SERMON OUTLINE:
(1). Illustrations of Godly Giving (vs 1-9):
#1: The Macedonians (vs 1-5)
#2: Jesus Christ (vs 9)
(2). Hindrances to Godly Giving (vs 10-15):
#1: Procrastination (vs 10-11a)
#2: Hesitation (vs 11b-12)
#3: Overreaction (vs 12)
#4: Exception (vs 13-15)
(3). Principles Regarding Godly Giving (vs 16-24)
#1: Only qualified people should handle financial matters (vs 16-19 & 22-23).
#2: Money matters should be administered honestly and openly (vs 19b-21).
SERMON BODY:
ill:
• Bank robber Willie Sutton, when asked why he robbed banks,
• He reply was simple and to the point: "Because that’s where the money is."
• TRANSITION: 2 Corinthians chapter 8 & 9 is where the money is;
• Or rather are key passages in the Bible that talk about our money and our giving.
Ill:
• A sign in the back of a car had a picture of the seven dwarfs:
• It should have read: “Hi ho, hi ho, it’s off to work I go.”
• But instead it read: “I owe, I owe, so it’s off to work I go.”
• TRANSITION: 2 Corinthians chapter 8 & 9 are reminders to every Christian ‘we owe’
• All that we have we owe to the Lord – let me illustrate it.
Ill:
• I guess many of us as parents have taken their kid’s to MacDonald’s.
• You have forked out some of your hard earned cash to pay for it;
• You receive your dinner;
• And now you retire at one of the tables to indulge in these culinary delights.
• As you begin this feast you realize that you’ve only ordered small fries not large,
• And if there is one thing MacDonald’s does extremely well it is their fries,
• So as Father you reach over to one of your children;
• And help yourself to a few extra fries from their packet.
• When suddenly his hand is upon yours he looks deep into your eyes and says,
• “Don’t eat my fries”.
• His fries! His fries!
• You earned the money for the meal?
• You drove the car to get to the golden arches?
• You ordered the meal?
• You paid for the meal?
• And your offspring is talking about; “His fries!”
• His fries!
• But how often do we refuse to give God some of ‘our’ fries?
• TRANSITION: 2 Corinthians chapter 8 & 9 are reminders that ‘all we have’
• All that we have we owe to the Lord;
• But how often do we refuse to give God some of ‘our’ fries?
• The theme of 2 Corinthians chapters 8&9 is about:
• Generosity in giving, financial giving from a cheerful heart.
(1). ILLUSTRATIONS OF GODLY GIVING (VS 1-9):
• In these first nine verses of chapter 8:
• We are given two illustrations of Godly, that is God-like giving.
ILLUSTRATION #1: THE MACEDONIANS (VS 1-5)
• Churches in Macedonia were located in the Greek cities of Philippi, Thessalonica;
• Berea; and perhaps elsewhere in that region.
• This area was Greek and primarily Gentile (non-Jewish)
• Notice:
• That in these first five verses we learn four things about these Macedonian Christians:
FIRST: THEY GAVE GERNEOUSLLY (VS 1-2):
“And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.”
• We are told that these Christians open-handedly shared their wealth;
• With other Christians in need.
Question: Who was in need?
Answer:
• During the reign of emperor Claudius (A.D. 41-54) a famine had hit Jerusalem.
• The Christians (like all the other residents of the city);
• Experiencing tough times and extreme financial need and so required financial support.
• So long before ‘Comic Relief’ or ‘Children in Need’;
• The apostle Paul organised ‘Church Relief’,
• That is he encouraged various Churches from his missionary trip in Macedonia;
• To send money and help relieve the hardships of the Christians in Jerusalem.
• Now the Macedonian Christians helped despite the fact they had problems of their own.
• Now these Macedonian Christians were not only extremely poor,
• But they too had also endured a great deal of persecution.
• And yet they still gave generously and willingly to help the Christians in Jerusalem.
SECOND: THEY GAVE SACRIFICALLY (VS 3A):
“For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability”
• These Macedonian Christians were also struggling;
• They were facing "extreme poverty" (vs 2)
• Note: The words used in verse 2 for "extreme poverty".
• Means "rock-bottom destitution."
• The word describes a beggar who has absolutely nothing;
• And has no hope of getting anything.
• Yet despite their own situation:
• They were still substantial in their giving.
Ill:
• A miserly church member once moaned:
• "The preacher says I should give until it hurts,
• But for me, it hurts just to think about giving!"
Ill:
• Sacrificial giving has nothing to do with the amount of one’s income or bankroll.
• We remember what Jesus said about a woman in Luke chapter 21 verse 3-4:
• The story of the Widows Mite.
• She only had two small coins of little monetary value;
• And yet she placed them in the offering box;
• Before and after her other people were placing far more coins and of a higher value;
• Yet it was the woman Jesus pointed out:
“Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4 All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
• Quote: Mother Teresa.
• “If you give what you do not need, it isn't giving”.
• Those Macedonian saints were quite remarkable:
• There they were in deep poverty,
• Facing great trials of affliction,
• And they still managed not just to think about others & their needs but to also help them.
THIRD: THEY GAVE VOLENTARILLY (VS 3B-4):
“For I testify that they gave as much as they were able,
and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own,”
Ill:
• Mark Twain the American author and humourist:
• Said that he was so sickened by the long appeal at one Church service he was at;
• That he not only did not give what he planned to give,
• But he also took a bill out of the plate!
Well no Christian should ever be forced or pressured to give:
• Giving should be a voluntary act and something we do willingly and enthusiastically;
• Notice these Macedonians gave freely and willingly.
• There was no prompting or begging or pressure from the apostle Paul.
• In fact verse 4 says;
“They urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people”.
• These Macedonians did not have much money,
• Yet they pleaded with the apostle Paul and Titus to take some of what they did have.
• They did not see giving as an obligation but as a privilege.
FOURTH: THEY GAVE WHOLE-HEARTEDLY (VS 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.”
• Notice that with the Macedonian Christians before they opened their wallets;
• They opened their hearts!
• Their heart went first and their generous contribution followed.
• If our hearts are truly devoted to our Master,
• Then that too will be reflected in our sacrificial, selfless actions.
Their giving was only one aspect of their spiritual lives, but an important one.
• Quote:
• “The last thing to get converted is a person’s cheque book”
• Their giving was only one aspect of their spiritual lives,
• But it was important one.
• When we give ourselves fully to the Lord;
• Surely we want to give our time, our talents, and our treasure to him!
ILLUSTRATION #2: JESUS CHRIST (VS 9)
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”
Ill:
• Author and pastor Leith Anderson writes:
• Several years ago I was visiting Manila and was taken, of all places,
• To the Manila garbage dump and saw something beyond belief.
• Tens of thousands of people make their homes on that dump site.
• They’ve constructed shacks out of the things other people have thrown away.
• And they send their children out early every morning;
• To scavenge for food out of other people’s garbage, so they can have family meals.
• People have been born and grown up there on the garbage dump.
• They have had their families, their children, their shacks, their garbage to eat,
• Many have died there without ever going anywhere else, even in the city of Manila.
• It is an astonishing thing.
• But Americans also live on the garbage dump.
• They are missionaries,
• Christians who have chosen to leave their own country;
• And communicate the love of Jesus Christ to people who otherwise would never hear it.
• That is amazing to me.
• People would leave what we have to go and live on a garbage dump.
• TRANSITION:
• That is amazing, and yet still not as amazing as the journey from heaven to earth.
• When God the Son entered the world of his own creation.
• “The Word became a human being and ‘pitched his tent’ among us”
Question: Why did the apostles gave this ultimate example of generous giving?
Answer:
• Because the Church at Corinth (the recipients of this letter);
• Had faltered in their giving.
• A year or so earlier, they too had given generously;
• But their initial enthusiasm had waned;
• And they had not followed through on their pledge of support.
• Verse 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.”
Unlike the Macedonians, the Corinthian Christians were flourishing financially:
• They had plenty of resources;
• Yet their giving had dried up, they had not continued;
• So in verse 7 the apostle Paul gives them a gentle prod.
“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”.
• Paul reminds them of their blessings:
• And he commends them for certain qualities that is evident in their lives.
• Yet, he says; there is still one area that can be improved;
• You are neglecting – your pledge to give - that needs working on too!
• Notice in verse 8 that Paul is not commanding them to give;
• He simply reminds them of God’s generous, sacrificial love shown in Christ;
• And he expects that to motivate them to give to others.
“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 sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”
Notice: The subtle contrast:
• The Macedonians were poor,
• Yet they gave as though they were rich!
• Though Jesus was rich; he lived as though he was poor;
• So that you through his poverty might become rich!
• The apostle Paul points out that the Macedonians were following the example of Christ;
• Because they were poor, yet they gave.
• Giving is an evidence of love - Love for Christ, love for God's people.
• So now the apostle asked them to prove that love by sharing in the offering.
(2). HINDRANCES TO GODLY GIVING (VS 10-15)
FIRST: PROCRASTINATION (VS 10-11A)
“And here is my judgment 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”.
Ill:
• Friends of American comedian George Burns;
• Were always teasing him about his singing.
• So Burns decided to take advantage of this and insure his voice for a million dollars.
• He thought it would be a great publicity stunt.
• Burns said: "I was so excited, I couldn't wait to rush down to the insurance company.
• I took a cassette and a tape recorder with me so the insurance man could hear my voice.
• It was one of my best numbers;
• A syncopated version of Yankee Doodle Blues with a yodelling finish.
• The insurance man listened patiently to the whole thing,
• Then he just looked at me and said,
• 'Mr. Burns, you should have come to us before you had the accident.'"
Quote: As the old saying goes:
Procrastination is my sin
It brings me naught but sorrow.
I know that I should stop it
In fact, I will...tomorrow.
The procrastinators’ favourite word is ‘tomorrow’:
• i.e. “Tomorrow I will get organised”
• i.e. “Tomorrow I will start that diet”
• i.e. “Tomorrow I will tidy that room”
• i.e. “Tomorrow I will start giving to the poor”
• But everybody knows that ‘tomorrow’ never comes;
• The only way to break the cycle is to do what Paul says in verse 11; “Do it now!”
SECOND: HESITATION (VS 11B-12):
• Hesitation is closely related to procrastination;
• But there is a big difference;
• Hesitation says; “I’m not ready”.
“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 one does not have”.
Quotes:
• Shakespeare wrote,
• "There is a tide in the affairs of men, which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune."
• And from the days when blacksmiths were common,
• We used to hear the proverb, "Strike while the iron is hot."
• Today from the world of sport we have:
• "Go For It!" and "Just Do It!"
The apostle Paul knew the Corinthian’s were ready and willing;
• So he encouraged them not to hesitate any longer;
• Now was the time to put their desires into action.
THIRD: OVERREACTION (VS 12)
“For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have”.
• This verse ties in with the last four words of verse 11:
• “According to your means”.
• Quote: I like what Peter Marshall use to say:
• “Give according to your income, lest God make your income according to your giving.”
• Verse 11: “…according to your means”.
• We all have the ability to give;
• But some people overreact and say; “I don’t have much to give;
• It will be like a drop in the bucket, so I might as well not give at all”.
• However as we mentioned earlier on in the sermon;
• The AMOUNT we give is not as important as the WHY we give!
• All of us – whatever our income – need to have an open handed attitude towards giving.
Quote: Warren Wiersbe:
• God sees the "heart gift" and not the "hand gift."
• If the heart wanted to give more, but was unable to do so,
• God sees it and records it accordingly.
• But if the hand gives more than the heart wants to give,
• God records what is in the heart, no matter how big the offering in the hand might be.
FOURTH: EXCEPTION (VS 13-15)
“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. The goal is equality, 15 as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”
• We know that God wants every Christian to be involved in giving;
• But some people seem to feel they might be the exception to his plan.
• After all ‘they have special circumstances’ that must surely let them off;
Verses 13-15 help us to be realistic:
• God is not out to drain us dry;
• God gave us a brain and he expects us to use it!
• There is no point giving away money so that we are in debt!
• So the apostle Paul says, “Think!”
• Look at your income and give accordingly.
• In the Old Testament the believers were required to tithe (10%).
• In the New Testament we are not commanded to tithe.
• But if under the Law they gave a tenth;
• Then under grace we should give….. well I would suggest at least that!
• But God gives each Christian the freedom to pray it through;
• And give what he or she feels is right before the Lord.
Note:
• Nowhere is the apostle Paul suggesting;
• That the rich become poor so that the poor might become rich.
• It is unwise for a Christian to go into debt in order to relieve somebody else's debt,
• Unless, of course, he was able to handle the responsibility of paying the debt back.
• Paul saw an "equality" in the whole procedure:
• The Gentiles were enriched spiritually by the Jews,
• So the Jews should be enriched materially by the Gentiles
• Furthermore:
• The Gentile churches at that time were enjoying some measure of material wealth,
• While the believers in Judea were suffering.
• That situation could one day be reversed.
• There might come a time when the Jewish believers would be assisting the Gentiles.
Ill:
• Paul used the miracle of the manna as an illustration of the principle;
• (Exodus chapter 16 verse 18 – read it for your homework!).
• Gather what you need,
• Share what you can, and don't try to hoard God's blessings.
• God will see to it that you will not be in need if you trust Him and obey His Word.
(3). PRINCIPLES REGARDING GODLY GIVING (VS 16-24)
Ill:
• The American industrialist, Henry Ford;
• Was once asked to donate money for the construction of a new medical facility.
• The billionaire pledged to donate $5,000.
• The next day in the newspaper, the headline read,
• "Henry Ford contributes $50,000 to the local hospital."
• The irate Ford was on the phone immediately;
• Complaining to the fund-raiser that he had been misunderstood.
• The fund-raiser replied:
• That they would print a retraction in the paper the following day to read,
• "Henry Ford reduces his donation by $45,000."
• Realizing the poor publicity that would result,
• The industrialist agreed to the $50,000 contribution in return for the following condition:
• That above the entrance to the hospital was to be carved the biblical inscription:
• "I came among you and you took me in."
The apostle Paul was always careful about the handling of money:
• No-one could accuse him of mishandling money;
• Or stealing money for himself.
• He was careful to be upfront and open regarding financial matters.
• We see in these remaining verses two principles;
• Two principles regarding WHO should handle money and HOW.
FIRST PRINCIPLE: ONLY QUALIFIED PEOPLE SHOULD HANDLE FINANCIAL MATTERS (VS 16-19 & 22-23).
“Thanks be to 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 honour the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help”.
“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 co-worker among you; as for our brothers, they are representatives of the churches and an honour to Christ.”
• Paul was sending three men – Titus and two unnamed Christian men;
• To collect the money that the Corinthians would give for the Church in Jerusalem.
Question: Did you spot their qualifications?
Answer: They are there in verses 16 19, 22 & 23:
• Verse 16: they possessed earnestness, concern, passion and urgency:
• “God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you.”
• More important than his financial skills was his heart;
• These men had good hearts, with a passion to help the poor.
• Verse 19: They were appointed by the Churches for this role of mailman.
• “He was chosen by the churches”
• Titus was not self-appointed to the task;
• The Church chose him because they recognised him as a man of good character.
• Verse 22: They were men of diligence:
• “..has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous”
• They had a good track record; “proved many times”;
• These were not novices but seasoned workers – those who had stood the test of time.
• They would not have their heads turned by temptation;
• By having such a large sum of money in their possession.
• Verse 23: They were known as fellow-workers in the faith:
• “If anyone asks about Titus, say that he is my partner who works with me”
• Titus was called a partner (an equal, a fellow worker) buy the apostle Paul;
• He was a man of good standing in the local Churches in which he served.
SECOND PRINCIPLE: MONEY MATTERS SHOULD BE ADMINISTERED HONESTLY AND OPENLY (VS 19B-21).
“…service that glorifies the Lord and shows our eagerness to help.
20 We are traveling together to guard against any criticism for the way we are handling this generous gift. 21 We are careful to be honourable before the Lord, but we also want everyone else to see that we are honourable”
• When people give their money to Churches, ministries and charities;
• They trust that their money will be used wisely and carefully.
• In many ways that trust is just as valuable as the money itself;
• So it must be guarded.
• This verse reminds us that it is right and God honouring that a Church
• And Christian organisations should have;
• A financial system that includes receipts and records and accountability.
• It is not enough to say, "Well, the Lord sees what we're doing!"
• We should make certain that men can also see what we are doing.
• I like the way J.B. Phillips translates verse 21:
"Naturally we want to avoid the slightest breath of criticism in the distribution of their gifts,
and to be absolutely above board not only in the sight of God but in the eyes of men."
Now in the last verse of the chapter (#24):
• The apostle Paul turns his attention back on the Corinthian Church;
• And encourages them to show their love by completing their gift.
“So show them your love, and prove to all the churches that our boasting about you is justified”.
• A loving Church is a generous Church;
• And the Corinthian’s generous love would validate the apostle Paul’s boasting;
• Of how Christ was at work in them!
