SERMON PREACHED ON JANUARY 2, 2022 AT
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, NEW BUSSA
BY FESTUS OLU ADE ALADE
CHURCH PASTOR
Topic: GROWING IN GIVING
TEXT: II Corinthians 8:1-7
INTRODUCTION
How do you feel when you hear someone speaking about the need to give? Many become defensive as they feel like they are about to be sent on a guilt trip suggesting that they are not giving enough. However, in God’s Word, giving is described as a grace in which we need to grow (2 Corinthians 8:6-7). In 2 Pet.1:5-11 talk about much Christian grace, and it is necessary to want to grow in all Christian graces, including the grace of giving, so we may grow in our relationship with God, not stumble in our walk with Him, as we journey to our Heavenly Home?
I wondered what this sanctuary would look like if all the chairs in the sanctuary were positioned according to the inclinations of each member’s heart. All the chairs in this auditorium were set up to face the front, but I wondered what it would look like if the chairs were positioned in a way that reflected the actual feelings and leanings of each person’s heart. How many chairs would still be facing the front? How many would be facing in another direction? Some will be Facing towards a person, or facing in the direction of the member’s job or workplace, or facing the direction of the house, or the new car, or the bank? -Proverbs 23:7; Matthew 6:21. In other words, whatever is in your heart, that’s the direction your chair will face. So, you can sit in a sanctuary where the chairs are positioned toward the podium, but your heart will be somewhere else because most of the time that’s what you’re living for.
Apostle Paul writes to the church at Corinth about the subject of giving. In his prior letter to the church, Paul had encouraged them to give to help the poor saints who were suffering from famine in Jerusalem (1 Corinthians 16:1-3; cf. Acts 11:27-30). The Corinthians had started towards contributing money to help these needy saints, but, it appears, had become distracted and had not completed this work (2 Corinthians 8:6-8; 9:3-5). Paul had prepared to make sure that the contribution was taken up in a manner that would prevent any accusations among those collecting these funds (2 Corinthians 8:16-23), but the Corinthians needed to act. They needed to give and complete what they had promised to do (2 Corinthians 9:1-5)!
“Therefore, as ye abound in everything, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.” – 2 Cor 8:7 What is this grace that Paul is talking about? Note the context of this verse. (read 2 Cor.8:1-6) Paul is talking about the example of the churches of Macedonia.
In 2 Cor. 8:1-6, Paul deals with many of the excuses that people attempt to use when they do not give.
This grace-giving. Notice the context gives us the importance of our abounding or going beyond the norm. It is given equal importance with faith (trusting in God), utterance (preaching the Word of God), knowledge (studying the Word of God), diligence (working for God), and love (the essence of God in our lives). Abound in this grace also! Or in the same way.
Today we are considering the aspect of growing in the grace of giving. The template we have as a perfect example is the Church of Macedonia. This Church was not financially endowed. It has people who were poor and of low social standing. This translated to meagre earnings and presumable, low giving in the Church……. at least the expectation is that the two should correspond. But it didn’t! This Church outdid itself by giving far above its expectation. What was their secret?
1. They receive the grace of giving from God. The Lord gave them grace to give, and this meant that they were enabled from above to give. Grace is God’s enabling power. It does not take away our choices, meaning we can resist grace.
2. They embraced and aligned themselves to the grace of giving. Not only did they receive the grace of giving, but they also embraced this grace and themselves with the responsibilities therein.
3. They ignored their economic status! – This means they did not allow their poverty to dictate their giving. Many people are hindered and inhibited by their poverty. They look at poverty as a permanent state of lack rather than a temporary state of deficiency. They forget that even in poverty, God still gives us something that we can give to others. Not so the Macedonians, they considered their poverty as an opportunity to give what they had.
4. Their choices led to abundance and generosity. Because they chose to give, God made them abound in all grace and multiplied their gift so that it was overwhelming and generous. In like manner, God can honour our giving to him in such a way that we will walk in abundance and generosity.
5. They pleaded with Paul to receive their gift. They were so willing to give that they could not stand the thought of their gift being rejected. Givers are usually very happy to give and will not take kindly the thought of people rejecting their gift.
6. They gave according to their means, and beyond their means. Giving requires integrity and sacrifice. The Macedonians had both. They gave according to their means, which denotes integrity. They did not hide their ability to give and capacity to give. But they did not stop there they gave beyond their means. This means they gave even what they were not supposed to give. This is sacrificial and requires a lot of commitment.
7. They gave themselves to the Lord first. This means they were committed first to God. Their allegiance on all their giving was to God himself. Giving requires surrender to God. 2 Corinthians 8: 1 – 9
Conclusion
Giving is an important value to build our lives upon. Giving is getting close to the heart of God. The Scripture is filled with examples of great givers, but none so vivid as Jesus Christ. As we seek to grow in our relationship to Him and to develop or build our lives on biblical principles and following biblical values, we need to be reminded of the importance of ‘this grace’.
