God is our supplier : a) seed for sowing and b) bread for food.

Often we only ask for increase of “bread”. Paul’s secret : ask for “seed” to be supplied and multiplied fruits of our righteousness is increased.

God’s supply side economics

11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.

When we know God as our supplier of seed: a) Enriched in everything b) Become all the more generous.

God’s supply side economics

What He does through our giving

11 …which causes thanksgiving through us to God. 12 For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God,

a. Giving not only supply needs of fellow Christians but also leads in thanksgiving to God.

13 while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men,

b. Giving results in glory to God: 1) for the fruit of the gospel in us 2) for the generous sharing

What He does through our giving

14 and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you.

c. Giving moves people to 1) pray for us 2) long for us because of the more than enough grace of God in us.

What He does through our giving

The Awesome Reason for Christian Giving

15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

Most awesome reason for giving: our receiving the free gift of God’s Son, Jesus Christ.

As we love and give : a) we become more and more like Him,

the greatest Giver and Gift of all, b) we excel in the grace of giving.

…just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Eph 5:1