Sermon 5 -- THE ELEMENTS OF GIVING

II Corinthians 9:6-15

By way of review we have looked at the---

- Exhortation on Giving found in I Corinthians 16:1-4.

- Example of Giving seen in the Macedonian churches in II Corinthians 8:1-5.

- Excuses for not Giving seen in the response of the church at Corinth.

- Eminent Giver of all, the Lord Jesus Christ in II Corinthians 8:9.

In this study I want us to look at the "Elements of Giving" as seen in II Corinthians 9:6-15.
Genuine stewardship is like a tasty dessert in that is takes the right proportions of
ingredients mixed together to have the right outcome. Stewardship is not one thing, but
several things which work together.

We might want to think of these elements of giving as a ladder, with each elements
providing a rung.

1. Stewardship exercises a Choice, v. 6.

We are all stewards. The choice is, do you want to be a good steward or a poor steward?

You have a choice when it comes to stewardship. God has the power to shake you down
and get out of you what He wants, but that usually not how it works.

You see, we given the privilege to make decisions that directly effect our financial lives.

Do you see it in verse 6? This is one of God’s law of harvest.

1: We Will Reap Only If We Sow.

2: We Will Reap What We Sow.

3: We Will Reap More Than We Sow.

4: We Will Reap In Proportion To What We Sow.

5: We Reap Later Than We Sow.

6: We Will Reap.

7: We Reap Because God Gives the Increase.

Look at the middle of this list of harvest - law #4: We Will Reap In Proportion To What
We Sow.

l II Corinthians 9:6 --- "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly;
and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully."

The more you sow, the more you reap. The more seed you plant, the greater your harvest.
Paul isn’t talking about agriculture - he’s talking about finances.

God leave how much we plant up to us, but He promises to bless everything we plant.
That’s our choice.

2. Stewardship expresses a Cheerfulness, v. 7.

II Corinthians 9:7 begins, "Every man . . ." The appeal to give is for every Christian. One
of the amazing things of our day is that not every Christian behaves like a Christian in
every area, yet wants the recognitions of a Christian.

> Every Christian ought to attend church at every service.

> Every Christian ought to read his Bible every day.

> Every Christian ought to pray every day.

> Every Christian ought to witness of his faith in the Lord.

> Every Christian ought to give.

You have probably heard people pray, "Lord, bless those who can give and those who
cannot." Hey, that may sound good, but it's not Scriptural. Really it is a cover up for the
tightwads. "Every man" that is a Christian should give. Does you giving reflect that you
are a Christian?

"... according as he purposeth." There is the idea of choice again. You might be thinking,
"What if I don't want to give?" Then you ought to pray for a new "want to." Do you think
you will impoverish God by not giving? Will you break the church by not giving? Will you
hinder God's cause by not giving? Actually, you only impoverish yourself when you choose
not to give.

". . . in his heart." Now follow the progression of this Scripture. Every person who is a
Christian who chooses to give should consecrate his gift to God. God is not only interested
in what's in your hand, but what's in your heart! It's not just the amount, but also the
attitude.

A boy was saving some choice meats for his dog when his dad said, "You eat your meat and
your dog can have the scraps." After dinner the boy went to his dog with the scraps and
said dejectedly and apologetically, "Spot, I wanted to give you a love offering, but all I can
give you today is only a collection."

". . . so let him give." Every Christian chooses to consecrate his gift should carry through
his commitment by giving! Once the heart and mind is joined in arriving upon giving a
certain amount, he hands are to take hold of that money as an offering given to God. Once
the amount has been arrived at, then it is to actually be given!

". . . not grudgingly, or not of necessity." Our giving is not without compulsion, but it is a
spiritual compulsion. We are compelled to give by character, conscience, and Christ. "The
love of Christ constrainteth us . . ."

". . . For God loveth a cheerful giver." Every Christian who chooses to carry through with
his consecrated gift without carnal compulsions should give cheerfully. The word
"cheerful" means "hilarious." Can you even imagine such giving as this? Can you imagine
how many people would be awaken during the offering if some broke loose with a
"hallelujah" or "praise the Lord"? It would be unthinkable!

The deadest part of the service is the offering. You may have read of a guy that had an
heart-attack and died in the morning service of his church. They called the paramedics and
it took them fifteen minutes to find which one was actually dead.

But what kind of salvation did you receive when God saved you? It was the "happy kind,"
if God gave it. You didn't have much, but you were happy. You didn't know much, but you
were happy.

"God loves a cheerful giver," but He will also take from a grouch!

3. Stewardship experiences a Completeness, v. 8.

“And God is able to make all grace abound unto you...” Do you believe that? Really?

What grace is Paul talking about? Look back at 2 Cor. 8:1. --- "Moreover, brethren, we do
you to wit (know) the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia." It was God’s
miraculous gift of enabling His people to give 'beyond their power.'

In Jack Taylor’s book, 'God’s Miraculous Plan of Economy', he devotes a chapter to this
verse. He calls it "God’s Cycle of Sufficiency." Bro. Taylor has a wonderful outline on this
verse.

The Might ... God’s ability.

The Measure...all grace.

The Manner...abounding.
The Motive...toward us.

The Means...always having all sufficiency in all things (our adequacy)

The Ministry...every good work.

Jack Taylor says there is no work established by God for God’s glory and carried on in
God’s way that will lack God’s support!

There is a wonderful, real-life illustration of this in 2 Kings 4:1-7. The story is of a

prophet’s widow who was bankrupt. The creditors were about to sell her two sons as
slaves. Elisha asked her what she had of value and she said only a vessel of oil. It was likely
a memento of the oil that was used to anoint her husband at the beginning of his ministry.
Elisha told her to go to her neighbors and borrow as many vessels as she would, with very
specific instruction not to borrow just a few.

She filled her house with these borrowed vessels. And then the prophet told her to pour out
her oil into those vessels. She did and kept pouring until all the vessels were full. Elisha
then said, "Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and they children of the rest."
There was the first door-to-door Avon lady! Getting out of debt freed her and restored her
testimony to her creditors. She would live off of the rest and her children’s needs would
also be met. What a great God we serve who takes care of all our needs!

4. Stewardship exhibits a Contentment, v. 9-15.

Do you see the flow of this passage? What begins with a choice and is carried our with
cheerfulness becomes our completion and results in genuine contentment.

John Maxwell tells the story of a woman he once pastored by the name of Helen Douglas.
She was a poor woman who lived in government housing. Her old car was covered with
bumper stickers. Maxwell says he used to say to her, "Helen, if you peel off one bumper
sticker the whole care will fall apart."

Even thou she didn’t have much money, she was faithful to the church. When time came to
raise a great deal of money for a new building, the church held prayer meetings every
morning at 6 a.m. Helen was always there, waiting for the doors to be opened. She prayed,
wept, and fasted asking God to supply their needs.

Finally, when the day of the big offering came, she let the plate pass her by. God spoke to
her heart, "Helen, why didn’t you give?" She said, "Lord, I’m the poor lady. I don’t have
anything to give."

The Lord said, "Give all you’ve got." She dug in her purse and came up with a handful of
loose change. She put it is an offering envelope and wrote on it, "It’s all I have." After the
service, she gave it to Pastor Maxwell.
He tried to give it back to her. She said, "No this is my gift to God." He took it home and
opened it. It was $3.30. That evening, the church was packed because everyone wanted to
hear how much the big offering had been. They had gone over their goal!

After everyone settled down, Pastor Maxwell said, "I want to tell you about the largest gift
given today." He then shared the story of Helen Douglas. One of the men stood up and
said, "That’s the greatest story of stewardship I’ve ever heard. I want one of the coins from
that envelope to remind me. I’ll give you $10 for one." Then someone else did the same.

Suddenly a spirit of giving came over the church and for the next 30 minutes people sat
down and wrote checks and brought them to the front. Some went back and wrote as many
as three checks. The smallest gift of all become the largest gift in the history of that church.

Sermon 1 -- THE EXHORTATION ON GIVING

(A Verse In Reverse)
I Corinthians 16:1-4

Do you believe you are doing all you can do in the area of giving? What do you think
hinders you from doing more? Some would say...

* If I had a better job, I’d be able to give more.

* If old aunt Bessie would kick the bucket, I’d have some money to give.

* If I could get out of debt, I would give more.

Actually, what most people need is not more money, but more motivation! I have been
praying that God will use our gathering today to provide all of us some new motivation.

The University of Oklahoma is quite proud of its wrestling team. They were going down to
wrestle at Memphis State.

Coach: Guys, Memphis State has developed a hold called the double reverse. They take a
guy and bend him in two once, then they bend in two a second time, turn him upside down,
get him where he can’t move his arms or his legs and they’ll pen him and it's over.

Guys, whatever you do, don’t let them get you in that double reverse.

Guys: OK, coach. But the first five guys were defeated by the double reverse. The coach
went to their little flyweight and said, Son, if you get caught in the double reverse we won’t
even place in this meet. Whatever you do don’t get caught in the double reverse.

The kid said, Coach, I’ll do my very best.

Well, he went out and got caught in the double reverse, bent in two once, twice, turned him
upside down and the coach groaned and covered his eyes. And when he did, he heard a
scream and a shout and applause. For the first time in history the infamous double reverse
had been broken.

Coach, "What did you do?" He bent me over. "I know." "He turned me." "I know." "I
couldn’t move." "I know, I know, what did you do?"

"Coach, as I was going down I remembered what you said, ‘Do whatever you have to do!’
And I looked out there and this guys big toe was right out in front of my mouth. So I
reached out there and plumb nearly bit that thing off. You know something coach, its an
amazing thing what a guy can do when he nearly bites off his own big toe. Now that’s
motivation!"

I Corinthians 16:1-4 is a strategic stewardship scripture. May I give you a little

background. A severe famine had hit Judaea. It would have filled the evening news night
after night.

* Another record-setting high temperature.

* No rain for 200 straight days.

* Water supplies at an all-time low.

* Local crops have been destroyed.

* The economy is a bust.

This condition had been prophesied in Acts 11:27-30. Turn there. Josephus, the Jewish
historian, in Antiquities XX.ii.5, affirms the occurance of the great famine in Israel - A. D.
45-46.

Now, pay attention. The Apostle Paul wrote 1 Corinthians in A.D. 56. Do you hear those
dates? Famine: A. D. 46. Letter appealing for relief help for those in Jerusalem: A.D. 56.
Ten years after and they are still hurting. Now, that is the mother of all famines!

Paul felt the burden to issue a call to the Gentile churches to help the poor saitns in the
Jerusalem church. Romans 15:25-27 indicates it was looked upon as the repaying of a
spiritual debt the Gentiles churches owed to the Jerusalem church as the first of all
churches.

In 1 Corinthiasn 16 there is An Exhortation - a command, a call to get believers involved in

giving. Giving is a Christian responsibility and privilege like prayer and worship and
fellowship. Those whoa re serious about their walk ith God know generous giving is a truth
straight from God’s Word.
I Corinthiasn 16:2 is one of those verses that sums up in a few words God’s eternal
principles about giving.

I want to study with you today I Corinthians 16:2 from the Reverse Standard Vision. Now,
don’t get up and leave and say Brother Jerry has taken up some liberal Bible. I am sticking
with my old King James Bible. Today I want to look at this verse in reverse.

Let’s break into this verse toward the end and move backward - a verse in reverse. Notice
the phrase...

1. As God hath prospered you...

In the reverse standard vision this verse begins with As God. Do you understand that is
how all giving on our part begins --- it begins with the presumption that God has blessed
our lives! If you believe that is true, say a heartily "amen"! Your "amen" has just been a
verbal testimony of the goodness and generosity of God toward you. God is our ultimate
provider - not your education, not your resume, not your company, not your personality -
but God.

And this God that you have come to know through Jesus Christ our Savior is a good and
generous God! For in the reverse standard vision it says, "As God hath prospered you..."

Calls for Reflection. The song says, "Count your blessings, name them one by one, count
your blessings, see what God hath done." Hey, we need to slow down and smell the coffee.
God has given us health, a job, a salary, a retirement, friends . . . see what God hath done!
This verse doesn’t say our giving starts when we become prosperous. It says our giving
should immediately begin because God has prospered us. I Timothy 6:17 declares it is God,
who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.

Some people are always "going to, someday, be able to give". I want to announce to you
that your someday has arrived and you are able to give based on what God has already
done for you.

You don’t have to wait to give. It says we need to take in inventory of what God has done
for us and on that basis give.

Calls for Rejoicing (celebration). Giving is a means of celebrating the goodness and
generosity of God. The Bible says in II Corinthians 9:7 that "God loveth a cheerful giver."
The word "cheerful" there is from the Greek word hilaros which sounds almost like its
English counterpart "hilarious." Why does God love a hilarious giver? Because the
hilarious giver has figured out his real source (God) and his real status (blessed).

Since we have been blessed we need to be a blessing. So there is, then, a call for Release.
Look at the next phrase in the reverse standard vision.

2. Lay by him in store...

We are to lay aside a percentage amount -10%. This is what everyone can and should give.
There is not a person too rich or a person too poor who cannot at least give a tithe - 10% to
the Lord.

Sir John Templeton, chairman of Templeton Fund that manages $15 billion dollar
annually said, “I have watched 100,000 families over my years of investment counseling. I
always saw greater prosperity and happiness among the families who tithed than among
those who didn’t,” Plus Magazine.

And we are to lay aside a proportionate amount - as God has prospered you. No exact
amount or percentage is given here. The matter is determined by two things:

(1) The blessings of God upon a person.

(2) The love and obedience of the blessed believer.

Everyone should give what they can give, that’s the tithe. But those who have experienced a
greater material prosperity are expected to participate to a greater extent than those who
have less. If you have more, you should want to give more because you are able to give
more.

Some are stuck on a strict 10% and say they cannot give more. Yet they will spend $100 on
a football game or a concert, eat out regularly, hunt, fish or play golf — all at the expense
of honoring God by giving more.

Where do we lay this aside? A cartoon in the funnies a while back "Do you tithe?" "Yeah,
in my own way." "Where’s that?" "I play bingo."

Where do we lay our giving in store?

* Old Testament... God has only one place - the tabernacle and then the Temple.

* New Testament...God has only one place - His churches.

3. Let every one of you...

Calls for responsibility. This message by the Apostle Paul was originally addressed to the
church at Corinth. This is to Christians, like ourselves, who had been baptized and joined
one of the Lord’s churches. To all of us this scripture says, "Let every one of you..."

No member is excluded. This is for young and old, rich and poor - all have a responsibility
to give to the Lord through the church.

* Our Lord commended the widow’s two mites to teach us that no one could be too poor to
give.
* And He also received the wealth of Barnabas to demonstrate that no one could be too rich
to sacrifice for God!

Someone might ask, Am I to give if I don’t feel like it? Well, let me say your life is or would
be a mess if you lived it my your feelings. You would not be married if you determined
your marriage by your feelings.

You know what I am talking about! You don’t always have that warm, fuzzy feeling about
your mate. Sometimes it is a sick, nasty feeling. We are like the man who said that when he
was first married he loved his wife so much he could have eaten her and now he wished he
had! Where is the feeling when your honey rolls over in the early morning and you can see
the words as they come out because their breath is so bad. Ouch!

There are three (3) levels of giving.

1. I have to...law.

2. I need to...obligation.

3. I want to...love.

Meaningful giving comes from the heart, not just the checkbook or pocketbook. Giving is
not just an obligation to get God off my back; it is an opportunity to get God in my life.

4. Upon the first day of the week...

Now, this calls for regularity. What is behind this phrase, "Upon the first day of the
week..." Well, on every Lord’s day you are to gather with the Lord’s people in the Lord’s
house to hear the Lord’s Word and bring the Lord’s offering.

God wants us to take time to look back over the last seven days and record a testimony by
our giving that He has provided for us, even causing us to prosper in many ways. On the
first day of the week you need to take time to settle your account with God.

Deuteronomy 16:16 says of those in the Old Testament that "they shall not appear before
the Lord empty."

I Chronicles 16:29 --- "Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering,
and come before Him: worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness."

Now you might ask, "Well, what If I am not able to attend on a given Sunday?" Mail your
tithes and offerings in if you are not able to gather on a Sunday.

I like the motto I recently read that was on the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Kansas City.
"Wake up, pray up, sing up, preach up, pay up, and never give up, let up, back up or shut
up, until the cause of Christ is built up!" Now, that’s the kind of commitment I’m talking
about that we need to move forward this year.

Sermon 2 -- THE EXAMPLE OF GIVING

(The Macedonian Churches)

II Corinthians 8:1-7

For those of you who were here last Sunday we looked at the "Exhortation on Giving"
found in I Corinthians 16:1-4. It concerned the needs of the believers in the church at
Jerusalem. Their region had a severe famine that had affected the economic landscape for
more than 10 years.

Paul gave a clear command to help in this need by giving. Giving is a Christian obligation
like prayer and worship and fellowship.

Many church growth gurus are telling pastors across the country not to talk about money
or stewardship. Avoid the subject like the plague. I make no apologies when it comes to
teaching Biblical stewardship. Pastors are actually doing their people a major disservice in
failing to address clearly what the Bible addresses clearly.

Paul’s letter in 2 Corinthians will get around to what he wants the Corinthians to do, but
first he bring to them the example of the Macedonian churches. It had been Paul intention
to go into Turkey and Asia, which would have taken the gospel to the east. But a midnight
vision of a man from Macedonia saying, “Come over into Macedonia and help us,” Acts
16:10, changed the course of the gospel to spread to the west and eventually to Europe and
later to us.

The Macedonian Christians were those of the city of Philippi, Berea, and Thessalonica,
Acts 16-17. These precious believers heard of the Jerusalem need and gave.

Let’s look at their example today. What is an example for?

1. Their example is for Celebration.

Paul hails those of Macedonia as examples. They were role-models when it came to
stewardship. They were celebrated for their giving. Notice how they gave.

They gave congregationally, v. 1. “Morever, brethren, we do you to wit (that is, to know) of
the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia.” Now pay attention. That is very
interesting. It does not say that the Macedonians were recognized for their giving as
Christians but as churches. I had not paid attention to that before. It was not individual
giving that was celebrated - it was institutional giving.

Let me illustrate the difference. If a Christian gives a nice offering then that Christian
would be recognized. “Bro so-in-so gave such- and-such.” But when Christians give in and
to the church, our individual offerings, small or large, lose its personal identities and then
the church receives the recognition.

Just the tabernacle and the temple were the storehouse for giving in the Old Testament,
God’s local Baptist churches are God’s storehouse for giving in the New Testament. “Unto
Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen,”
Eph. 3:21.

Real exemplary giving is congregational giving - giving that is done in and through one of
the Lord’s churches.

* All tithes are to be given through the church.

* The spiritual gift of giving is to be exercised under the authority and supervision of the
local church.

The gave sacrificially, v. 2. “How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their
joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.”

Many people have the idea that only people with considerable money should give. Let John
or Mike do it.

People give you the impression that they are exempt from giving because they do not have
vast sums of money. “If I have their money I would give; I would tithe.”

These Macedonians gave out of what? Stock reserves? C.D’s? Savings? No, out of “great
trial” and “deep poverty.”

* “Trial” = purging. The word is used for the purification of precious metals with intense
heat. The heat was on these people. Yet, in there great trial they gave.

* “Affliction” = Their livers were fun and games.

* “Poverty” = abject poverty. These folks were at the bottom; they were destitute.

The greatest givers I have known are often those with little to give. This is because it is not
what we give, but how we give, that matters most to Christ.

They gave amazingly, v. 3a. “For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their
power...” Some people look at their resources and believe that is where the level of their
giving begins and ends. That is a myth. The truth is we can all do more than we ever
imagined we were able to do.

The giving of the Macedonians was not natural - it was supernatural!

Some try to give in a way that is destined to fail. They sit dow. Add up all their bills. Pay
then all. Set aside extra money for incidentals. Put money back for their monthly nights out
of eating and entertainment. Then at the end of the month if anything is left over, they give
it to the Lord Jesus and His church. And without a bit of personal conviction they say,
“Here is what I am able to do.”

This type of individual and family never tithes and never benefits from God’s plan of
economy.

Giving is not about your ability. It is about what God can do and it is always more than you
can imagine.

You are seriously mistaken if you believe you are to do only what you can do. That leaves
God out of the equation of life.

One of the wealthiest men who ever lived, King David, had a handle on this. “But who am
I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all
things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee,” 1 Chron. 29:14.

They gave willingly, v. 3b. “They were willing of themselves.

Some say you can’t get people to give without putting pressure upon them. Some use
gimmicks. Others use guilt. Some try to make us feel like we have to give, while others
make us feel like we ought to give. But that’s not true.

Christian stewardship is absolutely voluntary. Christian stewardship is a privilege.

They gave urgently, v. 4. “Praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift,
and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.”

Do you see what happened with the Macedonians saints? These people got excited about
their opportunity to give to this need. The grace of giving will open our hearts, but it will
also open our hands.

True giving is seen as a grace - a privilege. They weren’t trying to get out of giving. They
wanted to get in on giving. You are a giving people here at LWBC, but I’ve yet to be
begged to receive the offering again so people can give more!

They saw their stewardship as a “fellowship” opportunity.

Some people say they are in fellowship with other believers, but one of the truest tests is in
the giving our our material possessions.

They gave personally, v. 5a. “And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own
selves...” As a point of clarification, this was giving done through churches - but ti was
giving done by individuals. Some people want the church to do all the giving. The only way
for a church to give is for the people in the church to give personally.

They gave spiritually, v. 5b. “But first give their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the
will of God.”

The giving of the Macedonians was not about legalism but about Lordship.

This is what makes Christian giving different from any other kinds of giving. Some people
give to...

the United Way...Salvation Army...Mooses and Gooses and the ones that got Loose.

All resources come from God. So giving is directing God’s resources back to God for His
distribution. Giving is a part of our worship of God.

If our priority is to give ourselves over to the Lord then we will have little problems with
giving our resources. When personal disciples and devotion is high, then giving in a church
will be high.

2. Their example is for Motivation.

Paul had ever intention that the mentioning of the generosity of the Macedonian churches
would be a motivation to the church at Corinth.

I’m thinking about a wise, old rooster who rolled an ostrich egg into the chicken yard one
day. As all the hens gathers around in amazement the rooster said to them, “Ladies, I don't
mean to put down anything you’ve done before. I just want to show you what other people
are doing in other parts of the world!”

Now that’s motivation!

This motivation should...

...convict us if we are not giving like we can and should.

...constrain us to keep giving throughout all the days of our lives.

...comfort us in considering even if we can only give a little, little is much when God is in it!

3. Their example is for Celebration.

Paul takes us to the Macedonians again in 2 Corinthians 9. You can see them mentioned in
verse 2 and again in verse 4. There is more celebration and motivation from the
Macedonian example of giving.
This section of stewardship ends in 2 Corinthians 9:15 with a great spontaneous verse.
“Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.”

Real giving may celebrate Christians and churches, but all the glory belongs to God and
God alone!

May I introduce you to the One who loves you and has provided for your greatest need -
the gift of His Son.

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus
Christ our Lord.”

Romans 8:32 “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall
He not with Him also freely give us all things?”

Philippians 4:19 “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by
Christ Jesus.”

The example of the Macedonians is not about a great people, but about a people who knew
a great God! What a great God, a gracious God, a generous God we have. The only
question is, “Does He have you?”

If He truly has you, then He also has your’s. If He has your person, then He also has your
possessions.

Sermon 3 -- THE EXCUSES FOR NOT GIVING

(The Corinthian Church)

II Corinthians 8:6-9:4

The story is told of a pastor who phoned the home of some recent visitors to his church,
and a voice answered quietly, "Hello?".

The pastor said, "Who is this?"

There was a little whisper on the other end. It said, "This is Jimmy."

The pastor said, "How old are you, Jimmy?"

He said, "I’m four."

"Jimmy, may I please speak to your mom?"

"She’s busy."

"Then can I speak to your dad?"

"He’s busy, too.”

"Are there any other adults at your house?”

"The police.”

"Well, could I speak to one of the police officers?”

"They’re all busy.”

"Who else is there?”

"The firemen.”

"Put one of the firemen on the phone.”

"They’re busy."

"Jimmy, what are they all busy doing?"

vThey’re looking for me."

Some Christians are just like little Jimmy. They’re hiding out. This is especially true when
it comes to people’s responsibilities in the area of financial stewardship.

Those of you who were here the last couple of Sundays remember we looked at the
“Exhortation on Giving” found in 1 Corinthians 16:1-4. It concerned the needs of the
believers in the church at Jerusalem. Their region had a sever famine that had effected the
economic landscape for more than 10 years. So the Apostle Paul led in an effort to raise an
offering for those believers who had been touched by this tragedy.

Then last week we discussed the “Example of Giving” seen by the Macedonian churches in
the first part of this chapter. The churches in Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea had out
done themselves in their giving to this need.

Today we want to uncover the “Excuses for not Giving” seen in the response of the church
at Corinth.

It is said there are three kinds of people in the world.

(1) There are those who make things happen.

(2) There are those who watch thing happen.

(3) There are those who don’t have a clue of what’s happening!
1. Potential, v. 6-8.

The Corinthians church was a gifted church. They had the gifts of the Spirit in operation.

But something was missing. While they were a gifted church, they were not a generous
church.

Let me say this: Other areas of service are not to be a substitute for a lack of giving. Giving
one’s time to the church does not take the place of not giving one’s finances. Giving one’s
moral support does not substitute for not giving financially to your church.

v. 8 The Corinthians didn’t need some official legislation from an apostles - they needed to
prove their love by their giving. Love is not seen in platitudes, but in practice. Love is not
something you say; it is something you do.

2. Promised, 2 Corinthians 9:1-2, 4-5.

Word had been gotten out by the Apostle about the need of the saints in Jerusalem.

The Macedonian churches stepped in and got involved in this giving opportunity.

The Corinthian church stood around and probably at their monthly business meeting
talked about it, but decided they ought to “pray about it” before they did something. It is
amazing that some churches allow a few stingy members to hold them back from doing
God’s work and giving generously to help meet needs.

Keep your promise. If you have ever promised God you would tithe and give offerings God
has heard that promise and expects you to keep it.

3. Postponed, 8:10; 9:2 “A year ago.”

The exhortation came to them in 1 Corinthians 16:2...A.D. 56.

Here they are holding back in 2 Corinthians 8 & 9...A. D. 57.

4. Pledge, v. 8:11a.

They had been quick to pledge to help with this need.

5. Performance, 8:11.

“Just do it.”

6. Practial, 8:12.

Start with what you have.

God will never give you more until you give from what you already have.

A preacher came to see a farmer and asked him, “If you had $200, would you give $100 of
it to the Lord?” The farmer proudly said, “I would.” The preacher went on, “If you had
two cows, would you give one of them to the Lord?” “Sure,” the farmer asnwered. “If you
had two pigs, would you give one of them to the Lord.” The farmer said, “Preacher, now
that is not fair. You know I have two pigs.”

It take no faith to wait to give when you have extra. That is like saying...

...When the harvest comes in I will plant the seed.

...When the building is completed I will buy the land.

Giving is on the front end. It is an act of faith of your part, as well as an act of obedience. It
shows how weak your faith is when you are reluctant to give.

7. Pressure, 8:13.

The procedures that are followed in some churches remind me of Wall Street in New York,
not a dusty street in Jerusalem, Israel. The pressure tactics of crafty and fund-raising,
manipulation of emotions and mass mailings may not be all wrong, but they are for the
majority very distasteful.

8. Prosperity, 8:14.

The “equality”mentioned here is not the amount, but the proportions.

The fact was this Corinthians were enjoying “abundance.”

Some use a theological excuse. “We are no longer under the law. We are under grace and
we don’t have to tithe.” That is right about one matter. You don’t have to tithe as theythe
law. You get to give under grace.”

Giving is taught both in the Old Tetament and the New Testament.

Let me ask a question: How can we give less under grace than others gave under law?

Some people use a logical excuse “Giving doesn’t make any sense to me.” What is missing
from the logic of most people when it comes to financial giving is - God! They have left God
out of their equasion.

Some use a financial excuse. “I am already in financial problems and you say I need to give.
I can’t afford to give.” People who say they have figured it out that they can’t give have
misfigured! The truth is people can’t afford not to give.
“If I had more I would give more.”

* “I can’t afford to give.”

* “There is no way 90% after tithing is more than 100% not tithing.”

* “I give my time to God, so I am not responsible to give my money.”

* “I give to various other causes, so I don’t have to give so much to the church.”

Occasionally people give their excuses for not presently giving. There are those who say
"they can't afford to give." Agreed, there is much difference between all of us in our
financial abilities. But look at your life. You have a decent job, a few nice benefits,
projected retirement plan, house, food, clothes, car. Ninety percent of the peoples of the
world would love to trade places with you for just one day --- to work one day at your job
for your pay, to live one day in your house, to eat one meal at your table, to go one day to
your church!

You may have many excuses but none of them will hold water. Actually, you have every
reason in this world and the next one to come to give.

"He never asks me to go anywhere He has not gone,

To face anything He has not faced,

To love anyone He has not loved,

Or to give anything He has not given."

Sermon 4 -- THE EMINENT GIVER OF ALL

(Jesus Christ)
II Corinthians 8:9

Those of you who were here the last few meetings remember we looked at the "Exhortation
on Giving" found in I Corinthians 16:1-4. It concerned the needs of the believers in the
church at Jerusalem. Their region had a sever famine that had effected the economic
landscape for more than 10 years. So the Apostle Paul led in an effort to raise an offering
for those believers who had been touched by this tragedy.

Then we discussed the "Example of Giving" seen by the Macedonian churches in the first
part of this chapter. The churches in Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea had out done
themselves in their giving to this need.

Most recently we want to uncover the "Excuses for not Giving" seen in the response of the
church at Corinth.
Today I want to point you to the "Eminent Giver of all."

Stewardship Month here at LWBC is the time of the year we have set aside to refresh our
knowledge of God’s call to giving and to renew our commitment to give as God has
prospered us.

Read with me again 2 Corinthians 8:9. Here is a deep insight into the very nature of the
incarnation of our Saviour.

For ye know . . . We are well informed.

Lord . . . Identifies His deity.

Jesus . . . Identifies His humanity.

Christ . . . Identifies His divine mission.

1. The Motive Of Jesus’ Giving.

Why did the Lord Jesus Christ give what He gave? "Grace!" It is grace that is . . .

the herald of the New Testament.

the heart of the gospel.

the hope of the sinner.

God is a God of grace.

What is grace? It is love in action. It is love in action toward someone absolutely

undeserving. He was not motivated by our worthiness, but by our unworthiness!

"For your sakes." No personal need was met by Jesus’ giving. He was absolutely unselfish
in his giving.

Although we are all aware of what He did, Jesus did not do what He did for the display of
it. If we are not careful we will be like the fellow who stood up in a meeting and declared,
"I want to give $1,000 anonymously."

Jesus gave for your sake and my sake. His own motive was His love for us.

2. The Measure Of Jesus’ Giving.

How much did He give? When the offering was calculated, what did it amount to?
Actually, what Jesus gave is immeasurable, but we have here an inspired insight from Paul
into the measure of His giving.
"Though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor . . ."

He was rich. Oh, He was so incredibly rich! These words take us to eternity past before the
event of Bethlehem. Before Bethlehem, he was essentially and eternally rich.

< Rich in glory, John 1:1.

< Rich in love. The love of God is eternal.

< Rich in praise. The angelic choir filled the heavens with praise.

< Rich in things. Psalm 24:1 Silver, gold, diamonds, etc.

< Rich in power. No rivals.

< Rich in wisdom. No one smarter.

He became poor. Note, "He became poor." There was a choice involved. It wasn’t the
result of a plan that got out of control, or circumstances which could not be helped. Be
became poor. Several Greek words are translated "poor." One means "to barely get by."
The one used here means "abject poverty."

l Born materially poor. Phil. 2:7-8. Stable . . . stall . . . star.

The extent to which Christ was willing to give was shown in HIM coming HERE for us. He
did not come as a visitor or to tour a few cities. He was born into the poorest of
circumstances.

l Lived materially poor, John 1:10-11. Though He had made the the world, He lived
without a place to call His own.

- Ground was His couch.

- Meadow was His table.

- Tree was His roof.

- Rocks where His pillow.

- Brook was His basin.

- Breeze was His towel.

- Wind was His comb.

John 7:53 - - - Every man went to his own house . . .

John 8:1 - - - Jesus went unto the mount of Olives . . .

1 Died materially poor. When Jesus died His only possession was the robe on His back,
probably a gift from a friend. He was crucified between two thieves. He committed His
mother to the care of one of His disciples. He was buried in a borrowed tomb (He wouldn’t
need it for long).

This sure puts our giving in perspective. When you consider the measure of His giving, it
makes out attempts at stewardship seem rather embarrassing.

Some are still arguing about tithing. Is it right? Is it required? Is it too much? We need to
remember the supreme example of our stewardship is not Abraham giving a tithe to the
king of Salem, but rather the King of Glory laying aside His glory to become poverty
stricken for us.

3. The Mission Of Jesus' Giving.

The coming. What a contrast the lowly estate He chose from the holy position He had in
heaven. You talk about culture shock!

The cost. To become a man. And then, to become the very poorest of men.

The consequences. Was all of this just a big show? Was it to make Jesus look good? Hardly.
"That ye though His poverty might be rich."

HE RICH - - - BECAME POOR.

WE POOR - - - BECOME RICH.

"He paid a debt He did not owe, I owed a debt I could not pay . . ."

The mission of Jesus' giving was that we might be RICH! Does that mean money in the
bank, a great job, a solid retirement? No. We have something better than that --- we have
something that lasts forever.

WE ARE RICH IN THIS LIFE. What a terrible thought to have to live without Christ.

4 The burden of guilt.

4 The dread of God’s wrath

4 The unbearable emptiness.

WE ARE RICH IN THE LIFE TO COME. We are His . . .

4 Child. "I'm a child of the King."

4 Heir.

4 Priest.

Remember the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Since He is our example in giving, we are to
share in His mission. We are to use whatever God has put at our disposal in order that
others might know the riches of Christ.

Jesus gave . . .

...His face to the kiss of the Betrayer, Judas.

...His cheeks to the strikers.

...His back to the scourgers.

...His brow to the thorns.

...His beard to the pluckers.

...His shoulders to the cross.

...His hands and feet to the nails.

...His forgiveness to the ignorant.

...His salvation to the thief.

...His mother to His disciples, John.

...His spirit to His Father.

...His side to the spear.

...His body to His friends, Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus.