2 CORINTHIANS 8-9
10/17/2010 Generosity Encouraged
The Grace of Giving
Paul was taking up a special “relief offering” for the poor Christians in Judea (Acts 11:27-30). In this chapter Paul talks about money yet never uses the word.
MacArthur New Testament Commentary
From its birth on the Day of Pentecost, the Jerusalem church had had to cope with the extreme poverty of many of its members. There were three main reasons for that situation. First, the Jerusalem church consisted largely of pilgrims. Many, if not most, of the first converts were visiting Jerusalem to celebrate the Day of Pentecost, when the church was born. They were Hellenistic Jews, who lived in the Gentile lands to which the Jewish people had been scattered in the Diaspora. Acts 2:9–11 describes them as “Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs.” On that Day of Pentecost, three thousand people were added to the church (Acts 2:41). Soon afterward, the number of men in the church reached five thousand (Acts 4:4), not counting the women. Since there were no churches or Christians anywhere else in the world, the converted pilgrims remained in Jerusalem. Only there could they sit under the apostles’ teaching and find fellowship with other believers. Most of them were not wealthy and could not afford to stay indefinitely in Jerusalem’s inns, nor would they wish to, given the condition of the typical inn. And many of those staying with Jewish relatives were alienated from family after becoming Christians and had to leave. They would have had no option but to move in with the Jewish believers who lived in Jerusalem. Many of them were also poor, so housing thousands of converted pilgrims would have been a great hardship for them. Another reason for the Jerusalem church’s poverty was persecution. New converts lost their jobs or businesses and were ostracized by their families and friends. Just as Jesus had predicted, they became the outcasts of Jewish society (John 16:2). A third reason for the Jerusalem church’s poverty was the generally poor economic climate of the region. The Romans extracted all they could from their conquered territories, seizing their resources and imposing a heavy burden of taxation. The result was rampant poverty in Israel. Adding to the region’s economic woes was the worldwide famine predicted in Acts 11:27–29. The Jerusalem church made a noble effort to meet the needs of its poor members. Acts 2:44–45 records that “all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need,” while Acts 4:32 adds, “The congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them.” Because of their selfless dedication to meeting one another’s needs, in the early days of the church “there was not a needy person among them” (Acts 4:34). But eventually, as the needs grew and persecution mounted (cf. Acts 8:1), the Jerusalem church was overwhelmed with needs and undersupplied with money.
Chapter 8
And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches 2 Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.
1 Corinthians 16:2 2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.
3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 5 And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will. 6 So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. 7 But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us[a]—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
2Corinthians 9:8 8 And God is able† to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
8 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
Paul refers to Him using the full name of the Incarnate God, the Lord Jesus Christ. That rich title encompasses the fullness of His person and work. Lord is the name above every name that was given Him by the Father because He accomplished the work of redemption (Phil. 2:9); Jesus depicts Him as the Savior of His people (Matt. 1:21); Christ describes Him as the anointed Messiah and King
Jesus is always the ultimate example:
in service, suffering, or sacrifice. How can we measure the gap between the throne and the cross?
Chuck Misler
He was born of a woman
so that we could be born of God;
He humbled Himself
so that we could be lifted up;
He became a servant
so that we could be made co-heirs;
He suffered rejection
so that we could become His friends;
He denied Himself
so that we could freely receive all things;
He gave Himself
so that He could bless us in every way.
10 And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so.
(Consistency and Integrity)
11 Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means.
(Attitudes, Not Amount)
12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have. Our motive for giving is God’s spiritual blessing in our lives; our measure for giving
is God’s material blessing. CMisler
Mark 12:43-44 43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
13 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality.
Direct statement against communism. The communal sharing of the early church (Acts 2:44-47, 4:32-37) was voluntary. Socialism is theft.]
14 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, 15 as it is written: “He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little.”[b]
Paul uses the miracle of the manna as an illustration of the principle (Ex 16:16-18)
Exodus 16:18 18 ‡ And when they measured it by the omer, the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.† Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed.
Titus Sent to Corinth
16 I thank God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. 17 For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative. 18 And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel. 19 What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help.
1Corinthians 16:3, 4 3 Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. 4 If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me.
20 We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. 21 For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men.
22 In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you. 23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brothers, they are representatives of the churches and an honor to Christ. 24 Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it.
Three were appointed (vv. 16, 18, 22): Titus and two others (traditionally, Luke and Apollos. Titus had previously visited Corinth and was known to them. He later became the bishop of the church of Crete.
Chapter 9
There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the saints. 2 For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action.
Paul had used the promises of the Corinthians to challenge the Macedonians; now he uses the performance of the Macedonians to challenge the Corinthians!
3 But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be.
It should be planned. Paul had written before on procedures
1 Cor 16:1-4 Now about the collection for God’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. 3 Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. 4 If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me.
4 For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to say anything about you—would be ashamed of having been so confident. 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.
Evidently, they had promised a specific, large amount, and Paul wanted to make certain they had it ready when he arrived. Then Paul warned of the one sin that could keep the Corinthians from meeting their commitment: covetousness—the sin that is the greatest hindrance to giving.
Sowing Generously
6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. You can ignore God’s laws but you cannot escape them.
Luke 6:38 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Proverbs 11:24 24 One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
Romans 8:32 32 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?
Galatians 6:8 8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature[a] will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Cheerful = Greek: hilaros, hilarious! Happy, joyous givers, who are joyous in view of the privilege of giving, are the special objects of God’s love.
Romans 12:8 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
8 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. 9 As it is written: “He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”[a] God’s gracious giving has no limits; it is off the scale!
Isaiah 55:10, 11 10As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.
Hosea 10:12 12 Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you.
11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. You cannot outgive God. We are trusting in His sufficiency. God is able
12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Grace never looks for a reason; it only looks for an opportunity.
13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
Chuck Misler: “ Without Him we can’t. Without us, He won’t.”
Appendix: Stewardship Chuck Misler
Learn the supernatural elements of stewardship. This is the solution to all financial problems.
(Man’s) purposes for Money:
1) provide for security
2) establish independence
3) create power and influence
Man’s Way God’s Way
Focus: power and position submission
Emphasis: rights and freedom personal responsibility
Desire: gain for self meet the needs of others
Concern: immediate lasting
fulfillment achievement
Yearning: praise of men approval of God
Aspiration: to be served to serve others
Need: to push ahead for patience
Striving: to lead men to follow God
Interest: competition cooperation
Motivation: self-glorification God’s Glory
Financial Freedom = realizing that true prosperity comes only from God (Deut 8:18) and committing ourselves to God’s purposes for money (Mt 6:30).
God’s Four Purposes for Money
1) Provision 1 Kgs 17:4
2) Direction 1 Kgs 17:7
3) Fellowship 1 Kgs 17:9
4) Demonstration Jas 5:17
1) To Provide Basic Needs Mt 6:26, 28-30; 1 Tim 6:8
· To establish daily dependence on Him (vs. Eden) Mt 6:11
· To deepen our love for the Lord Col 2:10; Jn 15:5
(vs. Israel in wilderness)
· To develop a spirit of gratefulness
· To teach us to live within our means 1 Tim 6:6
· To help us enjoy our possessions Heb 13:5
(vs. discontent)
2) To Confirm Direction Ps 37:7
· To build our faith and vision
· To determine who is the Lord of our life 1 Tim 6:17
· To protect us from harmful items 1 Tim 6:9
· To teach us patience Rom 5:3; Jas 1:3-4
· To concentrate on true riches Phil 3:7-8
3) To Give to Christians Rom 12:3
· To unite Christians 2 Cor 8:14
· To demonstrate the mark of a Christian Tit 2:14; 2 Cor 9:8
· To initiate spontaneous thanksgiving 2 Cor 9:11
· To multiply the potential for giving 2 Cor 9:6
4) To Illustrate God’s Power
· To cause Christians to trust Him 1 Kgs 18:21-40
· To mock the false gods of our age
· To purify our lives and motives Ps 66:18
· To bring non-Christians to salvation Acts 5:12-14
· To glorify God Ps 50:15
TABLE TALK
1. God gives back magnanimously so as to make all grace abound to Christians who give generously. How have you seen this in your life?
2. Money is not what these chapters were about. Explain
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