2 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 8:10-24,
“It Would Be Best For You If You Gave”
By
1.
INTRO
1.1.
In our last study, we looked at Paul encouraging the Corinthians in
regard to a practical consideration, that of completing the pledge that they
had previously made to weekly give towards a relief fund for the mother church
in Jerusalem
1.1.1. I mentioned that in the
Calvary Chapels that in 2 Corinthians chapter 8 and 9 we find most of the
teaching in the New Testament about how we as Christians are to give towards
the Lord’s work, and that in our going through this section that it is not that
we always talk about money here at the church, this just happens to be where we
are in the scriptures at this point
1.1.2. We saw that the mother
church in Jerusalem now had found itself in abject poverty, partially due to
the fact that there had been a major famine in the land and also because of the
persecution of the church by their Jewish brethren who black-balled them from
trade as well as jobs
1.1.3. We saw that Paul used the
Macedonian church as well as Jesus Himself as examples for the Corinthians to
follow in their giving
1.1.4. Paul had instructed the
Corinthians a year earlier when he wrote 1 Corinthians to begin to give weekly
towards the relief fund for the Jerusalem church, however they had gotten
side-tracked and hadn’t completed it.
1.1.4.1.Christian people often have
grandiose ideas of how they would like to be used by the Lord, and many times
they may even make commitments and pledges towards doing those things. We saw though that we must learn from the
Corinthians that just having good intentions of doing good deeds and being in
God’s will is not good enough.
1.1.4.1.1.Good intentions not followed
through do not produce good works, we must follow through with our good
intentions
1.1.5. We saw that Paul had various
motives for wanting to have the Gentile churches give towards a relief fund for
the mother church in
1.1.5.1.Paul taught and believed
that the Gentile churches were debtors to the Jewish church
1.1.5.2.The leaders of the
1.1.5.3.Paul saw that the tension
and disunity between the Gentile churches and the
1.1.5.4.Paul saw that it was the
responsibility of those of God’s household who have been blessed with this
world’s goods to help those in His household who have not been so
fortunate.
1.1.6. We looked at the fact that
giving comes from receiving the grace of God
1.1.6.1.“Grace” is the keyword of the
chapter we saw as it is found 7 times, and the word for gift in the chapter is
the same word for grace. All of God’s
gifts therefore are gifts of His grace, and our giving is the result of the
overflow of the grace of God into our lives
1.1.7. We saw that the word ‘tithe’
is not found in the New Testament.
Rather, what we are instructed to do in the New Testament is to give as
God has prospered us. For some a tithe
is too much and for others a tithe is not enough
1.2.
In our study today, we are going to see that Paul meets several
objections that he knows that the Corinthians might have to resuming this
collection for the impoverished saints in the mother church, and we see also
that his motive for encouraging the Corinthians to complete this offering is
just as much for the benefit that the Corinthians would receive as a result of
giving as the mother church would set by receiving the gift
1.2.1. It is very healthy for us as
Christians to give. We Christians are
blessed and our walk in Christ is most strengthened when we take our eyes off
of ourselves and find ways that we can reach out and help and bless others
1.2.1.1.We saw in our last study
that Jesus taught His disciples a beatitude that is recorded in Acts 20:35
that, “…It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
1.2.1.2.When we Christians are
stagnant in our walk or when go through times of depression emotionally, the
thing that will bring us up out of that place is when we find a new way for us
to give to and help out others
1.2.1.2.1.Depression comes upon a
person’s life when they take their eyes off of the Lord and lose sight of
giving and reaching out to others and place their eyes upon themselves and
their circumstances
1.2.1.3.Barry G. Web writes the
following about what he calls, “the great paradox to the life of faith,” for the
Christian, “The great paradox of the life of faith to which we are called is
that blessing comes through self-denial, that we receive through giving, and
that we gain our lives by laying them down.
And the only repentance that counts with God is the sort that can be
seen in the way we live, especially in how we treat other people.”
1.2.1.3.1.A couple of years ago in my
study I began to realize that there were several paradoxes in the Christian
life and that in many ways that our effectiveness as Christians was based upon
our understanding of these paradoxes, so I put together the following list of
these paradoxes:
1.2.1.3.1.1.To live you must
first die.
1.2.1.3.1.2.To save your
life you must first lose it.
1.2.1.3.1.3.To become free
you must first become a slave to God.
1.2.1.3.1.4.To become free
from sin you must first become a slave of righteousness.
1.2.1.3.1.5.To become first
you must first become last.
1.2.1.3.1.6.To become
exalted you must first learn to be humble.
1.2.1.3.1.7.To become
forgiven you must first be willing to forgive.
1.2.1.3.1.8.Those who are
blessed are the poor in spirit, the meek, and those who are persecuted for
righteousness sake.
1.2.1.3.1.9.To have joy you
must first be willing to share in the sufferings of Christ.
1.2.1.3.1.10.That which is to
be counted all joy is a trial.
1.2.1.3.1.11.To know love you
must first be willing to hate sin.
1.2.1.3.1.12.To become rich
you must first learn to give freely as it has been given to you.
1.2.1.3.1.13.To have power
perfected in you, you must first become weak.
1.2.1.3.1.14.To get control
of your life you must first let go of the control.
1.2.1.3.1.15.To become great
you must first humble yourself as a little child.
1.2.1.3.1.16.To become the
greatest you must first become the servant of all.
1.2.1.3.1.17.To become as the
eldest you must first become as the younger.
1.2.1.3.1.18.To reign with
Him you must first become an overcomer.
1.2.1.3.1.19.To be a good
leader you must first learn to be a good follower.
1.2.1.4.In the next chapter, 2 Cor.
9:7, we read that God loves a “cheerful giver,” and the word that is used for
“cheerful” is the Greek word ‘hilaros’ from which we get our English word
“hilarious.” Those who give to the Lord’s
work are the most joyful of people to be around. There is such great joy when we get our eyes
off of ourselves and in faith and under the direction of the Lord give
1.2.1.4.1.As we mentioned last week,
the Lord would rather us not give if we give begrudgingly or under
compulsion. Rather, the Lord wants us to
give only if we are doing it from our heart because this is something that we
desire to do
1.2.1.5.The church itself must never
lose sight of the vision of giving by reaching out to the lost, for there is so
much truth in Prov. 29:18, “18 Where there is no vision, the people perish…”
1.2.1.5.1.One of my prayers for our
church is that you individually will get a vision for outreach in our community
and that we as a church can get behind you and support you in this outreach
1.2.1.5.2.I have friends in the Lord
who have gone to all kinds of extents to use their gifts and resources to reach
out to others. For instance, one friend
of mine in Phoenix sometimes takes a few men and then goes and sets up barbecue
grills by some of the apartment complexes near his church on a Saturday, and
they will grill hot dogs and make up a bunch of hot chocolate and hand them out
to the kids and people that come by.
They will invite each one they meet to church and/or hand out a gospel
tract to them. He’s told me that every
time they go out at least one new family shows up at church afterwards. There are just so many things that we can do
to reach out…
1.2.1.6.I believe that we Christians
always need to give at least some amount we have received towards the Lord’s
work, no matter how difficult of circumstances we find ourselves in.
1.2.1.6.1.I found this quote that
shows how important it is for us Christians to give at least something no
matter how difficult our circumstances, “Richard Wurmbrand of Tortured
for Christ said that when in prison they tithed! “When we were given one
slice of bread a week and dirty soup every day, we decided we would faithfully
“tithe” even that. Every tenth week we took the slice of bread and gave it to
the weaker brethren as our “tithe” to the Master.””
1.2.1.6.2.This quote also emphasizes
the importance of always giving some to the Lord’s work, “A. A. Hyde, a
millionaire manufacturer, said he began tithing when he was one hundred
thousand dollars in debt. Many men have said they considered it dishonest to
give God a tenth of their incomes while they were in debt. Mr. Hyde said he
agreed with the thought until one day it flashed upon him that God was his
first creditor. Then he began paying God first, and all the other creditors
were eventually paid in full. If a man owes you money, it would be wise
business policy on your part to encourage him to pay his debt to God first.”
1.2.1.7.By the way, I believe that
pastors and those who are supported by the ministry need to give to the Lord in
the same way as everyone else!
1.2.1.8.But when we become miserly
and our attention focuses just on us and the things that we like or want to do
with our time and resources, then we just end up unhappy, unfulfilled, and the
Holy Spirit is quenched and grieved in our lives
1.2.2. One of the things that we
will see in this study is that Paul was very aware that some had questioned his
integrity when it came to handling money, and thus he wants to be careful to
handle the receiving and delivery of this gift in such a way that people will
have no basis for questioning whether he had personally used any of it for
himself. Therefore, he arranges for this
very large gift offering from the churches to be taken by three faithful
brothers who were well respected and known by the churches
2.
VS 8:10 - “10 And I give
my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to
begin a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it.” - Paul tells the Corinthians that he is giving
them his opinion that it would be best for them to complete their pledge for
the mother church in
2.1.
Paul had already told the church that he was not commanding them to
re-start their setting aside of their offerings for the relief of the
impoverished mother church in
2.2.
You might think as you read this that Paul was very zealous for helping
out the mother church and that this was his motivation for getting the
Corinthian church involved in this offering, however what we see is rather that
Paul is just as concerned for what is best for the Corinthians.
2.2.1. Paul knew that it would be
best for them if they gave.
2.2.2. He knew that if the
Corinthians were to begin to look outwards from themselves and seek to minister
to someone else in need that this would radically change their lives.
2.2.2.1.After all, from reading
through 1 Corinthians can we not see that their big problem was a “me-me-me”
attitude?
2.3.
Paul points out in this verse that the Corinthians had not only begun
to set aside offerings weekly towards the relief of the church in
3.
VS 8:11-12 - “But now finish doing it also; that
just as there was the readiness to desire it, so there may be also the
completion of it by your ability.12 For if the readiness is present, it is
acceptable according to what a man has, not according to what he does not have.” - Paul
tells the Corinthians to complete the offering saying that they ought to
complete it according to their ability
3.1.
In these verses, Paul answers an objection he knew that they might have
to completing this good work. He knew
that some might think that because he was using as an example the Macedonian
church who had given beyond their ability towards this offering, that Paul
might be asking them also to give beyond their ability. However, Paul assures them that he is only
concerned that they give according to their ability not beyond it.
3.2.
Paul desired only that the Corinthian church simply keep the pledge
that they had made the previous year to weekly accumulate an offering for the
relief of the mother church.
3.3.
Paul then is stating here a simple principle of what our giving as
Christians should be before the Lord: we
are to giving according to what we have, or how we have been blessed!
3.3.1. Notice that the concept of a
“tithe” isn’t mentioned in these verses.
If we Christians were commanded to give a tithe this would have been a
perfect place to mention it.
4.
VS 8:13-14 - “13 For
this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of
equality—14 at this present time your abundance being a supply for their want,
that their abundance also may become a supply for your want, that there may be
equality;”
- Paul tells the Corinthians that he is
not asking the Corinthians to give until they themselves are afflicted so that
the mother church can become rich, rather he is just concerned that their be
‘equality’ amongst all of God’s people
4.1.
This verse shows us the fact that for each of us as Christians, the
things that the Lord gives us and allows us to have, are strictly not
designated necessarily for our own use.
The Lord allows some to have an abundance so that they can help other
brothers and sisters in Christ who are not so fortunate.
4.2.
Paul is saying also in this verse that if the Corinthians help the
mother church in
5.
VS 8:15 - “15 as it is
written, “He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered
little had no lack.”” - Paul quotes from Exodus when
the children of
5.1.
In Exod. 16:16-18, the children of Israel were instructed with
the following as to how they were to collect the manna that fell, “16 “This
is what the Lord has commanded, ‘Gather of it every man as much as he should
eat; you shall take an omer apiece according to the number of persons each of
you has in his tent.’”17 And the sons of Israel did so, and some gathered much
and some little.18 When they measured it with an omer, he who had gathered much
had no excess, and he who had gathered little had no lack; every man gathered
as much as he should eat.”
5.1.1. The Israelites were
instructed to daily pick up an ‘omer’ (approx. 2 liters, or 2.11 quarts) of
manna each day. However, some people
would gather a little more than an omer and others would gather a little less
than an omer. However, every day when
they went to weigh the amount that each person had gathered, or just when they
went to eat it, each person had gathered just the right amount. None went hungry, the Lord had provided
enough for all.
5.1.2. This then shows that the
Lord gave the same amount of manna to each one of the Israelites.
5.2.
Again, we Christians should realize that if God has given us an
abundance of this world’s goods, however it has come our way, that the Lord
wants us to use some of our abundance to help our brothers and sisters who may
be in dire need.
5.3.
I have several friends who have been burdened by the Lord by the plight
of the southern Sudanese believers who have been killed and massacred by the
Islamic northern government, and they have gone for various lengths of time and
provided medical assistance and treatment for the people there. A couple of them have even begun their own
missions organizations just so that they could organize missions trips to
southern
5.4.
We received a phone call the other day from a couple whom we had
ministered to in our first church plant, and they are in the process of moving
their family as missionaries to
6.
VS 8:16-17 - “16 But
thanks be to God, who puts the same earnestness on your behalf in the heart of
Titus.17 For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest,
he has gone to you of his own accord.” - Paul
informs the Corinthians that Titus has accepted Paul’s appeal that he go to
them to complete this offering and then take it with him to the church in
Jerusalem
6.1.
This is a crucial point in Paul’s letter, for now having defended
himself against his critics and having exhorted the church concerning holiness
as well as their need to complete the relief offering for the mother church in
6.2.
Paul begins by giving thanks to God for Titus’ for having such a common
bond with the church in
6.2.1. Titus was anxious that the
Corinthians would be blessed by giving in this way.
7.
VS 8:18-19 - “18 And
we have sent along with him the brother whose fame in the things of the gospel
has spread through all the churches;19 and not only this, but he has also been
appointed by the churches to travel with us in this gracious work, which is
being administered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself, and to show our
readiness,”
- Paul tells the Corinthians that they
have sent along with Titus a brother of fame in the spreading of the gospel, a
man whom the churches appointed to travel with this gift for the mother church
7.1.
The man whom Paul mentions here would be one whom the church in
7.2.
By sending a man who was an apostle in his own right, the church would
be more comfortable in sending this very large contribution to the
7.3.
Paul writes here that this gift is a ‘gracious work,’ again indicating
that as we saw in our study last week, our giving as Christians comes from the
grace of God in our lives, which has been abundantly poured out to us.
7.4.
Paul also writes that this gift for the mother church in
8.
VS 8:20-21 - “20 taking
precaution that no one should discredit us in our administration of this
generous gift;21 for we have regard for what is honorable, not only in the
sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.” - Paul tells the Corinthians that he does not
want to be discredited regarding this gift and thus he is not only concerned
about doing what is right in the sight of God but also of men
8.1.
Again, as was mentioned we see that Paul is particularly sensitive that
people had questioned whether he was really funneling the money from the church
back to himself somehow while lying by claiming that he was providing all of
his own support by his tent-making.
8.2.
Paul was concerned that his reputation be spotless and leave no room
for others to question his motives, this was especially so because of the fact
of his calling as an apostle of Christ Jesus.
Paul Barnett quotes Ciscero concerning what is most important in
all public administration, “The chief thing in all public administration
and public service is to avoid the slightest suspicion of self-seeking.”
8.2.1. Those who are in leadership
within the church must be even more careful to leave no room for suspicion of
their motives and conduct, for the scripture teaches that an elder must be
“above reproach.”
8.2.2. In 2 Cor. 4:2, we saw
that Paul wrote that he and those with him were trying their best to commend
themselves to everyone’s conscience, “2 but we have renounced the things
hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of
God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s
conscience in the sight of God.”
8.3.
We as Christians need to always strive to have the things that we do in
our life be acceptable in the sight of God, for that is what matters most. However, because our life and the things that
we do can greatly affect others, both in a good sense or in a bad one, then we
also ought to be careful to not do things that could leave room for men to
question our motives. In 1 Thess.
5:22, the apostle Paul wrote about avoiding even giving the appearance of
evil to others, “22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.”
8.3.1. Though our hearts may be
right towards God, and our motives pure, we Christians need to be careful to
not do things in our life in such a way that someone could accuse us of
possibly doing something that is evil.
8.3.1.1.For instance, I have had
several people who were engaged who asked me if it would be OK if the last
couple of months of their engagement if to save money they were to live under
the same roof, but sleep in separate bedrooms.
I always remind them of this verse and the fact that though their hearts
may be pure in regard to doing this that others could be caused to stumble
because of it, or that people could accuse them of doing wrong when in fact
they were not. It is best to avoid this
kind of thing.
8.4.
Regarding financial matters, the church must be careful to avoid the
appearance of evil as well.
8.4.1. Every year at the church here
we publish for everyone an “Income And Expense Report” document that informs us
of every cent that came into the church in the last year as well as how it was
used. We also try to let everyone know
how all of our finances are being allocated when we have our all church
business meetings. If ever you have a
question about how our finances are being utilized here in the church, please
don’t hesitate to ask me. I think that it
is important for everyone to feel comfortable with what we are doing here in
the church and to realize that everything that is being done is being done out
in the open and subject to review.
8.4.1.1.You will see that as our
fellowship grows that we will take more and more steps to ensure that
everything that is done is out in the open and that everyone is accountable for
how funds are allocated.
8.4.2. Conversely, I will not
support or be involved with any Christian organization who is not willing to
publish its financial statements for review to its supporters.
8.4.2.1.Also, all of the Christian
cults have closed books and will not publish their financial statements for
their followers or anyone else. This is
just an indication of how they have a profit motive for the things that they
do.
9.
VS 8:22-23 - “22 And we have sent with them our
brother, whom we have often tested and found diligent in many things, but now
even more diligent, because of his great confidence in you.23 As for Titus, he
is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brethren, they are
messengers of the churches, a glory to Christ.” - Paul informs the Corinthians that there is a
third man whom they have found to be faithful whom they are also sending to
help with the collection and delivery of the relief offering
9.1.
Again, we see the qualifications for someone who would be involved in
ministry being revealed. This brother
they were going to send to the Corinthians had been ‘often tested’ and he had
been ‘found diligent in many things.’
9.1.1. It is a mistake to place new
converts in places of significant ministry, and especially not in leadership,
since there are so many temptations that could cause them to fall.
9.1.2. Potential leaders in the
church need to go through a good period of testing before they are to be
considered for ministry opportunities.
10.
VS 8:24 - 24 Therefore openly before the
churches show them the proof of your love and of our reason for boasting about
you.”
- Paul tells the Corinthians to show the
churches the proof of their love and his reason for boasting of them
10.1.
We saw already that in 2 Cor. 9:2 that Paul had boasted to the
Macedonians of the willingness of the Corinthians to give towards the relief
fund for the church in
10.2.
Paul is encouraging the Corinthians here that they show the proof of
the spiritual commitment to Jesus and of their love for God and His church by
completing their pledge of giving for the relief of the poverty stricken mother
church in
10.3.
There is a principle concerning giving here and that is that the real
proof or test of our spirituality as Christians is in our giving and serving,
what we actually do verses what our good intentions may be!
11.
CONCLUSION:
11.1.
In conclusion, I would like you to think for a moment about your own
life.
11.1.1. Could you be cheating
yourself out of some of the blessings that the Lord has for you by holding fist-closed
onto the blessings that the Lord gives to you in your life? Or, are you open-handed with all of the
things that the Lord has given into your life?
11.1.2. Is your Christian life as
healthy as it should be? If not, do you
think that it may be that you are not being open-handed with all of the things
that the Lord has given you?
11.1.3. Have you considered that the
Lord has given you an abundance so that you might be able to share some of what
God has blessed you with to brothers and sisters in Christ that are in a
desperate plight?
11.1.4. Are you giving to the Lord’s
work as you have been blessed yourself?
According to what you have?