Giving — 2 Corinthians 8-9

0:00 Morning everyone. Good morning. Nice to be given the opportunity to speak here on once again Sunday morning. It's been a little while. Not because I hadn't been asked, I always kinda, well, let's wait till a little later.

0:14 And this time I just kinda felt like better not put it off anymore. It's my desire to obey the Lord and if he wants me to share a message, I wanna do that. I was asked to speak on the subject of giving and it's not a subject that I was asked to speak on because I'm any great giver. I have to admit I'm... I wanna be.

0:37 I wanna be a better giver. And it's a subject that we haven't really talked about too much. We're not in the habit and this is not to stir you up to get more money donated here at Westlake Bible Fellowship. That's not the reason at all. But it's so that we can look in the scriptures and see the heart of God and any message on giving.

1:00 It has to start with God, the giver of all good. And I'm just so amazed. There's an awful lot of scriptures, an awful lot of scriptures that have to do with giving, and we surely won't cover them all today. I'm sure everybody here will say, yeah, there's this verse too. We should have mentioned that.

1:17 And usually after I speak, think of a lot of things I forgot to say. But that's just the way it is. Probably others have the same experiences. We're gonna just touch on some things in scripture about giving. And I wanna start really with one of the well known verses about giving that John three sixteen that probably all of us know by heart.

1:40 John three sixteen before we get into some verses on giving. This is talking about God's giving to us and this is the greatest gift we could ever have. John three sixteen says, for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. God truly is the giver of all good. And he even went so far as to give his son.

2:12 In connection with this verse also, there's Romans eight thirty two. Romans eight thirty two. I'm sorry. I got the wrong book open here. That would help.

2:31 Romans eight thirty two. He that spared not his own son but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? He that spared not his own son but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? So we can see there is no one who's given more for us than God himself. Spared not his son, but delivered him up for us.

3:04 Well, some of the topics we've talked about in this past year, we've... In connection with the... Our ministry on the church. We've talked about sign gifts. We've talked about church planting, baptism, evangelism, fellowship, prayer in the church, missionary discipleship, elders, deacons, commendation, and probably other topics that are not listed in that list there.

3:31 And now our topic is to try to look in the word of God just to see what we can gain a few verses that may talk about just how we can give individually and how we can give as an assembly. Some of the... And we'll go back to some of the early references to the church. First of all, the question is why should we give? Why should we give in the first place?

4:36 It's more blessed to give than to receive. He set the perfect example for us. Another scripture reference is Philippians four. I know some of these... If you just wanna write down the reference instead of turning to them, that...

4:58 That's fine. I know we'll be covering a lot of verses here. Philippians four eighteen. And Paul is speaking about those in Philippi who sent to minister to him. And he said, but I have all and abound and in full having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God.

5:36 And we'll touch on these verses a little bit more later on, but one other verse in Hebrews 13. Hebrews 13 and verse 16. The main verses we're gonna be trying to look at this morning will be in second Corinthians chapter eight and nine. But I'm just touching on some of these other ones before we get to that. Hebrews 13 Let's see.

6:12 Verse 15. I'm sorry. Verse 16. But to do good and to communicate, that is to to share to share with others, but to do good and to communicate, forget not for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. So there we have it again.

6:32 God is pleased when we seek to minister to others. When we put ourselves, I think Roger read those verses this morning about not looking on our own things, but on the needs of others. And that's not something we naturally do. Naturally, we come in this world and I see it all the time with my grandsons that we aren't born to be those who share. Somebody will have one toy and somebody else wants the same thing at the same time.

7:01 And, you know, so it's it's not natural for us to put others first or to share. But God can work that in our hearts as we get older. And it's amazing what he can do. Some of the examples in the early church in acts four. I think this was referred to a few weeks ago when Todd was speaking.

7:26 Acts chapter four. Verses 31 to 37. Acts chapter four thirty one to 37. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost. They spake the word of God with boldness and the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul.

8:01 Neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had all things common. And great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any that... Among them that lacked, for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them and brought the price of the things that were sold, laid them down at the apostles' feet, and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. And Joseph, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, which is being interpreted the son of Consolation, a Levite of the country of Cyprus having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.

8:43 Well, there was an example really of giving everything, not that God wants us to sell our houses, and we can see later on in the church, you know, there were others that had houses that people stayed in. They went to the house of Philip the evangelist. And so it wasn't a command. You've got to sell your house and give everything to the church. You know, that was not a command at all.

9:05 It was something he did out of his own free will. Out of his own free will. And we won't read the verses, but there were some others there that maybe they saw, wow, that's... That looks pretty good. We're gonna try to do the same thing, only we'll we'll hold back part of the price.

9:20 That was Ananias and Sapphira in the next chapter. But that wasn't really... They didn't have a heart for giving, but they just did that out of show. And as a result, they lost their lives for that. Looking on a little further in Acts chapter nine.

10:13 This woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. It came to pass in those days that she was sick and died. Whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber. And for as much as Lydda was nigh to Joppa and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent on him two men desiring him that he would not delay to come to them. And Peter rose and went with them and when he was come, brought him into the upper chamber and all the widows stood by him weeping and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made while she was with them.

10:47 What a, I mean, a testimony of giving this woman had. She she made coats and garments and, you know, just probably gave them to people and just, you know, they were really touched. She had a a real influence in her life. Well, Peter put them out, verse 40, and kneeled down and prayed and turning at the the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

11:13 And he gave her his hand and lifted her up. And when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive. This is amazing miracle that God did. But the Lord is able to do all things. Another one we read about is...

11:30 Just reading on a little bit here is Cornelius. Just to say in chapter 10 and verse two, Cornelius, he was a devout man and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people and prayed to God always. So these are some examples of different ones who had given and without even going back a little further, if we read about Zacchaeus, we find he was one that gave half his goods to feed the poor. I mean that's really, talk about a percentage, Half is good to feed the poor. That was Zacchaeus.

12:14 And there was a Pharisee that said, well, I give a tithe of all that I possess. Was a difference between those two. One was... Didn't have the heart for God. That was a Pharisee, but Zacchaeus no doubt had a heart for the Lord.

12:31 And that's really... You know, when we give... We'll read these verses. Well, let's turn right now to second Corinthians. Second Corinthians, we're gonna look, kinda skim over chapter eight and chapter nine.

12:49 Chapter eight and chapter nine, one of the things God wants us to be cheerful givers. He doesn't want us to give out of, well, I better give a certain amount or I'm gonna have... What are people gonna think of me if I don't give? What are they gonna think of me if I sit here week after week in the morning meeting and the collection ambassador goes around and I don't put anything in? I'm sure no one has ever thought about that here beside me, but there's some weeks that maybe you've given to some other ministry and that's fine.

13:21 And some weeks maybe you just don't have anything to put in. But nobody says you have to. But I thought of something recently, we've talking about it here. And it's not set up yet, but today you could actually set something up where you could give electronically. I thought, well, if somebody asked me why didn't you put anything in, I could say, I gave electronically.

13:43 We're not quite there yet, but the main thing is, you know, the Lord looks on our hearts. He doesn't need our money, but he he wants us to be willing to give to him, to give to... You know, because he's already given us everything. And so when we give to the Lord, we're really giving him what we have been given. And it's just...

14:06 It's not something that we earned or or worked for ourselves. And we could find early on in first Corinthians as what do you have that you haven't received? So everything we have, we... We've already received from the Lord. Well, in second Corinthians eight here, we'll start reading it just a few verses to get started here.

14:55 I think, how does that go together? It just doesn't seem to go together. The the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty. I mean, it doesn't... Does that seem possible that someone could have deep poverty and affliction and abundance of joy?

15:11 I mean, naturally speaking, we just don't... It just doesn't seem like that would be, the way it is. But here it says in the great trial of affliction, those in Macedonia, now there was a couple of assemblies in Macedonia, a number of them, but two of the more common ones we know of were Thessalonica and Philippi. Those were two of the churches in in Macedonia. I think Bria also was in there that's mentioned in the Bible.

15:41 It wasn't an easy thing for them to be a Christian in those cities. We know from from Acts when Paul went to Philippi, he was beaten, put in prison with Silas. Don was speaking about this, I think, was at at the city mission the other night. Wasn't just how they were thrust into the inner prison and the jailer was told to keep these men and they were they were beaten. They had their feet put in stocks.

16:07 These wooden things that make sure they wouldn't go anywhere. And it says at midnight, Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to God. That's another thing. How could you, after what he went through, after what they went through, how could they sing and praise God? It was just amazing what God can do.

16:26 Then as a result of that, there was a great earthquake and the prison doors were open and the man who was a jailer was ready to kill himself because it was definitely a a law that if you were a a guard and any of the prisoners escaped, your life would be demanded for them. But Paul cried out to him and said, don't harm yourself, we're still here. And this man, if you want to look it up on your own here, you can look in Acts chapter 16. This man said, what must I do to be saved? That was his question.

17:00 And they didn't give him a real long answer. Well, you've gotta do all these things and then you might be saved. They gave him a very simple straightforward answer and they said, Acts sixteen thirty one, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. So it wasn't an easy thing to be a Christian in that city there.

17:28 It says verse three, for to their power I bear record. Yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves, praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. So they were compelled by the Lord to give to Paul and the ministry there. Hold your place here and I'll just go back to Philippians, which I referred to briefly already. Philippians chapter four.

18:14 I'll start reading at verse... Let's see. I'll start reading at verse 10. Philippians four ten, but I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at the last your care of me have flourished again wherein you were also careful, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in respect of want, but I've learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

18:41 I know both how to be abased and how to abound. And everywhere and all things I'm instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and suffer need, I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Notwithstanding, you've well done that you did communicate with my affliction. Now you Philippians know that also that in the beginning of the gospel when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. For even in Thessalonica, he sent once and again unto my necessity.

19:14 Not that I desire a gift, I desire fruit that may abound to your account. But I have all and I'm abound and abound and I'm full having received of Epaphroditus, the things which were sent from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches and glory by Christ Jesus. I know there's a lot of verses here and we can run over them pretty fast. Again, would...

19:45 It'd be really good to take our time and on your own, you know, look through some of these verses again and just... There's so many verses of scripture that talk about giving. And the Old Testament, there's a lot of verses that talk about giving. In one particular case, it's kind of amazing. While the people out of their own free will brought things for the the tabernacle, they brought things for the temple that was to be built.

20:43 This is where the people are out of their own free will giving to... For the tabernacle. Giving what was needed for the tabernacle. And verse 25 of Exodus 35, excuse me, verse 25 says, all the women did... That were wise hearted did spin with their hands and brought that which they had spun, both of blue and purple and scarlet and fine lemon, fine linen.

21:10 And all the women whose hearts stir them up in wisdom spun goat's hair. And verse 29, the children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the Lord. Every man and woman whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work which the Lord had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses. And there was even one named Bezaliel who was over... He used his skill that God had given him to to work, to put the tabernacle together.

21:41 So the point is that just God... Our giving doesn't have to be always in monetary things. It can be the skill that God has given us. We could use that just as these women used their skills to to bring the blue and purple and scarlet and fine linen. And Exodus 36, there's a couple verses here, verses five and six.

22:09 They spake unto Moses saying, the people bring much more than enough for the service of the work which the Lord commanded to make. Moses gave commandment and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp saying, let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing for the stuff that they had was sufficient for all the work to make it and too much. I mean, how many times do you hear about a thing where the people of God gave too much? You don't usually hear messages about that.

22:43 But here it was, God had worked in their hearts. God had worked in their hearts to give a free will offering. And to the point where they had to say that's enough, we have enough. One of the best messages I've heard on giving was a number of years ago, Tony Evans was talking about giving. And we've all faced fundraisers and things like that.

23:10 And I have to say I just kinda groan at fundraisers sometimes. I'd rather take a simple approach and when there's a need and try to be, not that I could be exactly, but try to be like one like George Mueller who when there was a need took the need to the Lord. He took the need to the Lord. George Mueller, some of you who may not know who he was, he was involved in the eighteen hundreds in orphan work over in England. And they had...

23:43 It was a work totally started on faith. It was at a time where there was really no provision for kids. There weren't really many orphanages in those days. The the kids were... Children were put into places that were almost like prisons.

23:55 And he felt the Lord's leading and felt like, you know, if the Lord wants me to do this, he's gonna provide as I go every step of the way. And the Lord, it's amazing. There's a whole history. You can you can go online if you want something really interesting to research. Look up George Mueller, m u e l l e r, and the work of the orphans in Bristol.

24:19 How many times the Lord provided for them, and they took their... They didn't have fundraisers, but they took their needs to the Lord. That was the point. One thing I was just reading the other day was they had this 300 children sitting in their kitchen area or whatever the the hall waiting for breakfast and they had no food for the children. 300 children there.

24:47 And what did George Mueller and other staff do? They they prayed. They prayed, counting on the Lord to provide for them. And shortly after that, there was a knock at the door and a man said, you know, I just, I couldn't sleep this morning. I felt like the Lord wanted me to bake some more bread for you guys.

25:05 And so he brought like, I don't know how many loaves of bread, but it was just so that bread was provided that morning. At the same time, on the same morning, there was, and this is back in the, like I said, eighteen hundreds, there was a milk wagon that broke down. It just happened to be right in front of the orphanage. And the guy knocked on the door and said I've got all this milk on the milk wagon. The wheel broke off or something like that.

25:29 And they said we can't save it. It's gonna go bad. Can you use it? You know, just amazing story. And I like I said, you could research and you'd find story after story after story like that, how God met the need.

25:44 And I really believe that whenever he calls us to do something, he will meet the need to do it. And some of us have really have been through the tests and being in a foreign country and seeing how the Lord can provide and we're trusting the Lord will continue to provide. When an assembly sends someone out, it's a responsibility of that assembly to provide for their needs, but not only the one local assembly, but I'd say the whole, really, the whole body of Christ. We're not limited in our giving to just give to those that are part of our chapel. We can give to other ministries, which we do.

26:32 It's just amazing how the Lord can provide. I know that we have here Todd and Miriam exercised about going back to... I wanna say Philippians here, Philippines. And I believe God is gonna provide. I really do.

26:52 And I'm sure it really takes a step of faith to do that. And that really puts your faith to the test when you can be assured of our prayers. Absolutely. Okay. I'm back back to second Corinthians here just for some other verses.

27:39 That's in Acts chapter 18. They were tent makers. He wasn't supported in any way by the church there at Corinth. But in this chapter, in these two chapters, kinda brings out... Trying to teach them, you know, the blessing of supporting the ministry.

27:58 The blessing of giving to the Lord. And verse seven, therefore as you abound in everything, in faith, in utterance, in knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that you abound in this grace also. I'm talking about the grace of giving. Verse five, I didn't read, speaking about those in Philippi and the Macedonians. First they...

28:24 This they did not as we had hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord and unto us by the will of God. That's so important that we give ourselves to the Lord. Give ourselves to the Lord. Have we done that? Have we...

28:40 I was thinking about that in the song that Nathan gave out. Have thine own way, Lord. Have thine own way. And the... Just yielding our lives to the Lord.

28:53 And that's what they did there in the Macedonian church. They first gave their own selves to the Lord and to us by the will of God. And then verse seven, therefore, as you abound in everything in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all diligence and in your love to us, see that you abound in this grace also. I speak not by the... By commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others and to prove the sincerity of your love.

29:23 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. There again is the Lord Jesus Christ a perfect example. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. No one has ever humbled themselves like the Lord Jesus Christ to come into this world to even go to the cross, to bear our sins on the cross. Just amazing, amazing love that he has for us.

29:59 Well, talked about different examples of things we can give. It could be a lot of different things. It could be our labor. One example I think of here, and I don't think Bob would mind me singling him out, he does a fantastic job on the display for the Vacation Bible School. Fantastic.

30:19 And that's just, that is really giving to the Lord. That's one way of giving to the Lord. One way of using his talents that he has and working with wood and giving to the Lord. All of us have different talents, different things we could do. So, you know, it could be just spending time with someone.

30:36 That could be giving to the Lord. Or it could even be, as scripture says, a cup of cold water. Cup of cold water given in my name, the Lord says, Mark ten forty one, will not be without its reward. It could be all kinds of things, clothing. It could be housing, money for medical expenses, different things.

31:02 I can say over the years, I go back some years, I can go back more than twelve years. But twelve years ago, I was in between jobs. And many times, the assembly here helped us during that time in between jobs. We've had different times in our lives where we had major medical bills. I'm sure others here have had similar experiences.

31:29 God has undertaken an amazing way. He's undertaken an amazing way to to meet those medical bills. So I'm just using these as examples of ways that we can give to help people. We were part of an assembly before that maybe it was more well known, but if someone had a medical need, they would get contributions from all across the country in Canada because they... I don't know whether they had more of a network to publish that need or what it was exactly.

32:00 But not that it doesn't happen here, but I'm just saying they were such a close knit group as to what was going on, who had needs, that it was not unusual for someone who had a need to get gifts sent to them from all around the country or Canada or wherever. That was a good example though, I say. Well, who should we give to? The early example was they gave to the poor. That's always a good place to start, giving to the poor, giving to those who don't have the needs.

32:39 Now I know in our country it's so easy to say, yeah, well, we've got a food stamp program, we've got welfare, and and all... Look at all these abuses. And and I know I'm pretty skeptical myself, I have to say, but there are those, I'm sure, that are legitimately poor and need our help. You know, there may be... I'm sure there are children that have great needs whose parents are squandering what has been given to them.

33:47 If we just read the context there, people were questioning Paul as to his apostleship and so on. I'll just read verse six. For I only and Barnabas, have we not power to forbear working? First Corinthians nine six. Who goeth a warfare anytime at his own charges?

34:07 Who planteth a vineyard and eateth not the fruit thereof? Or who feedeth a flock and eateth not of the milk of the flock? Say, are these things of man or saith not the law the same also? For it is written, in the law of Moses, thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen or saith he altogether for our sakes?

34:28 And so on verse 14, even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. We're just going back to second Corinthians. Just just touch on that very briefly. I'm sorry it's so brief, but we could really look in that chapter and get, you know, more of a clear understanding of it that it was God's will. It's God's will that that those who are in the ministry, those that God has called in a ministry be supported.

35:01 I believe it's, you know, clear in scripture that they be supported. Now Paul didn't always use that in those early days. And again, he he was a tentmaker and stayed with Priscilla and Aquila. But he also did get gifts from other churches. So just kinda looking at a few more things here.

35:20 I know our time is running short. It's amazing how fast it goes sometimes. Let's go over to verse six of chapter eight... Chapter nine. I'm sorry.

35:36 Verse six of chapter nine. Second Corinthians nine. This I say, he which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly. And he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposes in his heart, so let him give not grudgingly or of necessity for God loveth a cheerful giver.

36:01 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you that he always having all sufficiency and all things may abound to every good work. He which soweth sparingly shall also reap sparingly. I know I I could go out in my backyard and look and wonder why I get nothing from the garden back there. But the reason is I haven't planted anything. So if you don't plant anything, you're not going to reap anything.

36:33 And so if we don't give, we're not going to be blessed because of our giving. I guess that's the only way I can put it. Now that doesn't mean... I don't wanna say that if I give something to the Lord right away next week, I'm gonna get a brand new car given to me. You know, I'm not saying that, but God does reward our faithfulness to him.

36:54 And whether it be while we're in this world or not, that's that's up to the Lord to decide. Back in the old testament, said he that has pity on the poor lends to the Lord and that which he has given will he repay him. So there's a blessing for us in giving. That's one of the points I wanted to make there. Yet he wants us to give cheerfully.

37:39 The Lord says in way back in the... One of the gospels, let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father which is in heaven. When we help people of the world, not even those who are Christians necessarily, that is a way of letting our light shine in this world. And it could be a way of an opportunity of sharing the gospel with them, sharing the good news so that they might put their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. Well, we talked about a lot of gifts here and just bringing some of these things to a close here.

38:13 In order for us to get the blessing from a gift, it has to be received. I mean, somebody could offer us a gift, but if we don't receive it, we don't get the blessing from it. And John one tells us pretty clearly about the gift that the Lord offers us. John one and verse eleven and twelve. I'll read verse 10.

38:43 He was in the world speaking about the Lord Jesus Christ. He was in the world. The world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them he gave the power to become sons of God even to them that believe on his name.

39:02 Well, have we received the gift the Lord offers us? It's a free gift. We just need to acknowledge that we're lost and that we can't save ourselves. We need to come to him asking him to forgive our sins. Have you ever asked the Lord to save you?

39:19 It's that simple. We need to do that. Will you receive him today? It's so important. Don't wait till it's too late.

40:13 Just reading the words of a hymn. It's not from one of our hymn books, at least I couldn't find it but it's from a old hymn book called the Little Flock hymn book. And it is the first verse of a song by William Cowper, and it goes like this. Of all the gifts thy love bestows, thou giver of all good, Not heaven itself a richer nose than the redeemer's blood. And close with second Corinthians nine fifteen says, thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

40:47 Unspeakable gift. He has that wonderful gift for each and every one of us. May he work in our hearts that if you haven't received Christ that you would do so today. He wants to bless you so much. Let's close in prayer.

41:02 Father, we thank you for your word. We know that we went over a lot of verses and hopefully, Lord, by your grace, we'll remember what we've looked at today and and just individually be before you about our giving and trusting you, and we just ask your blessing on each one here now, Lord. Thank you for giving up your life for us, Lord Jesus. We just thank you and pray in your name. Amen.