1.23.11 Comm

Sermon Date: Jan. 23, 2011

Sermon Title: God’s Provision

Sermon Text: I Cor. 16:1-4; 2 Cor. 8-9

Small Group Text: I Cor. 16:1-4; 2 Cor. 8-9 Faith in the unhindered God expresses itself through the grace of giving The grace of giving: Let’s define the term. Grace in the New Testament sense refers to undeserved acceptance and love received from another. The most profound understanding of this word comes from God’s attitude toward fallen, sinful people for whom He has freely provided salvation in the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. New Testament writers expressed the idea of grace using the common Greek word charis, which closely resembles the English words for joy or pleasure. This Greek word, charis, referred to something delightful or attractive in a person – something which brought pleasure to others. In time, the meaning changed a bit to refer to the idea of a favor or kindness done to another or of an unearned gift, which brought pleasure to another. Grace could also be understood from the perspective of the recipient as the attitude of thankfulness for a gift or favor received.

Let’s keep this understanding of the grace in mind as we read 1 Corinthians 6:1-4 and 2 Corinthians, chapters 8-9. Knowing how the Apostle Paul used this term grace, in the context of sharing with those in need, will shed light on these passages.

The grace of giving begins with obedience Read 1 Corinthians 16:1-4 Reaching as far back as the Law of Moses, God had commanded His people to extend grace to those in their community who were destitute and poor (Deut. 15:14;16:10, 17). In other words, God’s people were to show favor and kindness to those who could not reciprocate but only humbly accept the gracious gifts of help and aid.

At the time of Paul’s ministry, Christian Jews in Jerusalem were undergoing extreme trials, persecution and subsequent impoverishment. Paul, for several years, had been working on a project throughout his missionary travels to relieve the suffering of the Jerusalem Christians; (Gal. 2:10; Rom. 15:25-28). Evidently, news of Paul’s initiative had reached the Corinthian church and at first, they seemed eager to make a financial contribution, inquiring how they could help. Paul gave them the same instructions he had given the churches of Galatia (1 Corinthians 16:1-4).

Paul did not refer to this giving as a “tithe.” In fact, he never used the word. The spiritual practice of giving was to be observed weekly at church – proportionate to one’s income (Acts 11:29). In this way, some would be able to give more while others would necessarily give less. But the giving would be a church-wide commitment with each one participating, no matter what their income. When it came time to distribute the contributions, there would be no high-pressure, emotional appeal. The collections, accumulating over time, would simply be sent off to those in need in a spirit of gladness and joy – not resentfully (2 Cor. 9:5).

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But intentions to express grace through giving are quite hollow without follow-through.

Evidently, sufficient time had passed for the Corinthians to fulfill their good intentions toward the impoverished Christians in Jerusalem; but nothing had come of it yet. The Scriptures don’t indicate why the initiative had stalled in Corinth – but it had. So Paul sent his associate, Titus, with a small delegation to look into the matter (2 Cor. 8:6; 8:169:5). Titus’ visit was punctuated by an encouraging letter from the Apostle himself to, at least in part, address this unfinished business of gracious giving to those in need (2 Corinthians 8-9).

The grace of giving wells up with love Read 2 Corinthians 8:1-9 In this letter, Paul gave the Corinthians two examples of selfless generosity: 1) the Macedonian churches and 2) Jesus, the Son of God. 8:1-5. The Macedonian believers, in the middle of their own severe persecution and poverty, had collected a large offering for the relief of the Jerusalem Christians. The gift amounted to more than anyone could have imagined. Though these Macedonian Christians had lost everything for the sake of Christ, God displayed His grace and power through their generosity in the midst of their suffering. These Gentile Christians wanted to be the conduit through which God’s blessing flowed to their Jewish brothers and sisters in Jerusalem as evidence that they were living in accordance with God’s will (v. 5).

In all of this, their actions demonstrated the gracious (unmerited) love of God at work in their lives and their responsive grace of thanksgiving toward God – poured out toward their fellow-believers in Jerusalem. (Mark 12:28-31; 1 Thess. 4:9-10).

While the Corinthian believers had made much progress in their spiritual growth, Paul wanted them to also excel in the “grace of giving” (2 Corinthians 8:6-7) because this particular spiritual practice is the highest expression of love and emulates the very nature and character of Jesus Christ (Read 1 John 3:11, 16-18).

8:8-9. The demonstration of God’s grace is always accomplished by some degree of personal sacrifice. And how interesting it is that God did not exempt Himself from this same principle – but freely and sacrificially gave the very life of His own son to promote the welfare of His people (John 3:16; Romans 5:6-8; 8:32; Galatians 1:3-4).

Verse 9 is as profound as it is succinct in it’s statements of the gospel: From the glory of heaven to the broken foulness of earth, the Son of God came – renouncing his spiritual and material glory to lift God’s people out of their impoverished, destitute state. He who was rich, possessing everything, became poor – making himself nothing. He took on mankind’s debt of sin and paid for it with His life. This was a truth the Corinthians would recognize, for they had directly benefited from God’s gracious generosity through His son, Jesus Christ. He became what they were – poor – so that they could become what He was – rich. (Read Philippians 2:3-8). In light of this truth, was a financial offering to relieve the suffering of God’s people in Jerusalem too much to ask?

(Read Matt. 25:34-40) The grace of giving overflows with results Read 1 Corinthians 8:13-15 & 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 8:13-15. Paul seemed to be capitalizing on a common Greek understanding of “friendship,” i.e., that “friends share all things in common” and are “equal.” Evidently, the church in Corinth was prosperous and had not undergone the extensive suffering of other churches throughout the Roman world. Paul’s point: Their conversion made them “friends” with other believers and required a more equitable distribution of provisions within Christ’s body. In this way, none would have more than they needed and none would lack what they needed. A form of Communism? Certainly not! For Paul never politicized the idea nor was there the slightest sense of coercion or enforcement. To the contrary, the underlying motive for sharing resources was always and only the love of God and love for God & others (1 Corinthians 8:8; 2 Corinthians 9:7).

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9:6-11. Paul makes reference to what might be called the law of the farm: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. God had graciously given the Corinthian church all they needed but not as an end in itself. Rather, God had provided for the Corinthians so that in all things and at all times, having all that they needed, they would in turn abound in every good work (9:8). Which for practical purposes meant that they could be generous on every occasion – or as the need arose (9:10-11).

Paul wanted the churches to understand that the grace of giving is cyclical. As one has received from God, he/she is to redistribute the gift(s) to promote the benefit of others.

This giving cycle applies to every area of Christian life and service – whether time, energy, resources, spiritual gifts, material possessions, the debt of love, and money. This mutual interaction between giving and receiving provides for the facilitation of two very important Kingdom purposes: 1) the spiritual growth and development of the generous believer, and 2) the support and accomplishment of God’s message of love and grace on earth.

Here is the point: God is not lacking the resources. He is simply looking for the “conduit” through which to channel His resources. When God finds an open channel, He uses it. That person or church then becomes more like Christ and useful in Kingdom work. (Read also Psalm 126:6; Proverbs 11:24-25; Luke 6:38; 12:48; Galatians 6:7).

If Christians are inclined to have a sense of entitlement relative to their material possessions, the Scriptures make it abundantly clear that such a mindset reveals a misguided sense of the source of all blessing. Some may say, “I’ve worked for what I have; I’ve earned it!” But Moses brings some perspective to that thinking: You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." [18] But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today. Deut. 8:17-18 (See also 1 Samuel 2:7 and James 1:17) One truth helps to put it all in perspective: There is nothing a child of God or a church possesses that has not been given to him/her. Look around. Take stock of everything you “own,” and realize everything is a gift from God – a gracious gift given for the purpose of demonstrating His love and grace toward others.

More results from gracious giving 9:6-11. When people’s needs are met through the gracious giving of Christians, the ripple effect is incalculable: • The recipients of the gift express thanksgiving and praise to God • Those who observe the selfless acts also give glory to God • The confession of faith (the testimony) of the one giving is proven credible and confirmed by the selfless act In essence, “many thanksgivings” are offered up to God. And in turn, those who lack materially – whose needs have been met by the gracious givers – will pray effective intercessory prayers for the ones who met them at their point of need in gratitude.

A Prayer Lord, stretch my faith: First, by teaching me to hold my material possessions more loosely than I am inclined to do. Secondly, teach me how to redistribute the perishable contents of my life to accomplish your imperishable – eternal – purposes. Amen What you keep is all you have.

What you give God multiplies.

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