But let’s face facts. The issue of money and giving cannot and must not be avoided. It also must not be abused. You see, Jesus talked about our money more than He talked about heaven and hell combined.
Paul addressed giving in his second letter to the Corinthians. A year earlier, they had heard of the desperate financial situation of the church in Jerusalem. The early Christians in Israel’s capital were under tremendous persecution. As a result, they were broke and needed help. The much-wealthier Corinthians offered to help. In 2nd Corinthians 9, Paul let’s them know that he’ll soon be heading to Jerusalem, so they should get their money together.
In 2nd Corinthians 9:6-15, God gives us 5 principles for Grace Giving.
I. God calls us to give LAVISHLY (v6)
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. (2Corinthians 9:6 NIV)
Remember: A stingy planter gets a stingy crop; a lavish planter gets a lavish crop. (2Corinthians 9:6 The Message)
God calls us to give LAVISHLY because He is a LAVISH Giver.
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us… (Ephesians 3:20 NIV)
You can’t out give God!
II. God calls us to give INTENTIONALLY (v7a)
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2Corinthians 9:7 NIV)
When Paul writes “decided in his heart,” that simply means that your offering is between you and Jesus. That's why it's called Grace Giving! It's a heart issue. Remember Jesus words in the Sermon on the Mount:
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21 NIV)
We need to make up your mind and be intentional. Plan and purpose to give. That means planning AHEAD of time. Uh oh, there's the "b" word...BUDGET! We need to remember that under the principle of Grace Giving, the tithe is standard or guideline. It is NOT a legalistic requirement.
I invite you to take the test God describes in the book of Malachi.
“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” (Malachi 3:10 NIV)
You see, 90% with God goes further than 100% without Him.
Let's be clear about what giving to God is NOT...
-It is NOT “Powerball for Jesus”
-God NOT some divine vending machine
-It is NOT the price of admission to church
-It is NOT a way to pay for music, the sermon, or childcare
-It is NOT tipping Jesus
You CAN’T bribe God. Remember: Jesus looks at heart
God calls us to give INTENTIONALLY because He is an INTENTIONAL Giver.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV)
You can’t out give God!
III. God calls us to give HILARIOUSLY (v7b)
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2Corinthians 9:7 NIV)
God calls us to give willingly...not out of guilt. He's less concerned about WHAT we give and more concerned about WHY we give.
God LOVES a cheerful giver. I mean, He's absolutely CRAZY about cheerful givers. The Greek word for cheerful is actually "hilarious". Yup, that's right. Jesus wants us to be hilarious givers.
God calls us to give HILARIOUSLY because He is a HILARIOUS Giver.
He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:32 NIV)
You can’t out give God!
IV. God calls us to give RELENTLESSLY (v8)
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. (2Corinthians 9:8 NIV)
"God is able" doesn't sound very "Almighty" to me. Once again, our English translations don't do justice to the richness of the original text. It actually means that God is AMAZINGLY and POWERFULLY able. Let me take a stab at translating one of my favorite verses in the Bible.
And God is amazingly and powerfully able to overflow all grace and resources to you, so that in all things and at all times, and possessing all that is necessary, you may overflow in every excellent work. (2Corinthians 9:8 Jay’s Translation)
God calls us to give RELENTLESSLY, because He is a RELENTLESS Giver.
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19 NIV)
You can’t out give God!
V. Be a fire hose of God’s grace (v9-14)
As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." (2Corinthians 9:9 NIV)
Or as Eugene Peterson paraphrases it in The Message...
As one psalmist puts it, he throws caution to the winds, giving to the needy in reckless abandon. His right-living, right-giving ways never run out, never wear out. (2Corinthians 9:9 The Message)
Here's the scoop. God gives to us so that we can give. We're blessed to be a blessing. Jesus explains the responsibility of being the recipient of divine blessing.
From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. (Luke 12:48 NIV)
VI. God calls us to give SACRIFICIALLY (v15)
Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! (2Corinthians 9:15 NIV)
God gave His one & only Son Jesus ...an AMAZING, indescribable sacrifice!
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NIV)
God calls us to give SACRIFICIALLY because He is a SACRIFICAL Giver.
You can’t out give God!
VII. God is the ULTIMATE Giver
God is a…
-LAVISH…
-INTENTIONAL…
-HILARIOUS…
-RELENTLESS…
-SACRIFICIAL Giver
You can’t out give Him. He’s an extravagant Giver and He DARES YOU to try to out give Him. Take the 3 month tithe challenge. Pledge to give your first 10% to God for the next three months. I promise you that two things will happen. First of all, Satan will immediately try to discourage you. Secondly, God will bless you in such a way that He'll blow your socks off. Somehow. Someway.
But as my good friend John Logan says, "If you haven’t given yourself to God, He doesn’t want your money." Have you given yourself to Jesus?
God is an extravagant Giver…and He’s making us into His image! And that means He's making us into givers too. God doesn’t need your money. He wants your HEART!
From sermon at Freedom River CC on March 9, 2008.
