The Amazing Grace of Generosity
The Amazing Grace of Generosity
Tuesday July 16, 2024
2 Corinthians 8:1-24 (NLT)
A Call To Generous Giving
1 Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. 2 They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity. 3 For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. 4 They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. 5 They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do. 6 So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving. 7 Since you excel in so many ways--in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us--I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving. 8 I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches. 9 You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich. 10 Here is my advice: It would be good for you to finish what you started a year ago. Last year you were the first who wanted to give, and you were the first to begin doing it. 11 Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving. Give in proportion to what you have. 12 Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have. 13 Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality. 14 Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal. 15 As the Scriptures say, “Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough.” 16 But thank God! He has given Titus the same enthusiasm for you that I have. 17 Titus welcomed our request that he visit you again. In fact, he himself was very eager to go and see you. 18 We are also sending another brother with Titus. All the churches praise him as a preacher of the Good News. 19 He was appointed by the churches to accompany us as we take the offering to Jerusalem--a service that glorifies the Lord and shows our eagerness to help. 20 We are traveling together to guard against any criticism for the way we are handling this generous gift. 21 We are careful to be honorable before the Lord, but we also want everyone else to see that we are honorable. 22 We are also sending with them another of our brothers who has proven himself many times and has shown on many occasions how eager he is. He is now even more enthusiastic because of his great confidence in you. 23 If anyone asks about Titus, say that he is my partner who works with me to help you. And the brothers with him have been sent by the churches, and they bring honor to Christ. 24 So show them your love, and prove to all the churches that our boasting about you is justified.
God gives grace for generosity
2 Corinthians 8:1 (ESV) We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia,
True generosity is a grace given by God. The grace for generosity is truly an Amazing Grace.
Generosity has less to do with the size of your purse, but more to do with the size of your heart.
The grace for generosity is truly an Amazing Grace… (cf. the story of the widow's mite. Luke 21:1-4.)
Rejoice more, for the large size of your heart than for the large size of your purse.
The size of your purse connotes what you have, but the size of your hearts denotes what you are. Before God, what you are is more important than what you have.
If you do not have that grace, pray for it.
If you have that grace, pray that it may be multiplied.
Sadly, people pray more for bigger purses, than for bigger hearts.
The Grace of Generosity viewed through 3 lenses… what God is does in us, through us and for us.
i) WHAT GOD DOES IN US.
Philippians 2:13 (NKJV) for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for [His] good pleasure.
Truly generous, not manipulated.
3 For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will.
2. Eagerly generous.
8 I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches.
4 They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. 5 They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.
3. Lovingly generous to all people, including those you may never meet. Putting your money where your mouth is.
Real Christianity is consistent, words and actions are in agreement.
1 John 3:18 (ESV) Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
Galatians 6:10 (NKJV) Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IqPs3kmWcjVDMo5u2KKqyg3VAowbVZSqjOq5YYMqeOc/edit
Summation 1: What God does in us is for His glory. This must always come first.
2 Corinthians 3:18 (NLT) So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord--who is the Spirit--makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.
PRAYER 1
Lord God, my Maker, please increase your Grace for Generosity deep within my heart. Make me truly generous, eagerly generous and lovingly generous.
ii) WHAT GOD DOES THROUGH US
Philippians 4:13 (NKJV) I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Privately generous, not showing off
Matthew 6:1-4 (NLT) 1 “Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. 2 When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do--blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. 3 But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. 4 Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
2. Inspiring generosity
The generosity of the Macedonians is used to inspire and provoke the Corinthians to do the same not in amount but in spirit.
10 Here is my advice: It would be good for you to finish what you started a year ago. Last year you were the first who wanted to give, and you were the first to begin doing it. 11 Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving. Give in proportion to what you have. 12 Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have. 13 Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality. 14 Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal.
3. Unending Generosity
Galatians 6:9 (NLT) So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.
Summation 2: What God does through us is for the benefit of others.
Mark 10:42-45 (NLT) 42 So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 43 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
PRAYER 2
Lord God, my Master, please help me shine your light through good works, done privately and without seeking attention. By your grace may I never become weary of doing good.
iii) WHAT GOD DOES FOR US
Hebrews 6:10 (NLT) For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do.
Rewarded Generosity
Philippians 4:15-20 (ESV) 15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. 18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Eternal reward Generosity
Those who are generous are lending to the Lord.
Proverbs 19:17 (NLT) If you help the poor, you are lending to the LORD-- and he will repay you!
By their generosity, they are being rich towards God.
Luke 12:16-21
(NKJV) 21 “So [is] he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
They are thereby laying for themselves a heavenly treasure, one not subject to decay.
Luke 16:9 (NLT) Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your earthly possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home.
Matthew 6:19-21 (NLT) 19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
Summation 3: What God does for us is for our own benefit. This should always come last.
Paradox: In God’s kingdom, if you want to last long, put yourself last.
Philippians 2:3-4 (NLT) 3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
PRAYER 3
Lord God, my Father, You are my Rewarder and my Reward. When I see you in glory, may I hear you say over me, “Enter into the joy of your master, you good and faithful servant.”
