All about giving – part two (3 things)

• 1^st – Collecting the gift for Jerusalem… vs. 1-5
  • 1^st – Paul wanted the church of Corinth to be ready… vs. 1-2
    • He had been boasting about Corinth for over a year now concerning their gift…
    • In fact it was Corinth’s example that had stirred up the Macedonian church to help…
    • We are going to be an example to others around us – for good or for bad…
    • We can by our example stir up others to give themselves to the Lord…
    • Or we can be a distraction – we can keep others from following after the Lord…
    • I Corinthians 11:1 – “Follow me as I follow Christ…”
  • 2^nd – Paul did not want the church to be embarrassed… vs. 3-4
    • Paul’s concern was after all his boasting – what if the church was not ready…
      • What if some of the saints from Macedonia came along with Paul to Corinth…
      • And the church had not yet collected the gift for the church in Jerusalem…
      • It would appear all of Paul’s boasting was a lie – the church would be ashamed…
      • So Paul sent Titus and a brother (perhaps Luke) ahead to get everything ready…
    • Not because they had to give – but because they had already promised to give!
      • Paul’s encouragement is for the church to be true to their word…
      • Too often we speak – then we stop to think about what we said…
      • Better to think first what we are going to say – the consequence of our words…
      • When we promise to help someone out – give them our time / resources…
      • But then when they are counting on us – we are not faithful to our word…
      • It is easy to say something – it is almost impossible to take our words back…
      • James 1:19 – “My dear brothers, be quick to listen, slow to speak…”
      • God does not treat our words lightly – He expects us to fulfill our promises…
      • If we do not follow through with our promise – then it is sin…
      • Deuteronomy 23:21 – “When you make a vow to the LORD your God, be prompt in doing whatever you promised him. For the LORD your God demands that you promptly fulfill all your vows. If you don’t, you will be guilty of sin.”
      • If we are not sure if you can keep our promise – better to say nothing at all…
      • Ecclesiastes 5:5 – “It is better to say nothing than to promise something that you don’t follow through on.”
  • 3^rd – Paul did not want them to take a collection while he was there… vs. 5
    • Paul commanded them put aside a little each week on Sunday – I Corinthians 16:2…
      • Then Paul would collect the gift  – deliver it with the others men to Jerusalem…
      • Paul wanted the giving to be done with secrecy – no one knew what another gave.
    • Don’t let your left hand know what you right hand is doing – Matthew 6:1-4
      • Often when people do give – they give for all the wrong reasons…
      • They give so that others will praise them – make a name for themselves…
      • The Jewish leaders of Paul’s day would announce their giving to the Temple…
      • They would have a parade go before blowing trumpets – announcing their gift…
      • Time have not changed much – people still announce their ‘gifts’ today…
      • Politicians who ‘give’ to the community (tax money) – plastered with their name…
      • ‘Gifts’ to a church – with the name of the ‘giver’ posted for all to see…
      • They are not giving to God – they are giving for the recognition of other men!
      • Jesus says – they have their reward – the temporary praises of others…
      • We are not to give for the praises of others – we are to give out of love for God…
      • No one else should know about our gift – it is between us and the Lord!
        
• 2^nd – Giving to the Lord… vs. 6-7

• 1^st – The gift was not a mandatory offering…
  • Giving 10% of your income was only a command in the Old Covenant – Malachi 3:10
  • I am always amused by those who teach giving 10% to the church…
  • They take this one Law from the OT and teach it like it belongs in the NT…
  • The Law is not a buffet line – you cannot pick and choose what laws you like…
  • Those who teach giving 10% to the church – must also teach the rest of the Law…
  • Including all offering sacrifices at the Temple every time you sin!
• 2^nd – We give because we want to…
  • The New Covenant command is to give cheerfully as you purpose in your heart…
    • Often today people give out of a sense of obligation – they give but do not want to!
    • It may even be taught that if you do not give – God will not bless you…
    • As if you are steeling from God if you do not give 10% to the church – Malachi 3:8
    • But God says to give whatever you want – is little or as much as is on you heart…
    • If you do not want to give anything – you do not have to…
    • If you want to give everything – you are more than welcome to…
    • But whatever you give – you are to do it with a hilarious heart – a cheerful giver…
    • If you give out of obligation – it counts for nothing – God does not want it!
  • Pastors are never to ask for money…
    • It is a blessing to the church to provide for the pastor to free him up to minister…
    • If a pastor has to work to support himself practically – little time for the church…
    • But a pastor should NEVER demand/even ask – for money – I Corinthians 9:15
    • Many become ‘pastors’ because they think of it as a job – a way to make money…
    • They are not there to love and provide from the people – they take from them!
    • Those who demand money – fall under the judgment of God…
    • * Ezekiel 34:2 – “Destruction is certain for you shepherds who feed yourselves instead of your flocks. Shouldn’t shepherds feed their sheep?”
    • Too many pastors today abuse they authority they are given in the church…
    • They use the pulpit as a means for personal gain – take advantage of God’s people…
    • The result is people are wary of the church – the Gospel message become tainted…
• You don’t have to tell people to give / you don’t have to make them help…
  • Exodus 36:4-7 – the building of the Tabernacle – Moses had to stop the people…
  • When God is the one doing the work – He will stir the hearts of His people…
  • He will provide for all the needs to complete His work!
  • He will provide so much – you end up having to tell the people to STOP giving!
• Giving to the Lord is not just giving to the church – Deuteronomy 14:29…
  • We are often taught the only way to give to the Lord – is to give to the church…
  • But we can give an ‘offering’ to the Lord by helping out those around us…
• God considers that to be just as much a gift as anything we give to the Lord!
• 3^rd – God will provide for our ever need – and then some…
  • If we do not have to give – we might think – then why would I want to give!
    • It would seem to be better for me to keep my money – not to give anything away…
    • But in reality if I give to others – I will end up with more than I stared with!
    • Pressed down – squished together (to make more room) – overflowing…
    • Luke 6:38 – “With the same measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”
  • The Law of sowing and reaping…
    • We all are familiar with the rules for planting sugar cane – investing in a crop…
    • It might be expensive to plow a field with a tractor / buy good potdan…
    • We might think – fertilizer is not cheap / and perhaps try and use as little as we can
    • But in the end – the less we put into our crop – the less we get back!
    • Turn out this principal of sowing and reaping is just as true with giving…
    • Our gifts to God – whether given to the church / or those in need – are like seeds…
    • The more we plant – the more of a harvest of blessing we will reap from God…
    • If we are ‘cheap’ and choose to only plant a couple of seeds – a little harvest…
    • But if we sow bountifully – we will also reap bountifully!
    • We will never out give the Lord – the more we give / the more we will be given!
  • Side note: God knows the motives of our heart – you cannot give to try and get…
    • If you have a friend who only ‘gives’ to you expecting ‘more’ back in return…
    • It won’t take long before you try and avoid that ‘friend’…
    • If we only give to the Lord expecting back – we will be disappointed…
• 3^rd – Thanks be to God… vs. 8-15

He already gave us the most incredible gift of all!

1^st – The reason why God blesses us… vs. 8-10

The reason God gives to us – is so that we can turn around and bless others…

The church of Corinth had been blessed by God – they were rich…

God had blessed them so they could turn around the bless the poor of Jerusalem!

God wants to pour out His riches and blessing upon us – but not just for us…

He wants us to use those blessing so we can bless others in need!

Those who are Godly give generously to the poor…

Psalm 112:9 – “They share freely and give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”

We have two option when it comes to the resources God has given to us…

We can spend them all on ourselves – and enjoy them for a moment…

Our we can use them to bless others – and receive an eternal reward!

God is the one who gives the seed to the farmer – and makes the seed grow…

I Corinthians 3:7 – “What’s important is that God makes the seed grow.”

If God did not create seeds for us to plant – we would have nothing to grow…

Even when we plant the seed – we are not the ones who make it grow…

If God did not make the seed grow – we would not crops to harvest!

In other words God has given us everything we have – it is all the Lord’s…

We have nothing that God has not first given to us…

He gave us our hands and feet / our talent / our intellect / our abilities…

Therefore everything we have is a gift from God – all the credit goes to Him!

Like a good farmer – the Lord wants us to take our seeds and spread them around…

He wants us to flood the world with the blessings He has entrusted to us!

2^nd – The results of blessing others – 3 things… vs. 11-14

The church in Jerusalem would give thanks to God for Corinth’s generosity…

When we give to others – with a heart for the Lord – they will see Jesus in us!

They will not only thank us for helping – but they will also give praise to God!

The church in Jerusalem would see Corinth’s obedience to the Lord…

Seeing the church was more concerned about giving than receiving – Acts 20:35

Giving shows we are more concerned about the eternal – than the temporary…

The church in Jerusalem would love and pray for the church in Corinth…

When we bless others – we form an immediate bond with them – friendship…

They might not be able to give money to us – but they can give something better!

They’ll pray for us whole heartedly – because the love we have shown to them…

3^rd – The example God gave of blessing others… vs. 15

Paul concluded by thanking God for His incredible gift to us all…

God does not ask us to do something He has not already done for us…

Jesus gave His life on the cross – so that we could have the riches of heaven…