2 Corinthians 8:16-9:5 ‘How to become a joyful giver’

 

Dane Ortland wrote, ‘better to offer too much praise with the possibility of stirring up pride than give too little with the risk of creating discouragement.’

On Monday morning when I started to work on this passage I was blown away by how positive the apostle Paul is.  Paul was no fool—he could see people’s failings as well as anyone else, but he is choosing to dwell on what God is doing in His imperfect people.  The Corinthian church had caused Paul all sorts of trouble, but he is not bitter, and it does not stop him being thankful for them.  He says that he has confidence in them.  He has even been boasting about them to the Macedonian Christians.  He also praises Titus, who will be visiting them, and two unnamed brothers who will be helping Titus in the work.

Paul’s praise surely reflects the heart of God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.  Yes, God knows all our flaws and weaknesses, yet in His grace He delights in the imperfect ways that we seek to serve Him.  He is not like that parent, spouse or teacher who is impossible to please.  He is kind and gracious.  He is forgiving and even delights in us.

The apostle Paul is teaching about giving.  I am going to suggest that godly giving begins with the head—as we preach the gospel to ourselves, moves to the heart—as the gospel stirs our affections, and shows itself through our hands—as our faith demonstrates itself in actions.

We are thinking about how we can give in a way that honors God and gives us joy.

Ask the Lord to stir up holy affections in you (8:16-21)

‘Thanks be to God who put into Titus the same concern I have for you’ (8:16).  In Rooted, last Sunday night, we were thinking about how God changes people.  One of the verses we touched on (one of my favorite verses) reads, ‘God works in you to will and act according to his good purpose’ (Philippians 2:13).  As we preach the gospel to ourselves, the Holy Spirit stirs up holy affections that lead to holy actions.  ‘For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative’ (8:17).

Just a reminder of the background.  Paul had organized a collection for the poor Christians in Jerusalem, who had suffered in a famine.  However, the Corinthians had fallen out with Paul and had stopped their giving.  Now they have repented and Paul has forgiven them.  He is now urging them to show their repentance is real by resuming their giving.

Along with Titus we are sending ‘the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel’ (8:19).  Isn’t it interesting, on one hand we see the willingness of the church to praise those who serve the gospel well, and yet on the other hand the Holy Spirit has chosen that his man’s name is not included in this scripture.  It does not really matter who he is!

This man has been chosen to carry the offering.  We see the wisdom of Paul here.  He is not going to deal with the money.  Sloppy dealings with money have ruined many a ministry.  He entrusting this task to someone else in case people think that he organized the collection for his own benefit.  As Christians we seek not only to do no evil, but also to avoid any appearance of doing evil.  ‘We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift.  For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of people’ (8:20-21).

Let these holy affections prompt you to action (8:22-24)

Now there is mention of another unnamed brother.  ‘In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you’ (8:22).  Paul calls the Corinthians to show these men ‘proof of your love’ (8:24).  Holy affections show themselves in generous actions.  We are to work from the head—where we preach the good news about Jesus to ourselves, to the heart—where the Holy Spirit gives us affections of love, to the hands—where we prove God’s love is at work within us as we share with God’s people in need.

We are not put right with God through anything that we do.  We are saved by grace, and not works, so that no person can boast.  But faith demonstrates its reality in a changed life.  Being swallowed in the love of Christ transforms us.  James, the half-brother of Jesus, writes, ‘what good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds?  Can such faith save them?  Suppose a brother of sister is without clothes and daily food.  If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?  In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by actions, is dead’ (James 2:14-17).

Let holy affections bring joy to our giving (9:1-5)

Paul had used the Macedonian Christians as an example to the Corinthians.  The Macedonians gladly gave out of their poverty.  But he has also told the Macedonians of the Corinthians church’s eagerness to give.  This encouraged them.  Paul wants to ensure that his confidence in them was well placed.

Last week we said that it is not just the act of giving that matters, it is the attitude of giving.  It is not like the TV license add that says, ‘You don’t have to like it.  It’s the law.’  Similarly, the tax collector doesn’t care if you want to pay your taxes or not.  Next week we will see that God loves a generous giver.  Here Paul urges the Corinthians to give generously and not to give their offering, ‘as one grudgingly given’ (9:5).

But how could giving give us joy?  It won’t give us joy by bringing us acclaim, because Jesus has taught us to give in a way that don’t draw attention to ourselves.  It’s won’t give us joy by making us rich—I hate the prosperity gospel that fosters the love of money by promising that if you give you are bound to receive increased wealth.  It will at times feel hard and costly to give.  But we can give knowing that joyful giving pleases our heavenly Father; trusting that he will use our time, money and hospitality to bring help to people he has caused us to love; and knowing that God can use all this to show the world His glory though the beauty of His church.  Giving enlarges our faith.

One of the beautiful things about the giving of the churches in Macedonia and Corinth giving to the poverty struck Christians in Jerusalem was that it demonstrated the reality that God had united former Gentiles and former Jews together in Christ.

Conclusion—head, heart and hand

How do we become joyful givers?  It comes down to head, heart and hands.

Head.  Preach the gospel to yourself.  ‘For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that through his poverty you might become rich’ (8:9).

Heart.  Let the Holy Spirit take this truth and put into our hearts a concern for His people and His honor.

Hands.  Then let us enjoy giving.  Knowing that this pleases God, helps people and shows the beauty of the gospel.