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Encouragement To Christian Giving
2
Corinthians 9:6-15
But this I say, He which
soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully
shall reap also bountifully [2Cor. 9:6].
When Paul was talking to
the Ephesian elders, he reminded them of this same thing. "I have shewed you
all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to
remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to
give than to receive" (Acts 20:35).
Apparently, "it is more
blessed to give than to receive" was an expression which the Lord Jesus used
constantly. I know that this has become a very trite cliché today. It is
quoted a great deal and practiced very little.
My kids memorized it in their Bible Club but at Christmas they are
little cheapskates! You should
see the things they try to pass off as 'gifts' to me!
The word blessed actually
means "happy." It will make you happier to give than to receive. How does it
affect you when you give?
Here is an acid test for
you and for me today. Do we sow sparingly? Do we give in that way? Suppose a
farmer would sow a bushel of grain on a particular plot of ground and reap
an abundant harvest. Suppose he would say the next year, "There is no use
wasting a bushel of grain on this ground this year; I will save half a
bushel for myself and sow only half a bushel." Any farmer knows that he
would get a very small yield. The principle is that whoever sows sparingly
will reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will reap bountifully.
I believe this is a true
principle in every area of life. One of the reasons some of us are so poor
today is that we are so tightfisted when we are dealing with the Lord.
Every man according as he
purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity:
for God loveth a cheerful giver [2Cor. 9:7].
What you feel right down
in your heart you ought to give, that is what you should give above your
tithes. But here is the test: "not grudgingly." God does not want any
grudging giving. What does that mean? God does not want one penny from you
if you would rather keep it for yourself.
Perhaps you say, "Well, I
am an officer in the church and it is my responsibility to give." Or, "I am
a member of that church and I feel responsible." It is true that the church
may say that to you. As a pastor, I've told people, "This is your church and
you ought to support it." But God does not say that. He says that if you are
going to give grudgingly, He doesn't want it. Not only does God not want it,
but I believe that God doesn't use it either, nor does He bless it or bless
you in return.
Not only does it say God
does not want you to give if you give grudgingly, neither does He want you
to give "of necessity." He doesn't want you to give at all unless you are
giving willingly and gladly.
Some folk say, "Well, I
had better give because everybody else is giving, and it would look bad if I
didn't give something." That is giving of necessity. God does not want that
kind of giving.
"God loveth a cheerful
giver." That should be the happiest part of the service. I have been in a
church where they take up an offering and then the congregation stands and
sings, "Praise God from whom all blessings flow." I think that is wonderful.
The only thing that would be better would be if they would sing it first.
This would put them in the attitude of giving and of giving joyfully. Also
they would be able to reach for their wallets as they stood up! God loves a
cheerful giver. If you can't give cheerfully, God doesn't want you to give.
And God is able to make
all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all
things, may abound to every good work [2Cor. 9:8].
I have never known anyone
who has gone broke giving to the Lord's work. I believe that God will bless
you. I don't think the blessings He gives to you will always be material
blessings. He does promise to bless us with all spiritual blessings.
(As it is written, He hath
dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for
ever. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your
food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your
righteousness;) [2Cor. 9:9-10].
This is a quotation from
Psalm 112. It calls the man blessed who fears the Lord and who gives to the
poor. We are to share with those who do not have as much. I believe that in
the church we ought to take care of our own. There are so many opportunities
to share with others. Many Christians have the gift of hospitality -- and
that is a gift. They have a way of opening their homes and making people
feel at home. That is a marvelous way of witnessing. It is a way to reach
the lonely and those who lack fellowship.
Paul gives the
illustration of the farmer who doesn't mind going out to scatter bushel
after bushel of seed, because he believes that he will get an abundant
harvest. It is God who multiplies the seed of the farmer. It is God who will
multiply everything that you do for Him. So don't be afraid to give to the
Lord's work.
Being enriched in every
thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the
saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God [2Cor. 9:11-12].
You see, when you give, it
will cause people to thank God for you. It is God who will get the praise
and the glory.
Whiles by the experiment
of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the
gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all
men [2Cor. 9:13].
While we were visiting the
mission field in
And by their prayer for
you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you [2Cor.
9:14].
Giving is a grace. We're
not really talking about the tithe. It is not to be something done under law
or by command. It is a grace. God asks us to give as a grace according to
our circumstances. Some Christians should be giving much more than a tithe.
We are to give above the tithe only as we "are able." Now Paul caps the
whole subject of giving by saying:
Thanks be unto God for his
unspeakable gift [2Cor. 9:15].
Regardless of how much you
are giving, you cannot give like God gives. He has given an unspeakable
gift. No man can approach the gift that God gave in giving His own Son to
die. Think of this for a moment. We are back to what was said in chapter 8,
verse 9. Though He was rich, He left heaven, left all the glory, came down
as a missionary to this world. He came not only to live but to give His life
in death for you. He came to be brutally killed in order that you and I
might have eternal life. He made His soul a sacrifice for sin for you and
for me.
We are told in Hebrews
that He did this "for the joy that was set before him" (Heb. 12:2). He is
the wonderful, glorious Savior! Don't ever bring Him down to a low level. He
is the Bright and Morning Star. He is the Son of God who has redeemed us. He
is the unspeakable gift to you and me. That is the very apex of giving. No
one can go beyond that kind of giving.
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