LifeWay Family Bible Series for Dec. 7: Joy can be discovered through giving to others_112403

Posted: 11/24/03

LifeWay Family Bible Series for Dec. 7

Joy can be discovered through giving to others

bluebull 2 Corinthians 8:1-24

By David Jenkins

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Posted: 11/24/03

LifeWay Family Bible Series for Dec. 7

Joy can be discovered through giving to others

bluebull 2 Corinthians 8:1-24

By David Jenkins

New Hope Baptist Church, Big Sandy

In our generation, “getting” is emphasized far more than “giving.” With many, acquiring and stockpiling things is an obsession. Somewhere along the way, we have developed the attitude that “what I have is mine, and you can get yours the same way I got mine!” Yet when Christians discover there is greater pleasure in giving than receiving, a fulfilling and inexpressible joy results.

The setting of this study grows out of the condition existing in the Jerusalem church. The believers were experiencing extreme poverty. The cause is not revealed, nor is it important, for when a person is suffering the focus should be on doing all we can to relieve the pain. Delaying our help in order to analyze the worthiness of the receiver can come dangerously close to judging one's fellowman.

Encouraging generosity through example

Between the time Paul told the Corinthians of the need for an offering to help the impoverished believers in Jerusalem (before 1 Corinthians was written) to the time of the writing of 2 Corinthians, relations between Paul and the Corinthian believers had been strained. Every chapter in 1 Corinthians contains rebuke and corrections for what was going on in the church. In addition to a sordid catalogue of sins that had surfaced, the Judaizers had begun a movement to discredit Paul. Paul sent Titus to deal with the matter, and he was used of the Lord to rectify the situation and put the Corinthians once more on the right course. Knowing this, Paul wrote 2 Corinthians to encourage the church to complete the offering they had begun earlier, which apparently had been temporarily abandoned.

Paul found great joy in giving praise where it was due. With genuine delight, he wrote of the generosity of the Macedonian believers, and he longed to be able to offer the same gratitude to God for the Corinthians. They were so moved with the desire to share with their fellow believers in Jerusalem that they gave more than they were able to give. Knowing their limited resources, Paul may have been hesitant to receive their abundant gifts. He was deeply touched by their insistence that he receive their offering. They were not coerced to give. Their gracious sharing was totally voluntary.

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Furthermore, the Macedonians “gave themselves first.” They may indeed have offered themselves for the work of the gospel. Like the widow Jesus commended who gave “all her living,” the Macedonians gave themselves in absolute dependence on God's care. Then, in all earnestness, Paul commended the Corinthians for the way in which they were excelling in the Christian graces, urging them to excel likewise in the grace of giving.

Managing what God has given

After citing the example the Macedonians had set in their giving, Paul moved to the ultimate example set by the Lord Jesus Christ. He emphasized that Christ's giving did not begin on the cross, nor even with his lowly birth. It began in heaven, when he set aside his glory and came to earth. With that magnificent demonstration of giving, how could any believer hold back?

A year before, the Corinthians had led out in being the first to support this offering. After the unfortunate interruption because of the problems in the church, they were again filled with the desire to give. They must match that desire by putting their words and intentions into action.

Many times we leave a conference where missionaries have shared the overwhelming needs on their fields of service, and we are convicted to give generously to support those endeavors. Often, however, we lose the edge of our enthusiasm and we fail to carry through by matching our giving with our excitement.

Insisting on integrity in giving

It was no accident that Paul was inspired to include these “housekeeping” matters in this portion of his letter. They reveal the careful attention Paul gave in dealing with any issue, and particularly this one involving money. His personal integrity in money matters was beyond reproach. He discouraged gifts sent to him, and insisted on “making tents” to support himself and his ministry. He did not do this to establish a precedent against supporting God's servants. In his particular situation, he felt it necessary to do nothing to give his enemies reason to accuse him of preaching for material gain.

In the matter of this offering collected from the churches, Paul wanted all of the details clearly laid out and understood. He asked the Corinthian church to choose certain individuals to be responsible for the offering collected and to personally deliver it to the church in Jerusalem.

In contemporary times, Billy Graham has been a model of integrity regarding money collected during his evangelistic crusades. To be certain that the way in which the money was handled would not be a source of criticism, he established a board of Christian businessmen to oversee these matters.

Giving to help others is essential to spiritual growth. As we do so, we are emulating the Lord Jesus Christ who taught us, by example, it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35).

Questions for discussion

bluebull What are some factors that should motivate Christians to give?

bluebull Why is it “more blessed to give than to receive”?

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