Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev20010819.htm

2 CORINTHIANS: OVERCOMING WHEN GOD'S SERVANT FACES RESISTANCE
Part XIII: The REASONS For Church Offerings
(2 Corinthians 8:7-15)
  1. Introduction
    1. Because of the abuses that have occurred in the realm of Church offerings, many believers find it easy to assume the one promoting giving to Church offerings has ulterior motives.
    2. Consequently, there can develop a miserly outlook where one is more focused on how much others are giving in comparison to himself in relation to salary levels, etc., much to the promotion of carnality.
    3. Paul was sensitive to this need, and gave some excellent insight on why God wants believers to give. His insight rescues us from focusing on others when it comes to giving to focusing on the Lord as we should:
  2. The REASONS For Church Offerings, 2 Corinthians 8:7-15.
    1. Reason One - Giving is just part of the total package of the Christian life, a part of the experience of faith, gifts, diligence and love, so it can not be overlooked, 2 Corinthians 8:7.
    2. Reason Two - Giving demonstrates true Christian love, so it is necessary as a function in the believer's experience if he would testify of a true walk with God, 2 Corinthians 8:8; 1 John 3:17-18.
    3. Reason Three - Giving draws out the giving nature of a truly Holy Spirit-filled person, starting him down the path of quality service, 2 Corinthians 8:9-11. Giving is the first step in serving God.
    4. Reason Four - Giving merely imitates the great work of the Cross by our Savior Who gave Himself for us, 2 Corinthians 8:9. It follows that giving should be a basic tendency of the follower of Jesus Christ.
    5. Reason Five - Giving meets the needs of others, 2 Corinthians 8:12-14. It thus eases human need and suffering, something every godly believer who truly exhibits God's love must do, cf. 1 John 3:16-18.
    6. Reason Six - Giving fulfills God's purpose in equipping the giver to give to needy people, 2 Cor. 8:15:
      1. Paul cited Exodus 16:17-18 in 2 Corinthians 8:15 which related to Israel's gathering of manna: those who gathered more than they themselves needed to eat were still needed by others to gather the manna they required to live as they were not able to gather enough for their own food (such as the elderly). In the end, all that was gathered was needed in the nation somewhere so that all could be adequately fed!
      2. Paul's lesson is simple: if we can give, God's program needs our gift somewhere, and giving that amount that may appear to us to be wasteful is not wasteful, but needed by somebody else!
Lesson: Giving is an essential ministry in God's program because it is the most striking means we have to follow the example of Christ Who gave Himself so freely with such a price for our salvation! Thus, giving is necessary for the GIVER, for it reflects how he follows in the steps of His selfless Savior!

Application: (1) We need to diminish our view of PEOPLE and increase our view of GOD in order to appreciate the ministry of GIVING: otherwise, we run the risk of looking at our offerings not as something done unto GOD, but for MAN with a demeaning effect on the VALUE of giving akin to how the world looks at charitable contributions (as a vehicle of personal boasting, etc.). (2) Since Jesus gave Himself so freely and with such cost to produce so much blessing for us, we can dwell on our Lord's gift to US when we GIVE as accurate motivation for giving cheerfully and as unto the Lord! (3) I have observed that when a believer gives of his finances to the Lord, blessings in his life and ministry seem to flow in greater abundance than before! I have also observed that if a believer tends to be miserly, giving only scant offerings of what he could give, his walk with the Lord seems to shrivel up as well because his heart is missing out on the example of God's grace to us that giving expresses so well! Hence, we must give ourselves to God first before we can give of our material supplies well, and if we give well with a pure heart, it generally signals all is right with us and the Lord, cf. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7; 8:5. (4) Giving can be financial, it can also be in the form of acts of service or kindness at great cost to ourselves for the benefit of other people around us: hence, we should not limit our imaginations to giving only in terms of money, but of any resource we have that can truly meet the needs of others.