THE LIVING GIFTS WHO GAVE

Posted by Pastor Greg Allen on April 18, 2021 under 2021 |

Bethany Bible Church Sunday Message; April 18, 2021 from 2 Corinthians 8:1-7

Theme: God desires for us to be ‘givers’ to His cause who have first given ourselves to Him.

(All Scripture is taken from The New King James Version, unless otherwise indicated).

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This morning, we begin a brand new section of the New Testament letter of 2 Corinthians.

When we first began our study of 2 Corinthians, I suggested that it can be divided into three main sections. In the first section, in Chapters 1-7, the apostle Paul wrote of the passion of the ministry of the gospel of Jesus Christ. In the second section, in Chapters 8-9, he wrote about the practice of ministry. And in the third section, in Chapters 10-13, he wrote about the protection of ministry. We have just finished studying the section on Paul’s passion for the ministry; and it has been a rich blessing. And now; this morning we begin considering the second section in Chapters 8-9; and what they teach us about the practice of that glorious ministry.

These two chapters have mainly to do with the practice of the ministry with respect to God’s people providing support for the work of that ministry. One writer has said that, in these two chapters, we find ‘a philosophy of Christian giving’. And Paul began this topic by writing in 2 Corinthians 8:1-7 about a remarkable instance of giving—and of the attitude of heart from which that remarkable act of giving came:

Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also (2 Corinthians 8:1-7).

I love how we’re told that this gift was given in a manner that Paul had not expected. The givers had first given themselves to the Lord; and then, they gave themselves to Paul and his co-workers by the will of God.

And that’s the secret to the kind of giving that truly pleases God. That’s what makes it an act of worship.

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As a preacher, I’ve usually gotten a bit nervous whenever I’ve come to a passage about giving. It would be easy for the message, or the motives for preaching it, to be misunderstood. And I think that those who listen to such a sermon might get a little nervous too. Many preachers and many churches have sadly misused the Bible’s teaching on this whole idea of giving. And that has made many of us a little too cautious about discussing it.

But let’s make a decision—right now—to get over that. When a church deals with the subject of giving, and especially when it deals with it rightly, it’s not bringing up a subject that is somehow ‘alien’ to the genuine Christian life. Rather, it’s bringing in a subject about which God’s word speaks clearly—and, in fact, speaks quite a bit. To not speak of the subject of giving at all would be as contrary to God’s will for us as speaking about it too much. The problem is never with the subject of ‘giving’ itself, but almost always with the direction from which it is viewed. In God’s household, we shouldn’t view ‘giving’ as a strictly horizontal, human-to-human thing. The Bible presents it to us as something that is a part of worship; and it should always be considered a sacred act from a ‘God-ward’ point of view. True biblical giving is a way in which—in actual practice—we express our sincere gratitude to our heavenly Father, our complete trust in and dependency upon Him as our Provider, and our devotion to the cause of the spread of the kingdom of Jesus Christ.

And these first 7 verses help greatly to establish that viewpoint for us. My prayer is that when we’re through with our study of this portion of 2 Corinthians, we will be ready to give in a way that is more pleasing to our Lord—and as those who truly worship Him as we should in the process.

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Now; there is a story that’s going on in the background of this passage. It’s not told to us in the passage itself; but it’s told to us elsewhere in the New Testament. And to fully appreciate what Paul is saying to us in it, we need to know something about that background story.

It began at a time when the early church’s missionary efforts were just getting started, and when the message of the gospel was beginning to spread out into the Gentile world. The good news of the gospel had gone out beyond Jerusalem and Judea, and was changing lives all the way up north into the Syrian city of Antioch. And it was at that time that God raised up some prophets who had come from Jerusalem to Antioch to deliver a message. God had told the church through these prophets that there was about to be a great famine that would spread throughout all the known world. This famine did, in fact, occur during the reign of Claudius Caesar.

And this revelation from God moved the church into action. In Acts 11:29-30, we read:

Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul (Acts 11:29-30).

At the very beginning of his relief effort, this missionary to the Gentiles named Saul—who was none other than the apostle Paul—became whole-heartedly committed to the idea of ministering in this way to his Jewish believing brothers and sisters in Christ. Early in his calling to the gospel, the other apostles had urged Paul the missionary to do what he could to help the poor; and this was something that He said in Galatians 2:10 that he was also eager to do. And not only he, but other Gentile Christians in Macedonia and Achaia were also eager to help their Jewish brethren. That would have included some churches that are familiar to readers of the Bible—the churches in Philippi and Thessalonica and Berea. They all wanted to help these suffering Jewish people; because in doing so, they not only relieved their misery, but also demonstrated to the Jewish people in general that the message of the gospel was not hostile to them—and that the Gentile Christians sincerely loved them.

So; this great relief effort was clearly something that was from God. And at many points in his ministry and in his letters, Paul made reference to it. Look for example at Romans 15:25-27. In writing about his upcoming traveling plans, Paul wrote;

But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things (Romans 15:25-27).

The Macedonian Christians had a sense of indebtedness to their Jewish brethren. And their eagerness to help also inspired other believers too. That often happens; doesn’t it? When we see the way one church family is getting behind a big thing that God wants done, it often inspires other churches to join in. And so, when they saw what the churches in Macedonia were doing, even the Christians in Corinth wanted to help. Paul also made very specific reference to this in 1 Corinthians 16:1-4 when he wrote;

Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. And when I come, whomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem. But if it is fitting that I go also, they will go with me (1 Corinthians 16:1-4).

So; that’s what’s going on behind our passage this morning—and behind the things that Paul says in all of Chapters 8-9 of 2 Corinthians.

But as we read through this section of 2 Corinthians, it becomes clear that there was a problem. Somehow, the Corinthians were dropping the ball. It may have been because of all the problems and tensions that Paul had made reference to in Chapters 1-7. Or it may have been because of the influence of the false teachers that Paul made mention of in Chapters 10-13. But for whatever reason, the Corinthians needed to be encouraged to recommit themselves to the promise that they had made, and to work hard to prepare their part of the collection for this relief effort. And so, at the very end of this morning’s passage, we find that Paul urged his ministry colleague Titus to complete this fund-raising work that he had begun among the Corinthians; and he also urged the Corinthians themselves to abound in it.

And in doing so, he was urging them all to look at the example of the Macedonian Christians. They not only gave generously, but they—first of all—gave themselves to God. And then, in submission to God, they gave as an act of true, sincere, grateful worship.

I like to think of these Christians, who had become such inspiring examples of earnest giving, as ‘the living gifts who gave’. They first gave themselves to God—and then, from God, they gave to His work.

* * * * * * * * * *

So then; let’s begin by looking at the things that we see in this passage about God’s work in and through those Macedonian Christians. Paul had just gotten through telling the Corinthian Christians—in 7:16—that he rejoiced that he could have confidence in them “in everything”. And so, it’s with this confidence that he then begins in 8:1 by saying;

Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia … (v. 1).

Now; please give special attention to how he spoke of their part in giving a gift to the relief effort. He called it “the grace of God bestowed” on them. It was itself a “grace” from God; or as it can be translated, a “gift”. The word “grace” appears three times in verses 1-7. And each time, it has a slightly different meaning. In verse 4, Paul spoke about how the Macedonians implored Paul to “receive the gift”. In the original language, that’s the same word as “grace”; and in that case, the word refers to the actual financial gift itself. And in verse 6, Paul speaks of how he urged Titus to “complete this grace” in the Corinthians; and in that case, it’s speaking of the initial willingness and intention on the part of the Corinthians to give. But at the very beginning—with respect to the Macedonians—he referred to the actual ministry of giving in a godly way as a “grace of God bestowed” upon them.

And just think of that! It was a blessing from God to give to the service of God! Paul once spoke about his own ministry in that way. He wrote to his fellow Christians in Ephesus 3:8 and said;

To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ … (Ephesians 3:8).

That was no easy ministry, by the way. It cost Paul dearly to fulfill it. But it was the gift of a ministry from God to him; and for him to preach the gospel of Jesus was a ‘grace’. Do you speak that way, dear brother or sister, of the opportunities that God gives you to serve Christ? To be in Jesus’ service—in any way at all—is truly a great gift of grace that will result in eternal blessings. What a difference it would make in our service to Jesus—and even to our giving for His cause—if we looked at anything God gives us the opportunity to do in the service of His Son Jesus as something that He gives us as a “grace” from Him!

Paul wanted the Corinthians to also see their opportunity to serve as a grace bestowed upon them from God. And so, he told them about how that grace was given to the Macedonians. But their grace of a ministry—like Paul’s—wasn’t an easy one. In verse 2, Paul went on to say;

that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality (v. 2).

The churches in Macedonia—that is the churches of Philippi and Thessalonica and Berea—had all undergone difficult economic times. Historians tell us that the Romans had gained occupancy of those areas and had taxed the region heavily. And what’s more, the churches, in particular, had undergone very difficult times of persecution. When you read Paul’s letters to the Philippians and to the Thessalonians, and also read about these churches in portions of the Book of Acts, you can see very clear evidence of the terrible hardships they were under. Paul said that they were in “deep poverty”. The idea was that they were at ‘the rock bottom’ in their own condition of need. And yet, that did not stop them from giving to meet the needs of their Jewish brethren. Paul said that even in their own trial of need, “the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty” bubbled over into great generosity.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ; it’s always a good thing to give when we can. In fact, it’s the right thing to do. Though it’s not required of us by commandment, many of us regularly give a tenth of what we have—a tithe—to the Lord’s work. For most of us, it’s not a terribly great burden to do so. But when you give at a time when you yourself are in a condition of great need, that’s another matter altogether. And then when, at such a time, you do so joyfully and generously, that’s another matter still! Such willingness to give can be nothing else but a work of God! It comes from an attitude that trusts completely and sincerely in the promise of the Lord Jesus when He said,

“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you” (Luke 6:38).

That’s the attitude with which the Macedonians performed this remarkable act of generosity. And look further at how Paul described their act of giving. In verse 3, he wrote,

For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing … (v. 3).

They literally gave more than they had the ability to give—and they did so without any compulsion from Paul. It must be that they—in deep poverty as they already were—decided to sell what they had and gave the proceeds to the cause; so that they ended up putting themselves in even greater need in order to serve their Jewish brethren. It could be that Paul even tried to prevent them from going that far; and yet he had to relent to their wishes, because, as he says in verse 4, they were

imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints (v. 4).

They wanted so much to be partners with Paul and his co-workers in the work of ministering to the Jewish believers that they were willing to put themselves in poverty in order to help meet the needs of others in Jesus’ name.

God takes notice of that kind of giving. Do you remember the story of how Jesus was watching people as they gave in the temple?

And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had” (Luke 21:1-4).

I read a story about a church that was experiencing great need. A wealthy man in the church rather piously announced that he would like to put his ‘two mites’ in for the cause. And the pastor excitedly announced, “Great news, folks! Our problem is solved! This man has just announced that he is going to put in all that he has!” After all, that’s what the widow put in. God certainly sees it when we give what we can from what we have; but He gives special notice to those who give more than they—in a human sense—can afford to give.

And I hope you will particularly notice verse 5. This is the key to it all. Those Macedonian Christians gave far more than their money; and that’s why they were able to give as they did. After telling us how these Macedonian believers gave so remarkably, he adds;

And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God (v. 5).

It’s as if before they put anything else in the offering plate, they first put their very selves in as an offering to the Lord. And whatever they then gave to the Lord, they gave because it all belonged to the Lord; and they gave at His bidding. What a way to give! What an act of worship!

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Now; where does such a motivation for giving come from? We find a clue in what Paul says in verse 9;

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich (v. 9).

If our hearts are truly captivated by the love Jesus has shown for us in giving His all for us—even to the point of becoming poor for us that we might become rich in Him—then, in gratitude toward Him, we would be willing to do the same for others as He did for us.

This remarkable example of giving greatly inspired Paul. And so, he wanted to set this example plainly before the Corinthian believers. He wanted the example of the Macedonian Christians to reignite the commitment of the Corinthian Christians to give as they had promised. In verse 6, Paul wrote;

So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well (v. 6).

It was a gracious work of God that had started them toward that commitment to give; and now, Paul urged Titus to go and help them along in reviving it again. Titus most likely took this letter along with him, and read to the Corinthians what the Macedonians had done. And so; thinking of all that God had already given the Corinthians through Christ—thinking of how rich He had made them—Paul added;

But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also (v. 7).

* * * * * * * * * *

Dear brothers and sisters; let’s grow to think rightly about this whole matter of giving to the Lord’s work. It’s not a chore. It’s not a burden. It’s a grace bestowed upon us from Him that will result in eternal blessings. And to fulfill this grace is truly an act of worship.

As the example of the Macedonian believers shows us, we can give to the work of spreading our Lord’s kingdom even in a time of hardship and affliction. When Jesus is with us in those trials, our experience of them can even bubble up in us into a joyful generosity that shows that He is the one at work in us. By God’s grace, we can even give over and above what we may think we can; and view it all as a privilege to partner in the work of Christ toward the blessing of others who love Him.

But let’s remember the key to it all. It’s that we first give ourselves wholeheartedly to Him—and then, give in obedience to His call.

Then, we truly become ‘living gifts who give’.

EA