Title: “Learning to Be A Cheerful Giver” Scripture: II Cor. 9:7
Type: Expository Where: GNBC 11-21-21
Intro: When I was in HS one of my best friend’s mother was driving their new car. A warning light came on the dash board: CHECK ENGINE. Now my friend’s mother was a brilliant woman. Professor of nursing at local college. However, was not mechanically oriented. Tapped her finger on the dash and assumed the warning light was a fluke. Fifty miles later she painfully realized it was not a fluke. The car was out of oil, and the engine was blown. Warning lights on our dash board should not be ignored. At least it should signal a call to Greer Motors! We read in Scripture that the Christian is to be a generous individual: time, talent, treasure. This time of year there are countless appeals to being generous with the “treasure” God has given us. There are countless opportunities to which we may give financial support. How are we to make that decision? How do we stay open to God’s plan and not be stingy, while remaining both discerning and cheerful?
Prop: Exam. II Cor. 9:7 we’ll notice 4 Warning Lights that will help us to be both discerning and cheerful givers.
BG: 1. Besides Philemon, II Cor. is the most personal, least doctrinal of all of Paul’s letters.
2. II Cor. 8&9 – Paul is appealing in II Cor. for the Church to send a financial gift to the impoverished church at Jerusalem. He encourages the Corinthian church to emulate the example of the Macedonian Church ( Greece) who was very poor, yet raised a generous gift for the Jerusalem Church.
3.Message is not about tithing. This is giving. Attitude.
Prop: Exam. II Cor. 9:7 we’ll notice 4 Warning Lights Which if heeded will help us to be both cheerful and discerning givers.
I. 1st Warning Light: Action Check: “Am I Giving?”
“Each one must give…”
A. Notice an Important Assumption the Apostle Makes.
1. Paul makes an important assumption that the Christian is to be a generous person who will give to the needs of the saints.
a. NASB – “Let each one do…” “Let each one give…”Now, as we keep this in the context of the passage, it is a reference to the fact that the Apostle wants each Corinthian Christian to consider what he or she can or should do to help alleviate the suffering of our brothers and sisters. First question to ask ourselves: “Am I ever giving, anything?”
b. The idea here is that each Christian has a duty to search his/her hear to see where and how God wants us to use our resources for His Kingdom’s sake.
2. Let me clarify what is being spoken of here is not the Tithe.
a. The Tithe is the first 10% of our income that Christians are to dedicate to the support of the local church. Like llamas and alpacas, tithes and offerings are grouped together a lot, but they’re definitely not the same thing. A tithe is a specific amount (10% of your income) that you give first, and an offering is anything extra that you give beyond that. To be VERY clear…in this passage, Paul is not talking about tithes. He is talking about taking up a special offering of support
b. Illust: A New Testament teaching on giving which may be helpful to you is found in 1 Corinthians 16:2: “On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income.” This passage brings out four points: we should give individually, regularly, methodically and proportionately. Each believer is to give. The giving is regularly – the frequency by which you are paid. It is planned. Just like paying our mortgage or rent or car note. We plan to pay our tithe. An it is proportionate: Whether one makes $250 a week or $2500 per week. The % is the same.
B. What if I am not Giving?
1. This passage should serve as a warning light to the condition of our heart or the emphasis and value we place on stuff.
a. Illust: Just like how my friend’s mother’s dash light was an early warning to avert disaster, this verse can help serve as a warning light for the disaster that comes to lives when we place an emphasis on mammon, money, or stuff. Illust: Thanksgiving is this week and then Christmas Season. One of my all-time favorite stories/movies to read or watch at Christmas is: “Ebenezer Scrooge”. The very name “Scrooge” has become synonymous in the English speaking world with a stingy, nasty, miserly individual. As a young man he fell in love with a young woman named Belle and proposed marriage, but gradually his love for Belle was overwhelmed by his love for money. Belle realized this and, saddened by his greed, left him one Christmas, eventually marrying another. Like Ebenezer, we need to beware lest our lives are consumed by a love for money or stuff. When we tithe and give offerings we learn valuable lesson: Money is not our security.
2. Let our giving be personal and rooted in our love for one another because of Christ.
a. You and I need to have a concern for the poor…because of our relationship with Christ. I can come up with a lot of verses in the Bible that remind the Christian of his responsibility to alleviate the suffering of the poor. it is possible to give without loving, as we find in I Corinthians 13:3: “Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor . . . and have not charity [love], it profiteth me nothing” (I Corinthians 13:3). On the other hand, God’s example demonstrates that the presence of genuine love motivates giving: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). When you genuinely love someone, you will give to meet his or her needs—without the motive of personal reward. The love in your heart is even more important than the gift in your hands; it gives meaning to your actions and strengthens your relationships.
b. Illust: Let me give you an example of a special offering many of you were involved just last week. GNBC purchased, packed, and sent by post, around 100 shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child. Each shoebox had pencils or dolls or soccer balls or clothes or… Estimate $25-50 per shoe box.. some even more. For some of us that was easy. For some it was challenging. For some it was a hardship. However, it was a free will offering to bless a child on the other side of the world who you will probably never meet, unless in heaven. Why did we collectively spend $3000-5000+/- to do this? Emma and Anne Marie intimidated you? NO! Because you are generous because of what Christ has done in your heart and want to share that blessing.
C. Applic: As believers in Christ we need to open our hearts and our wallets when God directs us.
II. 2nd Warning Light: Conviction Check: “Am I Giving What I believe God Wants Me to Give?”
“as he has decided in his heart.”
A. Notice the Condition under which Paul validates the call to give.
1. Notice the important distinction Paul makes in this portion of the verse. Notice in this passage: As Paul seeks to motivate the Corinthian Church to fulfill its pledge to give to the collection for the needy saints in Jerusalem, he seeks to balance two concerns. One: he says that God’s acceptance of the gift depends not on the amount given but on the readiness to give (II Cor. 8:11-12). In other words, a small amount given from the heart with sincerity and love is better than a large amount given reluctantly. 2nd: he also teaches that it really is a good thing to be generous. In fact, a bountiful gift will lead to bountiful blessings for the giver. (II Cor. 9:6) (Table Talk, 11-3-21).
2. Giving is to be a special act rooted in a personal conviction. “as he has decided in his heart” - The verb, which does not occur elsewhere in the New Testament, is used in its full ethical significance as indicating, not a passing impulse nor a vague wish, but a deliberate resolve. (Whether everyone is or no one else is.)
B. Giving is therefore a Spiritual Decision.
1. The Corinthians’ giving to the fund to help the believers in Jerusalem was not in itself mandatory, but was just one option to help other Christians. It only became necessary when they made the pledge to help. Once the pledge was made, individuals were expected to give willingly and what they had determined in their hearts to give. See the Bible makes it clear we are required to help provide for the needs of other believers who cannot care for themselves (Ja. 1:27), but we are not all duty bound to give in specific ways to every specific concern.
2. Unbelief and fear of loss that constrain our liberality, but here Paul compares giving to sowing. Seed sown in the soil seems lost, but the farmer knows a season of harvest will follow. As we sow bountifully with faith in the benevolence of God, not only can we expect to reap a harvest of earthly blessings, but we store up for ourselves a good foundation for our eternal future (1 Tim. 6:19).
C. Applic: God loves a cheerful giver because those who feel pleasure in giving display the glorious grace of His Son. His grace abounds to us and we become more like Christ. God's grace alleviates our fear of loss of value and dignity. Our flesh and our culture demand that we find our value and dignity in our material wealth. But we are freed from this bondage and are now being conformed to the image of Christ. Let God, speaking to our heart, determine what we do, not our culture.
III. 3rd Warning Light: Coercion Check: “Am I Being Coerced into Giving?”
“not reluctantly nor under compulsion”
A. Paul recognizes that Often our Motives to Give Are not Good.
1. Sometimes we give reluctantly.
a. Let me give us some reasons not to give reluctantly. The giving of Alms (charity or benevolence) was a huge part of the Hebrew culture. It affected how famers harvested their fields to whether or not you could keep a poor man’s cloak who was in debt to you. (Lev. 19;23;Ex. 22:26) There are multiple verses that discuss the blessings God bestows on those who give to the poor. Do you know that if you are a Christian who gives to the poor: His righteousness will endure forever (Ps. 112:5,9), Your gloom will be taken away (Is. 58:10), You will honor Christ and have treasure in heaven (Mt. 19:21), You will lend to God and He pays back generously! (Pr. 19:17)
b. Illust: We all struggle with this periodically, don’t we? We’ve got bills. We have kids in school. Lessons. Great story, I’ve told before, of no less a believer than Billy Graham. Visiting in a church one Sunday. Ruth sitting beside him. Offering baskets being passed. Billy reached into his pocket. $20. Stuffed it back in. Reached in again, $20! Plates getting closer…Reached in 3rd time…$20! Reluctantly tossed it into the plate. Ruth sweetly whispered in his ear: “Don’t worry Dear, God gave you credit for the $5.”
2. Sometimes we give under compulsion.
a. Illust: Think about all the ways we are placed under some degree of compulsion to give. Immigrants: Calls from family back home. At the light in front of McD’s at the Benton St. corner: Various homeless men staring into your car. Maybe a call from the Policeman’s widow and orphan’s or disabled veterans or special needs or SPCA or political cause… All of those may be good to give to in their own right, but certainly none of us can give to each individual or entity and if did our gift wouldn’t make a hill of beans difference. This time of year I always get a call from an agency that does very good deed for children. They call and ask me to buy 2 tickets at $40 a piece to send children to the circus. Are children a worthy cause? Yes! Is circus good fun? Yes! Am I giving freely? NO! I am being guilted into giving. I am under compulsion.
b. So, how do you decide to give or not? Give to the one which makes you most uncomfortable? NO! What Paul is saying in this passage is that true generosity is found not in the amount given but in the eagerness of the giver. It would be inappropriate to call someone “generous” even if they gave $$$ if in fact they were being coerced by some outside force.
B. How Do We Make Sure to Give Freely without Reluctance nor Compulsion?
1. Pray About Who or What You are to Give To. – Do you need wisdom as to what good thing you can give to with the limited funds you have? Certainly! James 1:5 – “ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” That wisdom may direct you to give in a situation. That wisdom may also encourage you not to give. Maybe you have some pressing bills. Maybe your family has needs right now…first priority is for that.
2. Let God’s Values Influence Your Values in Giving – Let Biblical values influence who or what you give to. I will not give to any organization, politician or party, group or entertainment that violates or disagrees with my core spiritual values as found in the Bible. Period.
3. Give Prayerfully but be willing to be Impulsive as well.
a. We need to be convinced in prayer of what to give and how much to give. Illust: As a Christian, this needs to be balanced with the fact that God sometimes places us in a position where impulsive or even extravagant giving is a good thing that honors Christ! Illust: I think of Mary of Bethany’s anointing of Jesus’ head and feet feet, Wednesday of Holy Week. Event is contained in all 4 Gospels. Takes alabaster jar of pure nard, literally worth a life’s savings…and POURS IT ON CHRIST! Impulsive? Yes! Extravagant! Yes! What was the reaction of the disciples? “Why this waste! It could have been sold at a high price and given to the poor.” (Mt. 26:6-13) What is Jesus’ response: “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing for Me. The poor you will always have with you.” So, when we give, we need to be prayerfully convinced in our own hearts that what God wants us to do with the resources He has given us. Sometimes we need to realize that may be impulsive, elaborate or expensive. But I’s ok if we are seeking to honor Him in the moment.
b. Illust: I know a man who probably 10-15 yrs ago went to Flowerama to buy wife roses for Valentine’s Day. In line, was a sad, middle aged, woman woman buying herself some flowers. He heard her overtell the clerk: “I am buying these flowers for myself, because I have no one in my life and never get flowers on Valentine’s Day.” After the woman left the store, the man paid his bill. God spoke to him and said: “Buy that woman a dozen roses.” He asked the clerk to anonymously send her the roses with a simple note that said: “Happy Valentine’s Day, Jesus Loves you!” Impulsive. Expensive. Christ honoring.
C. Applic: Never give because of coercion. Rather, be led by the Spirit of God.
IV. 4th Warning Light: Attitude Check: “Am I Giving Cheerfully?
A. Paul Lays Down a final Important Principle.
1. God wants us to Give Cheerfully!
a. “cheerfully” – hilaros – From which we get the English word: “Hilarious”. We laugh because a person or event is funny, it’s hilarious. How do you feel when you are laughing with someone? You feel good. You feel happy. God wants us to feel that way when we give to the things He wants you and me to give to. This attitude is the exact opposite of the person who is grieved over having to give in a situation. It includes the idea of being kind and gracious in our giving.
b. Illust: John Wesley, who was an insanely generous soul, said of this person: In 1789 preached a very famous srmon: “On the Use of Money” 3 main points: Earn all You Can, Save All You Can, Give All You Can! Many a Christian’s wallet get’s saved years after their soul does. Some never. Some immediately.
2. Do You and I Give Cheerfully to the Things of God?
a. Illust: I know a lot of people, even some Christian people who say they don’t like to go to church because the church always asks for money. Maybe that is true in some churches…however, I doubt it. Do you notice how forced everyone is at GNBC to give? You have a box in the sanctuary and one in the foyer. You can walk by it. Can go out the doors you can ignore it. No one is going to bring it in front of you and shake it! Neither Bobby nor Robert are going to stop you at the door and shake you down to leave! However, over the years I have happily gone to college and pro sporting events, concerts, plays, movies. You know the strangest thing…every single one of those events wouldn’t even let me INTO their buildings until I paid a certain amount of money!
B. Four Key Reasons Why God Loves a Cheerful Giver.
1. Loving Jesus. When we give cheerfully, we demonstrate that we love Jesus more than our money. Matthew 6:21 quotes Jesus saying “wherever your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”2. Releasing Bondage. When we give cheerfully, money doesn’t have a hold over us. “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1) Does money mean too much to you? Christ is calling you to choose freedom in the Spirit. 3. Pleasing God. Hebrews 11:6 reminds us that it pleases God when we are faithful. In “How Do I Become a More Cheerful Giver?” Heather Adams writes, “I need to believe that God's grace takes whatever I give and increases the blessing. We need to expect God to multiply our gifts by making us more spiritually fruitful and increasing the usefulness of gifts in the way they are used. 4. Remaining Grateful. Giving to those less fortunate helps us to appreciate “God's heart for the needy, and a desire for His people to join in the work”. If we cheerfully share what we have to alleviate financial pressure or support a cause that lines up with biblical principles, this should feel good. God wants our hearts to expand. This is a sign of fruitfulness: happy, cheerful generosity. Our perspective changes and we realize that “the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” (Psalm 24:1) Our money was never ours to begin with.
2. Illust: RG LeTourneau was a great Christian entrepreneur. A sixth grade drop out, RG did not have the look of future inventor and businessman. Coming home from WWI he found self in debt $5k having had a business partner who absconded. LeTourneau paid every cent. While hustling a job was asked to level some ground for a Texas rancher. LeTourneau found his calling! Inventing earth moving equipment. In time would have 300 patents for earth moving and road building equipment. At height of business, had manufacturing plants on 4 continents. After becoming a Christian, went to talk to his pastor about what should do since really wanted to serve the Lord. He asked his pastor, Rev. Devol for advice: Should I become a pastor or a missionary? Devol’s counsel: “God needs Christian businessmen too!” Over remaining years LeTourneau built a Christian University, employed 100’s, changed highway systems, gave away $10’s of millions. Last 35 yrs of life lived “reverse tithe” principle, living on 10% and giving away 90%! RG LeTourneau was a cheerful giver!
C. Applic: Remember 4 Warning Lights: Am I Giving? Am I giving What God Wants Me to Give? Am I Being Coerced into Giving? Am I a Cheerful Giver?
