Latest / Teachings On This Day On FerventWord / On Jul 10, 2005: 2 Corinthians 8:1-8
Transcript
- You are listening to FerventWord, an online Bible study ministry with teachings and tools to help you grow deeper in your relationship with God. The following message was taught by Jerry Simmons in 2005. Amen. This morning and the next couple of Sundays is one of the reasons why we teach chapter by chapter, verse by verse. Because if I had a choice, I would not be teaching this message this morning. If I had a choice, 2 Corinthians would go from chapter 7 and jump to chapter 10 and there'd be a mystery, you know, chapter 8 and 9 that we didn't have. Because it's a or it's a topic that is not necessarily real comfortable for us to talk about. And it's in the area of giving. It's in the area of finances. And people always get uncomfortable and a little bit uptight whenever... the pastor talks about finances. And that's okay. But we need to understand that it's in God's Word for a reason. And I will passionately teach God's Word no matter what the topic is. That's why we go chapter by chapter, verse by verse. We want the whole counsel. Everything, God, that you want to say to us, that's what we want to hear and that's what we want to live by. And I will passionately teach... And give to you the same things that God is giving to me, no matter what the subject is, but there are some that are more uncomfortable than others. And so I will passionately teach... This morning and the next couple of weeks as we look at the area of giving. But understand that it's because I'm passionate about the Word of God, because I believe it, and because it's true that I do these things. And no way is this some plot of mine to try to raise tithing or raise income or try to incite people and get them hyped up to give. No, not at all. But I am passionate because I believe God at His Word and the principles that He gives us and the things that He says, the blessings that He gives us, that He promises for us if we are obedient to Him, are out of this world. You can't even begin to fathom the things that God has in store for those who are obedient, especially in this area of giving. And it might sound biased, some of the things that I share, because it's me sharing it, right? But I want to share with you two assurances, two things that you can be confident that this isn't me. Number one, I didn't pick this portion of Scripture. It's where we are next, chapter 8. We finish chapter 7, we move on to chapter 8, we know that we are going on verse by verse, chapter by chapter, and so this is what God has ordained so that you and I would be able to hear this this morning. The second thing I want to share with you is I'm not paid on commission, okay? It's It's not a ploy to try to raise money so that I can get something for myself. There's no gain for me except for to see God do His great work in you and for me to hear and be obedient to God as well. The salary that I'm paid covers my housing and utilities. And it's set by the board of directors, which is Pastor Rick, Pastor Tom, Pastor Dion, Pastor Dylan. You get the picture, right? It's all those guys. Nothing to do with what I'm about to share with you. What I am sharing with you is simply what God's Word says about our hearts and how we should be givers. Now, as we are learning this lesson from God, I want to encourage you to be like the Bereans. Paul said of the Bereans in Acts chapter 17 verse 11 that they were more fair-minded than those who were in Thessalonica and that they received the word with all readiness and searched the scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. As I share these things with you, don't just take my word for it. Or don't hear my words and just write me off. But search the Scriptures. As I point out references and different areas that you can check out what the Bible has to say about giving. Check it out. Write it down. Make sure you take the time. Search the Scriptures. Be more noble-minded than the Thessalonians. Be like the Bereans. And study to find out if what I am saying is true. And you can start. Today, you can start tomorrow, spend some time reading 2 Corinthians chapters 8 and 9. It's what we'll be studying for the next couple of weeks, looking at what God has to say to us. Well, as we jump into this topic, it's important that we understand what the Bible has to say about giving. Now, there's two types of giving specifically that the Bible mentions. The first type is the tithe. And many have often asked, what tithe? What amount should I tithe? How much am I supposed to tithe? How much am I supposed to give? Well, it's a very simple answer because the word itself means a tenth. That's what the word means. It's not that you should tithe, which means you should give to God and you give some percent. It's a tenth. It's The principle that God laid out from the beginning and the word that they used in the Hebrew as well as in the Greek, it means a tenth or ten percent. That's what the tithe is. It began in the Old Testament and it was commanded in the law that they tithe of all of their produce, of all the things that... Their livestock produced, everything they harvested, it was all to be tithed, to be brought to the temple or the tabernacle, to be given to God, to support the work there that God was doing. Leviticus chapter 27 verse 30, And all the tithe of the land, whether the seed of the land or the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's, it is holy to to the Lord. And so we learn there that all of the fruit of the land, all the produce, all that you harvest is the Lord's. It's not that you should, you know, if you have some left over, give it to the Lord. It's that it is God's. It belongs to God. That's the tithe. Leviticus 27, 32, And concerning the tithe of the herd or of the flock or whatever passes under the rod, the tenth one shall be holy to the Lord. The tenth, the tithe. It's something that God has set up from the very beginning. Now, Some will try to say on hearing this and looking at this that it's under the law. It's under the law. That's what you just read. It's under Leviticus, which is the law. And so we're not bound by that any longer. We don't have to tithe. We don't have to give in that way any longer. But notice for a moment that it also happened before the law. In Genesis chapter 14 verse 20, Abraham as he's on the way back from his conquest after he's had this great victory, he runs into this guy named Melchizedek. Melchizedek. Now, we don't know much about him, but we hear a lot about him in the book of Hebrews, that he is a priest of God. And he's a priest... as a foreshadow, as a picture of Jesus Christ, who is a priest forever in the same order that Melchizedek was. Well, as Abraham meets this priest, it says in Genesis 14, 20, that he says, Blessed be God Most High who has delivered your enemies into your hand. That's what Melchizedek said to Abraham. And then he, Abraham, gave him a tithe of all. Of all. This was before the law was given. It was before the law was laid out there on Mount Sinai that Abraham gave a tithe. The tenth of all that God had provided for him. And so we see here the father of faith tithing to the author and finisher of the faith being the example for us that we need to give back to the Lord as he prospers us. Jesus explained this as well. Matthew 5, 17-6, 4. He explained that He did not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it. He didn't come to destroy and totally wipe out the law, but He came to fulfill it. He came to provide grace. And we'll find that grace has different requirements or different things than the law. For example, He went on to say, You've heard it said... Thou shalt not murder. Do not murder. That's what you've heard it say. That's what the law teaches. But Jesus went on to say, I teach to you, however, I say to you, That you shouldn't even hate your brother. Because that's where murder begins. There in the heart, that hatred of the brother. And so Jesus says, the law says this, but I say, not so much the outward appearance that we're trying to fix, but the problem is the heart. And so don't even hate your brother in your heart. Because that in itself is murder. He also went on to say, you've heard it said, you shall not commit adultery. And he says, but I say to you, take it the next step further, you shouldn't even think lustfully of a woman in your heart because that is committing adultery within your heart. Jesus, his requirements were strict in the law because it was dealing not with the outward actions but with the heart. He says, you've heard it said, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, but I say to you, turn the other cheek. God has these things for us. These commandments, these laws that Jesus gave are what we are to live by. Yes, we're not under the law, we're under grace, which means all the more we're responsible to not hate, to turn the other cheek, to not lust, to give ourselves completely to God because He's giving us a new heart and working within our heart. We're not under the law but under grace. And so as people who have the grace of God and desire to please God, we need to know that He has principles about giving. And they're this. Him first and He'll bless. Him first and He will bless. Keep your thumb here in 2 Corinthians 8 and turn with me to Proverbs chapter 3. They're in the Old Testament. Proverbs chapter 3. Proverbs chapter 3. I want you to turn there so you see it with your own eyes. It's not something I made up. Proverbs chapter 3, verses 9 and 10. Proverbs chapter 3, verses 9 and 10. It's right there after the book of Psalms. Proverbs 3, 9 and 10. It says this, Honor the Lord with your possessions and with the firstfruits of all your increase so your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine. The author of the Proverbs, Solomon here, is teaching us the principle of God. Here's the principle. Give to Him. Honor Him with your possessions. Give to Him your firstfruits, the tithe, the tenth. And He will bless you. Your barns will be full. Every need will be met. God will take care of you. That's His promise. That's His commitment. That's God's Word. Honor Him with your possessions. In Malachi 3, verse 10, it says something very similar. The prophet there is talking to the nation of Israel and he tells them, Bring all the tithes into the storehouse that there may be food in my house. And try me now on this. Notice this. Malachi 3, verse 10, God says, try me on this. Test me on this, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. Here's what God says. Look, this is my principle about giving. You put me first. You give to me first. And I'll take care of all of your needs. And He says, you can test me on this. You can test me on this. Now, He doesn't say... I died for your sins. My blood washes you and forgives you. And so test me on it. Sin and see if I strike you dead. He doesn't say to test him on that. He tells us to walk away from sin and to run from sin, to walk with him. But what he does tell us to test him on is this. Give to him. Put him first. And see if He blesses. And I challenge. It's a challenge to me. It's a challenge to you to test God. He says, try me now in this. Now, that's not the motive. You don't give in order to get something back. It's not the stock market that, you know, you're trying to make a fortune here. But it's All about the motive. Your motive is very important. That we give in obedience and out of a love for God, trusting that He will supply all of our needs. And so it's a biblical thing to tithe. It's a biblical thing to tithe where you are being fed. That's what Paul is talking about in 1 Corinthians 9, verses 9-14. Verse 14 says that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel. And They should live from it, from those who are giving unto the Lord because they're being fed there. And so you can check that out on your own. So that's the tithe. Now, there's also another type of giving that the Bible mentions and it's an offering. It's different from a tithe. It's something that's above and beyond The tithe. So not only do I want to give the 10%, the tithe that God has asked me, the first fruit that He's given to me that's His already, but I want to give to Him an offering. It's a gift above and beyond. Now, this is what a lot of the sacrifices in the Old Testament were. There was a few for... and that was the trespass offering and the sin offering, and those were there. That was how God dealt with the sin, but there was a lot of other offerings. Why? Well, because as God would bless them, as God would just do wonderful things in their life, people would want to respond and say, man, I want to give back to God, and so God provided them all these ways to offer to Him their thanksgiving, their praise, and they would come and offer these sacrifices, which would be in their favor. their way of life and their finances, which was cattle and harvest and all of those things. They would come and offer them to God in recognition for what He's done and thanks for what He's done. There would also be special occasions where offerings would be taken with special needs or circumstances, such as Exodus chapter 35, where God commanded that an offering be taken for the provision of the tabernacle. And you see the people there give very willingly, more than is enough. because of their hearts and what God has done. We also see the same type of situation in 1 Chronicles 29, where an offering is received, an offering is made available to the people of Israel that they might give to the work of the temple and to the provision for what God wanted to do in the temple. There would also be a tithe every third year that would provide for the poor and the less fortunate of the land and those who are not able to make it on their own. And so there's all these different areas. There's the tithe which is God's that first tenth but then there's also the offerings that God has provided and will provide many opportunities for us to give above and beyond that. The principles of giving that we'll learn today, that Paul will try to teach us, apply to both of these areas, to both of these things. God wants to say something to us about this. Now, Paul is specifically talking about an offering that's being taken place or being taken, received, for the saints that are in Jerusalem. The people there who are in need. There's a great need there in Jerusalem for those who are believers. And so, he was going around the different churches and receiving an offering to... to bless them, to support them, to help them in their time of need. And so let's read together 2 Corinthians 8, starting in verse 1. It says this, Verse 2. Verse 8. Verse 9. And we'll stop there for this week. 2 Corinthians chapter 8. Now, He starts out in verse 1 by saying, moreover, brethren. He's just finished praising them and rejoicing that God had done a work in bringing them to repentance. That God had done a work in bringing them back to restored fellowship with Paul. They had put in effect the correction that Paul had given to them. And so they were being brought back into right relationship. That's what we looked at last week. And so Paul says, I rejoice about this. But then in chapter 8, he says, moreover brethren, moving on from that, he reminds them now of a promise that they had made. They had made a promise, as Paul had been there before, that they were going to give. They wanted to be a part of the work in giving to those who were in need there in Jerusalem. And so they made a commitment. They said, yes, we're going to give. We're going to start collection. And that's why Paul said in 1 Corinthians chapter 16 to collect on the first day of the week and whenever they gather together to make the collection because they said, they're going to do this, we're going to do this, and then we're going to give it to those who are in Jerusalem. Well, Paul is reminding them because... There was so many problems that the collection and the offering, the gift that they had promised had been neglected. And they had so many problems with division and with all the uprisings and rebellion that they hadn't actually fulfilled what they had committed to. Their spiritual immaturity and carnality within the body had caused them to be caught up in other things and other movements and so giving went right out the window and they just completely forgot about it. And so Paul is saying, look, moreover, brethren, I want to remind to you the commitment that you made, and we'll see that more next week. But he also says, I want to make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia. Now Macedonia was the northern part of Greece. Corinth was on the southern part, and Macedonia was the northern part, and in it were the cities like Philippi and Thessalonica. And so Paul says, I want you to know what's going on up here, up north, just north of you, that wonderful has been taking place. Something great has been happening. And as he begins to talk about giving, notice what he calls it. He's He says, It's His grace that gives us the opportunity to give. And it's His grace in our lives that moves our hearts to a position where we desire and long to give. Because of what He's done for us and how wonderful He is, we want to give back to God out of thanks and rejoicing in what He's done. Verse 2. So here's what the Macedonians did. Here's the grace. That in the great trial of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. This is amazing what Paul is talking about here. Check this out. The word there for trial, it means proof of genuineness. And the word there for affliction is being crushed. And so what he's saying is, look, they're in the middle right now, these Macedonians. They're being crushed to prove that they're genuine, to prove that their faith is real, their faith is genuine. They really are believers. They really have given their hearts to God. It really is something that God is doing. And they're being crushed right now. They're being afflicted to prove their genuineness. Now, they're being crushed, but they have great joy. They're being persecuted and suffering, but they have great joy, even though they're in the midst of deep poverty. Now, check out what Paul says, though. This is interesting. Try this formula in math and it will not work. It's important to know that God's economy is different than ours. You take great trial, abundant joy, and you take great trial. And deep poverty. So great child plus abundant joy plus deep poverty equals a really happy poor person, right? That's in our economy. That's how we esteem things. That's what we come to. But in God's economy, what happens? He says, look, the great child plus the abundant joy plus the deep poverty equals generosity. They were very generous. That was the result of... the situation that they were in and the grace of God in their lives. He says, it abounded in the riches of their liberality, which means generosity. Literally, it's the faithful benevolence out of proper motivation. And try that formula in the world or try that formula in your mind and it doesn't make sense, but that's why it's by faith. We understand God works differently than we think. And Paul uses the Macedonian church As an example for the Corinthian church as well as for this church, for your life and my life, this is the way that we should be. He uses them as an example to teach us four principles about giving that we need to learn. The first one we find here and that is we need to give generously. We need to give generously. No matter what position we're in, We need to give. That's the example that the Macedonians gave. They were in deep poverty, yet they were able to give. Because of what God had done and the grace of God that was in their life. The second principle that he shows us is found in verse 3. He goes on to say, For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing. The second principle that we see is that we are to give not just generously, but sacrificially. We're to give sacrificially. That's how they gave. Their love and concern for others motivated them to give sacrificially beyond their ability. Now I had to ask myself this question and I ask you it as well. When do you give sacrificially? When it actually costs you something? When do you give in that position or in that same way? This is an area where God needs and desires to work in our hearts. That the love that we have for God would result in us giving to Him sacrificially. That the love that we have for others around us would result in us giving to them sacrificially. It's not normal for people. It's not our natural tendency to give sacrificially beyond our ability. What is normal for us though? Think about the culture that we live in and the society that we live in. What's normal for us is to spend beyond our ability, to purchase beyond what we can afford. We have it backwards, completely opposite from the way that God desires to work in our hearts. That we spend more than we can afford and we give maybe something if we have left over. But God says, look, give more than you can afford and I'll bless and provide all of your needs. What a great promise that is that God has for us. And God's been speaking to this to my heart for a while now. That I need to rearrange my life. so that I'm able to give more, so that I'm in a position where I can afford to sacrifice and to give more. Now this means I start giving today. I don't wait until my life is rearranged and then go, alright, finally I got some leftovers I can give to God. No. I need to make the priority now. I need to be obedient now to give generously, to give sacrificially today, right now. Give more than you can afford to God. Remember His promise, Malachi 3.10. He says, try me on this, test me on this. Give and see if I will not provide and meet your every need. The third principle we find there also in verse 3 is at the end. It says that they were freely willing. They were freely willing. Not just generously and sacrificially, but willingly were called to give. Now if you take a moment and look at these principles, you understand that In order for these to take place, we need to have right hearts that are not bound to this world, but really taking Jesus' words and living them out, storing up our treasures in heaven. If we're to give generously and sacrificially and willingly, we need to have right hearts. Because sacrificially and willingly don't really seem to go together that well. I'm going to give so that it costs me something, but willingly. That's not something we would normally do or desire, but listen, that is what Jesus Christ did for us. He molded it for us. He sacrificially gave Himself, His own life, willingly, that you and I might benefit. And it's that attitude, that same attitude, and frame of mind that we're to have. That we give ourselves and give of our finances and resources, give of everything about us, sacrificially, that other people might be blessed. That's why Paul brings Jesus into the picture, 2 Corinthians 8 and 9. Think about Jesus. He gave sacrificially. He was the ultimate example for us. We are to give God of our own accord, willingly. Not forced out of us, not pressured, but willingly. What I desire, it's my will that I give to you sacrificially. How do we do that? Well, we simply believe Jesus Christ at His word and do it. Paul the Apostle in Acts chapter 20 verse 35 remembers some words of Jesus and you'll probably recognize them. They're very popular and famous. But Jesus said that it's more blessed to give than to receive. It's more blessed to give than to receive. Now, that is not something that makes sense in my head because I've received and boy is it great. I love receiving, kind of. Sometimes it's awkward or difficult, but you know, you get the picture. You understand. Man, I want great things for myself. I want good things for myself. But Jesus says, listen, it's more blessed to give than to receive. And I need to take that to heart and believe it, even though it might not make sense in my head, or even though that's not what the world tells me, even though whatever else anybody else says, I need to understand God's word is right, no matter what anybody else says. And so that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to give and be blessed, because it's more blessed to give than to receive. And in When that's true in my heart, then I will give generously and sacrificially and willingly. And so I need to ask God to change my heart and help me to believe and be obedient to His Word. The fourth principle we find there in verse 4. He says that they were imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift. Not only are we to give generously and sacrificially, willingly, but we're also to give eagerly. These Macedonians, they're incredible. They're a great model for us. They really had learned the lesson that God is trying to teach us. Despite their trials, they were eager to give. They were willing and ready to give. Paul says that they were imploring us, which means to desire, to really long for it. It carries with it the idea of beseeching or begging. Paul was not there forcing it out of them, you know, wringing them around the neck and, come on Macedonians, cough it up, you need to give. They were doing the opposite to him. They were pushing it upon him. They were begging him, please, let us give. We want to give. We want to be a part. We want to help them. Paul wasn't there forcing it. He wasn't there using all his great tactics to persuade them. But they were begging him, let us be a part. Please receive it. Take it. And Paul, seeing their great affliction and what they're going through, their deep poverty, reluctantly is like, Hey, you guys, you guys are in poverty too. But they say, No, we want to be a part. Please take it. Please take this gift because we want to bless them. We want to be a part. God has put it upon our heart. He wasn't forcing it out of them. And this should reflect our hearts in giving. Please let me be a part. Please let me give. I want to be a part of what God is doing. Why? What has this effect on our hearts? How can our hearts come to this point? Well, it's because of grace. It's undeserved kindness for us to be able to give. It doesn't make sense in our heads, but understand this. It's grace. You and I, what do we deserve? We deserve punishment, judgment. We deserve hell. But God, by His grace, has desired to save us. But not only that, He has also given us a part in ministering, as we've been talking about, the ministry of reconciliation. He's called us to that. He's given us a part in the work that He wants to accomplish. And part of that, one of the graces of that, is that we have the privilege, the honor, the ability to be able to give to the work of God. and receive blessings for it. That is not something that we deserve. That is not something that we should have the privilege of having or to be able to do. But God has given that by His grace. And so they said, we want to be able to give. Please take this. We want to take part. So these four principles are how we're to give. Generously, sacrificially, willingly, and eagerly. But why should we give? The Macedonians, why did they give? Why was it that they gave what they gave? Notice there at the end of verse 4, he says, and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. This is why they gave. Why? Because they desired the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. That word fellowship in the Greek, it's the word koinonia, you've heard it often. But it simply means to participate or to take part in. The Macedonians are saying this. Look, we want to be a part of the ministry. We want to take part. People are giving to those in need in Jerusalem. Oh man, we want to be a part of that. We want to jump on that. Let's go, yeah. We want to participate in ministering to those there in Jerusalem. We want to be a part of that, of that work that God is doing. And now I'm beginning to remember something. Paul's been talking about ministry. The same word that's used here for ministering to the saints is the same word that he's been talking about with the ministry of reconciliation. And I understand, wait a minute, since chapter 3, Paul's been talking about ministry this whole time. He's been talking about the ministry of reconciliation that we're called to, bringing people into a right relationship with God, letting them know that He loves them, restoring them into a relationship. And... That's what Paul's been talking about. And we've learned that we're all part of that ministry and we've all been called to that ministry wherever we're at. And we need to realize that our lives, that we're not just there at that workplace, we're not just there at that home or that family or with those friends or at that store at that time just because. But we're there because God put us there because He desires for us to be involved in the ministry of reconciliation. that people might come to know Him. But Paul has not stopped talking about that. He's going on now. He says, look, the Macedonians are the example. They've taken the ministry of reconciliation to heart. They want to reach out to people. They want to reconcile people and demonstrate the love of God. They want to take part in the ministry. And the way that they're demonstrating that for those in Jerusalem, because they're not there, is they're giving. They're giving. Because they're not able to be there to minister, they take part in the ministry by giving, by blessing them financially. We've been given the ministry of reconciliation so our lives should center around this. The whole point and purpose of why we're here is what we've been talking about is to reach people with the good news that Jesus loves them. And we do that with our lives, we do that with our time, we do that with our energy, but we also do that with our finances. That's why Paul says you shouldn't be yoked together with unbelievers because it's going to distract you, take you away from the ministry that God has called you to. And you're going to have problems if you're trying to do God's ministry and work on your own things and have your own selfish desires and be tied to other things. You need to be tied and yoked to Jesus Christ and give. It's all together. Paul is talking about the same thing One of the ways that I'm called to minister is by giving. To give in order to participate in the ministry. Now, not only this. So we have this great ministry and that's one of the ways we participate. And it's a grace. It's God's favor and kindness that we don't deserve that gives us this opportunity. But not only that. There are blessings in store for those who participate, who are obedient in participating in the ministry in this way. Great blessings that God has in store because He rewards those who give. We get credit as we give for the work that takes place in the ministry that happens. Pastor Chuck tells the story of a woman who desired greatly to go to China. And that was her heart's desire. She wanted to be a missionary. And so what she did was she went to medical school. She became a nurse so that she could go over there and minister to the needs of the people there in China. Well, she went to a missionary board, a missions organization, and she applied and she said, I want to go to China and I want you guys to support me. And they turned around took her and they asked her the questions and did the medical examinations and everything that were required and they found out, you've got a weak heart. You can't go. It's too dangerous for you to go. And so here's this lady. She's prepared her whole life to go. And so what does she do? Well, there's another young girl that is able to go but cannot afford it. And so this lady, she puts her medical training to use and goes to work. And she says, look, I'll give you half of what I make. And I'll just live a simple life in an apartment, but you go in my place because I'm not able to go. And so she supports this young lady to be able to go. And the Lord blesses her. And the Lord begins to give her promotions and give her things. And by the end of her life, she's supporting, I forget the exact number, but it was somewhere in the realm of a dozen or so people in China. Just one right. She's supporting them. Well, guess what? In God's economy, the way God sees things, yes, she wasn't able to go, but all of the ministry that took place as a result of her giving and her supporting them, she gets credit. That's part of her ministry. She was involved in that. And so the rewards that are in store for her are going to be great because she sacrificed her life to give to others that others might be blessed. It's the principle we learned from David in 1 Samuel chapter 30. You might remember the story where David and his men, they were out with the Philistine army and they come back to their town, to their city and they find out it's been raided. A band of raiders came through. They took all their wives, all their children and all their things and took off. And so David and his men, they chase after them. They come to a river that's pretty hefty that some of them are not able to cross because they're winded, they're tired from the long journey. And so 200 of them stay back and the other 200... continue on, overtake the guys, restore everything, get everything back and they come back to the rest of the guys that had to wait for them. And as they come back, there was a little scuffle between some of the guys as the guys who went to fight came back and said, hey, all you get is your wives and children, we get everything else. Sorry, you're lost, you didn't come with us. But David rebukes him and says, no, no, that's not right. In verse 24 of 1 Samuel 30, he says, As his part is who goes down to battle, so shall his part be who stays by the supplies. They shall share alike. Those who go and those who provide for those who go, they shall share alike, David says. Those who are the support, those who stay back with the supplies, those who go, They get the same. The same share. Because they were a part of that ministry. That's why Paul thanked the Philippians for their gift in Philippians chapter 4. In verse 17 he says, not that I seek the gift, not that I'm asking for more money or anything, he says, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. Listen, God has great blessings in store for those who will sacrificially, generously, willingly and eagerly give to what He is doing. He has great things in store. There's an opportunity for every one of us. They were in deep poverty, but they were still able to give. There's no seats for any of us. We need to give to God and His blessings are promised to us as we put our heart in alignment with His and give. Give that people might be blessed. Amazing. the economy of God. Not looking to this life, but looking to the next. The rewards that God has in store. Listen, I want to be a part, I don't know about you, but I want to be a part of the ministry that takes place in Okinawa. I want to be a part of the ministry that takes place in Virginia. I want to be a part of the ministry that takes place here. And so I need to give. I need to give. It's part of my call. It's part of the way I'm involved in the ministry of reconciliation. It's what God has asked me to do. Let's go on to verse 5. He says, These guys are amazing. They had their priorities straight. They gave themselves to God and the result was they're giving by the will of God to those in need. I want to read this portion of Scripture to you, verses 3-5 in the New Living Translation because it makes it so clear. And you can see for yourselves and hear for yourselves, this isn't just my interpretation. This isn't just the way that I'm wording it. This is what God's Word has to say. Listen to how clear this is. 2 Corinthians 8, verse 3 in the New Living Translation. Verse 1. It's amazing. The Macedonian examples for us. They gave generously. They gave sacrificially. They gave generously. They gave willingly and eagerly, again and again asking, we want to be a part of what God is doing. Why? How were they able to do that? Well, Paul tells us in verse 5, they went beyond our highest hope. Why? They gave themselves completely to God and were willing to do whatever direction He gave. And so if it was giving, it was give. If it was going, they went. Whatever it was, whatever you want to do with us, God, that's what we want to do because we've given ourselves completely to you first and foremost. You're most important. And so whatever you want, that's what we'll do. Verse 6, so we urge Titus that as he had begun, so he would complete this grace in you as well. Now Titus is the one who originally started it, but Titus is also going back to the city of Corinth. He's taking 2 Corinthians, the letter that Paul is writing and that we're studying. He's taking it back to give them the letter, but also to finish or complete the grace that they had begun. Notice Paul continues to talk about it as grace. It's grace. It's undeserved favor and kindness, this gift and this opportunity that you and I have. Verse 7, But as you abound in everything, in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us, see that you abound in this grace also. Corinth, we know, is known for the use of spiritual gifts. In fact, a big part of 1 Corinthians, which we studied a while back, chapters 12-14 deal with this subject and deal with this area of spiritual gifts. They were constantly being involved with spiritual things and speaking in tongues and exercising the gifts and all of that. And Paul says, that's good. You abound in everything, in faith and speech and knowledge and all diligence and your love for us. But he says, see that you abound in this grace as well. What grace? The grace of giving. The opportunity that God has given you to give. He desires to use you. And you're allowing him to use you in all these other areas. But allow him to use you in this area too, is what Paul is saying. There is no excuse for us. We can't give our time and not our finances. It doesn't work that way. It's not an even trade. Well, let's see. If I have to give my time or my money, I'll give my time because my money I like to hold on to. Or vice versa. Paul says both are necessary. Both are vital. I exercise the gift of teaching. I also need to exercise the gift of giving. Both are by God's grace and both are my calling. Both are something that I need to take part in. It's a grace, an undeserved favor and kindness, a privilege and honor that I do not deserve, but God has given me opportunity, so I will partake of it. I'll take part, I'll participate in the ministry that God has called me to. Physically serving, spending time, spending energy, but financially giving to the areas and things that He's put upon my heart. I need to be obedient to Him. Verse 8, I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. It's true. We're not under the law, but we're under grace. Paul is not giving a commandment. He's not saying, this is the law. The whole point of what he's saying is, there shouldn't have to be a commandment that's given. There shouldn't have to be one. Because giving is the result of love. And he says, I'm not giving you the commandment, but I'm testing your love. If it's sincere or not, if you really have given your heart to God, if really His love is at work in your life. I speak not by commandment, he says. Giving is the result of love. You understand that. Think about the relationships that you have in your life. Those who you're generous and give sacrificially to, those who you're willing and eager to give to, those are the ones that you love. So Paul says, I'm testing the sincerity of your love. Love for God and wanting to please Him. Love for brothers and sisters, believers, and wanting them to be taken care of. Love for the lost and wanting to reach them. We need to be givers out of the love that God has given for them in our hearts. So the question to you and I this morning is, how is your giving? How is your love? It's being tested, you know. The sincerity of it. The reality of it. How's your love? We are to be giving people, excited about the work of God and the opportunity He gives us to take part. And so the principles we learn are that we need to give generously. We need to give sacrificially. We need to give willingly and eagerly. Now these things should hit very close to home for each and every one of us because we need to give generously. in these ways, in these areas. Now, more on a personal note for us. Wednesday evenings, we receive a missionary offering. Why? Well, because... God has done great works in us. All the things that he talks about the Corinthians abounding in, look at it. He says, you abound in everything, in faith and speech and knowledge and all diligence. Our body abounds in faith. Look at those who are leaving tomorrow. Steps of faith that are being taken. Those whom God has sent out. People stepping out in faith. We abound in the gift of faith in this body. God is doing a great work. We abound in speech. Man, God is blessing. I don't know if you've been a part of Sunday evenings, but I encourage you to be a part because that's where new leaders and new teachers, new people are being trained up to teach and to share. And God is gifting this body and always has many who are able to teach and share the Word of God. We abound in this gift. We abound in this grace that God gives to us. In knowledge. Man, we could go on and on in all diligence and all that. We understand. This body, we're blessed. We abound in these gifts. But we also need to abound in this grace also. And on Wednesday nights, we receive a missionary offering because those who have stepped out in faith and those who have gone out, we support them, we provide for them as best we can because we want to be a part of the ministry that's going on. We want to take part and receive the blessings and rewards for what God is doing there in those different areas. Think about the Reese family in Okinawa for a moment. Tom shared with us some big vision. Big changes that need to take place in his life while he was here. And he's moving forward and God has already shown him and given to him a place that he is able to begin to rent. To open the snack shop and do it like a Java house. A youth center. and Lord willing, be able to start a church there. He's already moving forward. Now listen, I want to be a part of that. I want to be a part of what God is doing over there. And maybe I can't go, but I can give. And I can take part in that way. And I can fellowship in the ministering of the saints. The same thing with the Hallman family. They're leaving. And just like the other missionary families that go out, we want to support them. We want to bless them. We want to make a commitment to them to support them. $200 a month. It's not a lot, but it's what we commit to those who go out, those who step out and feed. And I want to be a part of the ministry that happens in Virginia. And I want to be excited about the things that God is doing over there and receive the blessings for the people that get saved. And I want to be a part in the rewards that God is going to give for what is going on over there. And we have Rosie in Israel and Dylan and Annabelle in Watsonville and people that God has sent out all over the place. God is doing a great work and He's given us the awesome privilege of reaching the world. We might not be able to go ourselves personally to every location or to any of the locations, but we can give to all of the above. We can take part in the ministry in that way by giving generously, sacrificially, willingly, and eagerly. One last thing I'd like to share with you. Jesus said, where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Where's your heart this morning? Is your heart for the things of God? Is your heart for the ministry of reconciliation? Is your heart for Virginia or Okinawa or Idaho or for somewhere? Where's your heart? Is your heart here? Because Jesus says there's a correlation. Wherever your heart is, that's where your treasure is. Wherever your treasure is, that's where your heart is. They go hand in hand. And you might find yourself in a position this morning where you say, you know, I don't feel like my heart's in the right place. I struggle just to come to church. I struggle just to be here on a consistent basis or on time. I struggle. My heart, like it's torn. It's desiring these other things. My heart's trying to stray away and constantly wandering. And Jesus gave us a great help. He says, listen, you want your heart to be right and in the right place? You want your heart to be where I've told you it needs to be? Give your treasures there. Give your treasures there. Listen, if you're struggling being here, you need to give. You need to understand that God's given you a great opportunity to take part in the ministry here and you need to give. Think about it this way. If you make an investment, let's just say the stock market, I'll just leave it out there in general, right? You want to make an investment. You put some money in the stock market. Guess what? I have no interest whatsoever in the stock market. It doesn't matter. It goes up, it goes down. It doesn't matter to me. Why? I don't have anything invested. I don't have any money in the stock market so whatever happens, it doesn't affect me whatsoever. I just, whatever. It doesn't matter. But as soon as I begin to give in that area, guess what? My interest goes up. Now, that might be monetary interest and that also makes my interest, my curiosity, my passion, my emotions, whatever. You know what I'm talking about. That goes up. And so, as I give, then I become more interested. I go, whoa, things are happening. God's doing a work. The same thing is true here. If you want your heart to be here, then give. Because where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. And if you give your treasures to God in this place, then your heart will be here. Now, God might also be putting on your heart other areas, other ways that He wants to use you, such as Okinawa or Virginia or Idaho or somewhere else. How do you get your heart to the right place? Very simple. You give. Because He's given us the key. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Give to God's work and find out for yourself that your interest will increase. Your interest will increase. You'll become more involved in the things of God, more excited about the things of God, more excited about what's happening over there or here because you've been giving. You've put your heart there by putting your treasure there. And now you're interested. Not only that, you receive the interest that you get towards the work of God, but you receive the interest in the form of rewards that God has in store for you because you're obedient and gave. What kind of God is this? He gives us the opportunity that we don't deserve to give and then he blesses us for being obedient to doing what he asks us to do. Amazing, the God that we serve. And the whole point of all of this is for us not to be consumed with ourselves. As I often share, Christianity is not a self-help program, it's an outreach program. And so it's not to be consumed with ourselves, but it's to be consumed with others. And so I'm willing to give my time, to give my energy, as well as my money. Generously, sacrificially, willingly, and eagerly. Because that's what God has asked me to do. And my life is His, and my heart is His. And He's told me to put my heart here, and I do that by putting my treasure there. And He's told me to be involved in the work over there, and I want to experience the blessings that result from what God is doing there. And so I give of my treasures. I give generously. what God puts upon my heart. It's not about being forced. God's not going broke. You know, Pastor Dylan would always say, receiving the offering and the tithe, it's not God's way of raising cash, but it's God's way of raising kids. We need to know that our hearts are wicked and that our hearts are bound to this place. And if our hearts are truly given over to God, we don't have any problem giving to Him because He's already done the work in our heart and we're His and it doesn't belong to us. But we experience the problem because our hearts... Long for the things of this place and long for our selfish desires. And we need to take God's word as that, that it's the word of God to us and be obedient and to give of our treasures to God and watch our interests for his work increase and the blessings be poured out upon us because we're being obedient to give our lives sacrificially to him, for him and for his work. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you for this morning, God, and your word, which is hard and heavy sometimes, God, which cuts deep. Lord, you're desiring to take our hearts and to make us like Jesus Christ, who sacrificially gave himself for us. And so, Lord, we ask that you would help us, Lord, in the areas that we're holding on to, in the areas that we're struggling in, God, that we would learn to be people who give. generously and sacrificially, willingly and eagerly. God, we want to be a part of the ministry that you're doing. God, we want to take part in the lives that are being saved and all of the areas that you're putting upon our hearts, God. We want to be involved in that. So Lord, help us to give to you. Help us to be faithful and obedient to the things and the areas that you're putting upon our heart. God, I ask that you would be glorified in our lives and that also includes our finances. Lord, that we would rearrange our hearts. Understanding that you've given to us the ministry of reconciliation. The whole purpose that we are here is to reach others with your love. And so it's not about building our kingdom here, God. Lord, but that's what we often desire to do. Forgive us, God. Help us to build your kingdom by investing in the things that you're doing and your work. The things that you put upon our hearts. Teach us to give, God. We love you. And it's in your precious name we pray. Amen.