GOD LOVETH A CHEEFUL GIVER
2 Corinthians 8:6-8
INTRODUCTION:
1. When we lived in Memphis, Tennessee, a car, a camera, and a set of tools were stolen from me.
a. Our Lord said, Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth, where thieves
break through and steal (Matthew 6:19).
2. When we lived in Minnesota the undercarriage, the wheel wells, and the body around door handles of our car began to rust.
a. Our Lord said, Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt (Matthew 6:19).
3. Our Lord gave a parable which so reminds me of the way Americans are today (Luke 12:16-21).
a. A rich man had amassed plenty of wealth for retirement then died before he could enjoy it.
b. All that he had owned stayed behind upon this earth to be owned by someone else.
c. Our material possession will not last, and our ability to hold on to them will end.
d. We will all die, and what is left will belong to someone else.
e. Isn't there something more important in life than material items?
4. Our Lord taught us that it is the kingdom which is more important (Luke 12:31).
a. The kingdom is more important because it will outlast material things (Dan. 2:44).
b. The kingdom is more important because it that which shall go to be with God when the Lord returns (1 Cor. 15:24).
c. The kingdom is more important because it was established by our Lord,
it is the church, and it is that body which shall be saved (Dan. 7:13, 14; Acts 2; Eph.5:23).
5. When we give as we have been prospered upon the first day of the week we give to help a kingdom which shall outlast this universe.
a. When the funds are used to bring souls to Christ eternal good is done.
b. When we give to aid the needy the kingdom is strengthened.
c. When we give on Sunday's and the money is used to strengthen the local church, saved souls are strengthened in their ability to endure this life of temptation.
6. "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven..."
(Matthew 6:19-24).
7. This morning we studied 1 Corinthians 16:1, 2 and saw there our authority for
giving every Sunday as an act of corporate worship.
a. In order to encourage us to exercise this act of worship in spirit as well as in truth we are going to discuss what the church in Macedonia gave in the first century.
b. Further, we will discuss what the Father and His Son have given us.
c. And in studying these examples it is hoped that each of us will generously lay up treasures in heaven.
DISCUSSION:
I. THE CHRISTIANS IN MACEDONIA GAVE GENEROUSLY.
A. They gave sacrificially (2 Cor. 8:1-5).
1. In trying to encourage the church at Corinth to give liberally Paul told them about the sacrificial giving of the churches in Macedonia.
2. The conditions in which the Christians were living in Macedonia are described as a "great trial of affliction" and "deep poverty."
a. Though these Christians in Macedonia were suffering, they gave liberally.
b. It is often the case that those who suffer the most are those who give the most, while those who are the most comfortable give the least.
d. These Christians gave more than Paul thought they were capable
of giving, and they gave it "of themselves."
1) This means they wanted to do it.
2) A command or task given is more likely to appropriately carried out when there is a willingness to obey.
3) They didn't give generously because they felt like they had to, they gave generously because they wanted to.
B. What motivated them to give so liberally?
1. Though they were suffering they had joy (2 Cor. 8:2).
a. Paul wrote to the Philippian church in Macedonia and told them to rejoice in the Lord always (Phil. 4:4).
b. The happier one is the more he shall give, and the more he shall
give the happier he shall be.
c. Jesus spoke of the this joy in giving when He said, "It is more
blessed to give than to receive." (Acts 20:35)
2. Though they were tried they were dedicated (2 Cor. 8:5).
a. These individuals had counted the cost of Christianity and were ready to pay it.
b. They knew the comittment necessary to being
a faithful Christian and they had made that comittment.
c. Their lives were devoted to God and so they gave well.
3. Though they suffered they gave generously because of their love (2 Cor. 8:24).
a. Paul says, the way we give is evidence of our love.
b. We give little, we love little.
1) We don't love God much.
2) We don't love our brethren much.
3) We don't love the lost much.
c. We must conclude from this then, that the brethren in the church at
Macedonia had great love (Phil. 1:9).
II. GOD GIVES GENEROUSLY.
A. He gave His Son (2 Cor. 9:15).
1. How many of us would give up one of our children to save others?
a. It will be difficult to do so for good people.
b. It would be harder to do so for wicked people.
d. Truly God's love for the lost is unfathomable and unquestionable.
2. His Son willing gave Himself (2 Cor. 8:9).
a. The sign of a loving heart is the willing gift.
b. The love the of Saviour led Him to willingly give Himself as a
sacrifice so that we might have salvation.
3. His Son gave up wealth and became poor for us (2 Cor. 8:9).
a. Man so desperately hangs on to his wealth.
b. Jesus gave up greater wealth than can be imagined to live on this
earth and die for us.
1) Were He to leave heaven and live upon this earth in comfort and luxury He still would make a great sacrifice.
2) However, He left heaven to left upon this earth as a very poor man, owning nothing more than the clothes on His back.
c. He generously gave so much for you and I.
B. God continues to bless us.
1. Those who sow bountifully reap bountifully (2 Cor. 9:6, 8).
a. The context shows us that those who give generously to His church shall be taken care of.
b. We will be given what we need to live on this earth.
2. Jesus spoke of this in Luke 12:31.
a. If we put the kingdom first we shall have all we need.
b. This in the context of the parable of the rich farmer.
3. God has given and continues to give so much.
III. WE MUST GIVE GENEROUSLY.
A. Every Christian gives as he has purposed (2 Cor. 6:7).
1. All Christians are involved.
a. We can easily understand the words "every man."
b. In discussing 1 Cor. 16:1, 2 this morning we were able to see that each man is to give as he has prospered.
2. All Christians are to purpose what they give.
a. Purposing means planning.
b. We do not wait until the last minute to see what is in our pockets.
c. We do not place everything in our budgets above it.
d. We determine before hand what we should give and makes plans to have that available on the first day of the week.
B. We must not give grudginly or of necessity.
1. The churches in Macedonia gave because they wanted to.
a. This is the key to a truly free will offering.
2. If we simply give because we think we have to we are not worshipping in spirit.
C. We should give cheerfully.
1. God loves a cheerful giver.
a. The Christians in Macedonia gave well because of their joy.
b. Happy people give more and generous givers are often the most happy.
2. What motivates cheerful giving?
a. The love which God has for us that has been seen in His generous
sacrifice.
b. Our love for God our brethren and the lost.
c. Knowing the good which the giving produces.
1. Joy (2 Cor. 8:5).
2. Allows the church to help the needy
(1 Cor. 16:1,2; Rom.15:26-31; James 1:27).
3. Furthers the preaching of the Gospel
(Mark 16:15, 16; 2 Cor. 9:14; Phil. 1:5; 4:15).
4. Allows us to lay up treasures in heave (Matt. 6:19,20).
CONCLUSION:
1. The wealthy men of days gone by are in eternity.
a. Their worldly possession either destroyed or in someone else's hands.
b. In 1923 a group of the world's wealthiest men met at the Edgewater Beach Hotel
in Chicago.
1) These men were greatly admired by much of America in 1923, but
that would soon change.
2) Of these seven men two died penniless and in debt, two ended up in
prison, three committed suicide, and all are dead now.
c. In 1955 a wealthy Frenchman died sad, afraid, and lonely in a heavily gaurded
mansion, leaving behind 420 million dollars.
2. Lay not up for yourselves treasure on earth, but lay up treasures in heaven.
a. A. M. Burton was a wealthy businessman and a Christian.
b. It is said of him that he did not give tenth of his income, but 9/10ths.
c. Though he made a lot of money he gave so much away that he did not have to pay income tax.
d. As a young man A. M. Burton promised the Lord if he prospered in business he would give it all back to God.
e. He gave away more than 15 million dollars to the church and to the needy.
f. He died in 1966 a happy man and now dwells in Abraham's bosom as far we as know.
4. Relish the opportunity to give generously upon the first day of the week for God loveth a cheerful giver.
4. First give yourselves to God.