“Generosity Is Good
For You”
2 Corinthians 9:6-15
January 25, 2009 –
©Rev. Dr. Linnea E. Carnes
Introduction
In 1987 the
movie Wallstreet was released. In the
movie, Gordon Gekko is a business tycoon who is determined to be a success at
any price. During his takeover bid at a paper company’s stockholder meeting, he
lays out his perspective. “The point, ladies and gentlemen, is that greed, for
lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right. Greed works.” [PreachingToday.com, “Wallstreet”: Greed Is Good].
Not much has
changed in 20 years. Greed is still a controlling principal in the world of
Wall Street and the hearts of many people. People want more, regardless of how
much they already have.
However,
greed is not a Christian value. Jesus warns us that greed can separate us from
God. The rich young man in Luke 18
“went away sad because he was very
wealthy.” [Lk. 18:23]. His money was more important than seeking eternal life. He
missed the blessing of knowing Jesus, who offers eternal life.
So, while
even Christians don’t really want to hear sermons on giving money, we need to
hear what God thinks about giving. We need to understand why being generous
givers is good for us.
The Need for Giving
Let’s look
at 2 Corinthians 9 to see what
Paul has to teach us about giving. In 2 Corinthians
8, Paul reminded the Corinthian Christians of the promise
they made over a year before to collect money for the Jerusalem churches. These Christians were
experiencing a famine. People were struggling to survive because of the lack of
food and money.
It may have
been because of poor harvests or because of persecution, or a combination of
things. But it meant they were in great need.
The
Macedonian churches had given generously, even though they too were
experiencing “extreme poverty.” [2Cor.8:2]. Paul wanted
those in Corinth to know that he had been
boasting about their willingness to give an offering to the believers in Jerusalem. He wanted them
to be ready so neither he nor the Corinthians would be embarrassed.
The Problem of Giving
Knowing
human nature, Paul knew that sometimes we get excited about a project, but then
our excitement wanes and we are no longer so willing to follow through with
what we promised.
When it
comes to giving money that is even truer. People make a pledge, a commitment,
to give a certain amount to the church, but then they find that there are other
places they would rather put their money. Their priorities change.
So they
decide to give less than they’d promised. After all, who would know? Paul understood.
So he
wrote, “A farmer who plants only a few
seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a
generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give.” [2Cor. 9:6,7a].
If you
don’t give much effort to studying for a test, or on a project for work, the
results will not be as good as they could be. We have to decide how much we
will give, since what we give affects what we get.
So they
gave in and gave what they promised. Paul could be very persuasive. But they
weren’t really happy about it. Again Paul read their minds. He said, “And don’t give reluctantly or in response
to pressure. For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” [v.7].
A Presbyterian missionary in Ghana said that the church was
established over 100 years ago by Scottish Presbyterians, and their worship
service reflected that. Recently they had allowed the African traditional
experience into the worship service at the offering. While the music plays, the
people dance as they bring their offering to the front. The offering can go on
for a long time because of the dancing. It’s the only time in the service when
they smile. Isn’t that great? They smile when they’re giving their money.” [PreachingToday.com, “The Happiest Part of the Church Service”].
Do we smile when we give money? Giving cheerfully is good
for us.
Paul also knew that many of these Corinthian believers
didn’t really trust God to provide for them. So he said, “God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have
everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.” [v. 8].
Verse 10 says that God not only provides the seed to plant,
but also the harvest for bread. So God “will
provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity
in you.”
The passage
from 1 Chronicles 29:10-17 comes
after King David has taken up an offering for the building of the temple. David
rejoiced in their generosity, and said, “But
who am I and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as
this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from
your hand. We are foreigners and strangers in your sight, as were all our
ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. Lord our God, all
this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy
Name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you.” [vs.14-16].
Their
generosity came from their conviction that all they had came from God, so they
could freely give back to God. God had provided for their needs and even beyond
their needs. So they gave generously.
Knowing
that all we have comes from God makes us willing to give back to God. We know
that God is more than able to provide what we need. The question is, do we
trust God enough to give generously? Paul says:
·
Give
generously so that you can receive generously.
·
Give
cheerfully since God loves to see us dance and smile when we give.
·
Give,
believing that God is able to provide all that you need and even more.
The Rewards of Giving
Then you
will be enriched, blessed, in every way, because generosity is good for you.
Yet, if we
make the mistake of giving because of what we can get from giving, we have
missed the point of this passage.
Giving isn’t
about us! Giving is about others. Paul wrote in verse 12: “So two good things will result from this ministry of giving – the
needs of the believers in Jerusalem
will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God.”
First,
giving to meet the needs of others is a very important ministry. Giving to the
work of God through the church allows the church to help meet the needs of
others.
Part of
Immanuel’s budget is given away for missions and other ministries. My hope is
that we will continue to increase the amount we give away each year. Giving
blesses others.
Paul says
that the 2nd thing that happens when we give is that others have a
reason to thank God. Doesn’t it make you smile to know that your giving makes
others praise God? “As a result of your
ministry (of giving), they will give glory to God.” [v.13a].
Even more
importantly, when we give money to others, we reflect the image of Jesus.
Giving money generously to others isn’t wise or practical or good business in
the eyes of the world. But those who know the giver, Jesus Christ, give
generously. So when we give, others see Jesus in us. They see our faith in God.
They see our joy in being able to give. They see our love for God and others.
Because
they see Jesus in us, they too may put their trust in Jesus. They may become
believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.
And they
will pray for us because of what we have done for them. They will pray God’s
blessings on us.
Giving is
good because of what it does for those who receive the gifts. Giving generously
is good for us.
I want to
tell you a story to help you get the whole picture of this passage.
The pastor
of a church gave a challenge to his people. He would give some of them $100 to
use to do something good to help someone. Then they would come back and report
on how they had used the money. One of those who came forward to accept the
challenge was Jackson, a ten-year-old boy. Jackson’s father wasn’t sure about his son’s
decision to do this, but because the boy was so determined, his father gave in.
Jackson’s plan
was to help a homeless family. He discussed the plan with his father for
several months before beginning.
Jackson used the money for a letter writing
campaign seeking donations for building a house through Habitat for Humanity.
It would cost $50,000 to build a house. He wrote a letter in his own
handwriting on notebook paper. He sent out 200 letters, mostly to friends and
family. Not only did many of those people respond, but one woman was so touched
by his letter that she passed it on to several of her friends.
Soon,
people from Tennessee, Virginia,
and Idaho
were sending in checks. The 170 people who responded contributed $43,000. When
the people at Jackson’s
church learned that he was just $7,000 short of his goal, they gave him the
rest. The woman who received this house was amazed that the one who made it all
possible was just 10 years old. [PreachingToday.com,
“Ten-year-old Raises Money for House”].
A
ten-year-old boy sowed generously, so he also reaped generously. He gave
cheerfully and willingly. He trusted God to supply the rest. As a result, not
only did a family get a home, the people in his church saw Jackson’s faith and gave generously. His
faith changed them.
·
Jackson made it possible for a homeless family
to have a home.
·
He
made it possible for people to thank God for the gift.
·
He
made it possible for people to see Jesus at work in him.
·
He
made it possible for others to share in the joy of giving to others.
Thanking the Giver
Because
Jesus was working in Jackson, Jackson could do great things for God.
“Thanks be to God for his
indescribable gift!”
[v.15].
Generosity
that seeks to serve oneself isn’t of God, but generosity that seeks to bless
God and others is from God.
God has given
us everything we have – it’s all from him. But if we haven’t received the gift
of Jesus, we will miss God’s indescribably gift – his gift too wonderful for
words!
Jesus gave
it all for us, so that we could give generously to others.
·
He
gave up his glory to come in human form, be born in a stable, live in a humble
home, and learn the trade of carpentry.
·
He
gave up his power and authority, humbled himself, even to the point of being
nailed to a cross.
·
He
gave up his life so that we could know life.
“Thanks be to God for his
indescribable gift!”
[v.15].
·
Thanks
be to God for giving us the privilege of being his children.
·
Thanks
be to God for giving us the privilege of reflecting the generosity of Jesus.
·
Thanks
be to God for giving us the privilege of being a blessing to others and being
blessed by others.
Generosity,
my friends, is good for us.
Thanks be to God for his
indescribable gift! Amen.
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This sermon is copyright ©2009 by Rev. Dr. Linnea E. Carnes,
Immanuel Evangelical
Covenant Church,
Chicago, Illinois.