GIVING
-It seems that we don’t hear very many lessons on the topic of giving.
-A couple of reasons:
-1. Preachers sometimes feel ackward presenting a lesson on giving because their salaries come from the
contribution.
-Making a living preaching the word is scriptural and so is the topic of giving..
-I Cor 9: 9-15
-vs 14 - “live of the gospel” = to earn their living
-NAS - “So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel.”
-2. Money is a sensitive topic and some don’t like lessons aimed at their pocketbooks. But, before this lesson is over, I
hope you’ll see that giving is more of an issue of the heart.
-I Cor 16: 1-2
-The saints in Jerusalem were in need and the other churches were helping them.
-Acts 11: 27-30
-II Cor 9: 1-2 - We find that the Christians in Corinth responded.
-superfluous - (Coll Dict) - unnecessary or needless
-II Corinthians 8:1-13
-This is an extremely important passage when it comes to the topic of giving.
-We know that Paul had commanded the other churches to give when he commanded the Corinthians to do so (I Cor
16:1).
-In II Cor 8, we find some information regarding the response of the churches in Macedonia.
-Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea and others
-Notice some unusual contrasts: (what we might think unusual)
-vs 2 - great trial of affliction - abundance of joy
their deep poverty - abounded unto riches of their liberality
-vs 3 - great willingness
-vs 4 - prayed for Paul and those with him to take the gift
-praying - (Vines) - desire, beseech (Beseech carries with it the idea of earnest begging.)
-They wanted badly to help those who were in need.
-vs 5 - “but first gave their own selves to the Lord”
-Because they first gave themselves to God, they were willing to give of their finances as well.
-Explain vs 1 - “grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia”
-grace – The word grace is not always used in a way to indicate redemptive grace. Overall it means “favor
bestowed upon another.
-Notice, the churches of Macedonia had a favor bestowed upon them from God.
-Yet it says that they were in a great trial of affliction and in deep poverty.
-So, what was the favor? The favor was that God allowed these Christians to help those in need.
-God has the power to do whatever He wants. He could have helped those Christians who were
in need in whatever manner He decided. But, he allowed the churches of Macedonia to have the privilege of carrying out that work in His behalf.
-Hopefully, we see by this passage that giving isn’t as much a matter of the pocketbook as it is a matter of the heart.
-Matt 22:37
-II Cor 9:7
-purposeth - (Vines) - “ to bring forth or forward” - can mean “to take by choice, prefer, purpose”
-We see that our giving is something that is to involve thought - purpose.
-It is to be planned. It is a choice and hopefully it is a wise choice.
-We don’t put every penny in the collection today and expect to buy groceries tomorrow.
-I Cor 16:2 - A Closer Look
-When? - Upon the first day of the week
-It is not a part of the Lord’s Supper but usually done immediately after for convenience.
-Lay by in store
-lay - (Vines)- to lay up or store up
-Store - (Vines) - comes from the Greek word meaning “to amass or reserve” - in treasury
-Mark 12: 41-44 - another great passage on giving
-There was a physical treasury. Now our treasury is in the form of a bank account.
-As God hath prospered him
-Many misunderstand what is meant by this phrase.
-When we think of the word “prosper” we think of abundance and excess.
-In other words, we get the idea of giving based upon our excess - what is left over.
-Think about that for just a moment. Should God get our leftovers? A portion of them?
-prospered - (Vines and Strongs) - comes from two Greek words: 1. well 2. A way or journey
-as we do well along the way - as we earn income
-NIV - “each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income”
-In other words, our giving should not be based upon what we have left when all is said and done but on what
we receive in the first place.
-Most people consider all other payments and then give to God.
-We should give to God first and then consider other payments.
-Which is more important?
-Scriptural Pattern
-We are not told a specific amount to give.
-II Cor 9:7
-But, there is a pattern found through the scriptures:
-Prior to the Law - Gen 14:20 - tithe = tenth
-During the Law - Lev 27:30-32
-After the Law - No set amount given.
-But, think about how far more we are blessed to be under the Gospel.
-Should we then give less?
-Giving is an individual issue. It is one upon which you must decide.
-But, one factor we haven’t discussed yet is the most important.
-II Cor 8:9 (with vs 13)
-Think about how much God gave and how much Jesus gave for us. No matter how much we give financially,
it is very minute in comparison to what has been given for us.