The Discipline of Giving -- 2 Corinthians 8:1-9; 9:6-8

The Discipline of Giving

Focal Text: 2 Corinthians 8:1-9; 9:6-8

I.      The Macedonian Churches, 8:1

A.    Their Founding by Paul

“And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.”

1.     Paul planted the first churches in Macedonia during his Second Missionary Journey after he had a vision of a Macedonian man pleading for help.

Act 16:9-10 “During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."  ¹⁰After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.”

2.     The primary cities that Paul visited during this time were Philippi, Thessalonica and Berea.

3.     The Macedonian Christians are highly commended by Paul throughout his epistles:

a)    The Bereans for their readiness in receiving the word, and with all diligence in testing the preached word by the written word (Acts 17:11).

“Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”

b)    The Thessalonians for their "work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus," so that they were "examples" to all others (1 Thes 1:3, 7).

“We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ… ⁷And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.”

c)     The Philippians for their liberal contributions to Paul's sustenance (Phil 4:10; Phil 4:14-19; 2 Cor 9:2; 11:9).

Phil 4:10-19 “I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it…¹⁴Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. ¹⁵Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; ¹⁶for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need. ¹⁷Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. ¹⁸I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. ¹⁹And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

2 Cor 9:2; 11:9 “For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action.”

2 Cor 11:9 “And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.”

B.    The Prominence of Women In Macedonia

1.     A striking fact among the churches in Macedonia is the prominence of women, which was probably due to the higher social position held by women in this province than in Asia Minor.

2.     We find only two references to women in connection with Paul's previous missionary work, but in Macedonia, all is changed.

3.     To women the gospel was first preached at Philippi (Acts 16:13).

“On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there.”

4.     Lydia was the first convert and the hostess of the evangelists (Act 16:14-15).

“One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message. ¹⁵When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. "If you consider me a believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us.”

5.     A slave girl was restored to soundness of mind by the apostle (Acts 16:18).

“She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!" At that moment the spirit left her.”

6.     Moreover, long afterward Paul mentions two women as having “labored with (him) in the gospel” and as endangering the peace of the church by their rivalry (Phil 4:2-3).

“I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. ³Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.”

7.     At Thessalonica a considerable number of women of the first rank appear among the earliest converts (Acts 17:4), while at Berea also the church included from the outset numerous Greek women of high position (Acts 17:12).

“⁴Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women…¹²Many of the Jews believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.”

C.    Characteristics of the Churches

1.     Paul praises them for their liberality and open-heartedness,

2.     Their joyousness and patience in trial and persecution,

3.     Their activity in spreading the Christian faith.

4.     In addition, their love of the brethren.

5.     The Macedonian churches also seem to have been much freer than the churches of Asia Minor from Judaizing tendencies and from the allurements of deceitful philosophy.

II.  Background

A.    The Jerusalem Church's Mistake

1.     On the Day of Pentecost when Peter preached his first message to the people of Jerusalem the results were short of amazing, 3,000 people were saved.

Act 2:41-45 “So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. ⁴²And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. ⁴³And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. ⁴⁴And all who believed were together and had all things in common. ⁴⁵And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.”

2.     However, they did something that was neither suggested nor commanded by the Apostles, they seem to have done it on their own accord because of their newfound faith and the zeal, which they now had. Everyone of them sold everything that they had and pooled all their resources and distributed the proceeds to any who had any need.

3.     It's important to note that the verbs in verse 45 are in the imperfect tense meaning "they used to sell", "they used to divide", indicating that by Luke's day this custom had stopped.

4.     This is a practice that is only mentioned here and is not repeated by other Christian churches and thus is not a standard for Christian's today.

5.     However, this single act was one of the main reasons why the church in Jerusalem had problems of poverty.

B.    The Famine in Jerusalem around 44-45 AD

1.     The second source of continued poverty among the Jerusalem church was the devastating two-year famine that swept Palestine.

2.     Josephus, a Jewish historian who lived during this time had this to say about it:

"NOW on this very year, which was the thirteenth year of the reign of Herod, very great calamities came upon the country; whether they were derived from the anger of God, or whether this misery returns again naturally in certain periods oftime (14) for, in the first place, there were perpetual droughts, and for that reason the ground was barren, and did not bring forth the same quantity of fruits that it used to produce; and after this barrenness of the soil, that change of food which the want of com occasioned produced distempers in the bodies of men, and a pestilential disease prevailed, one misery following upon the back of another; and these circumstances, that they were destitute both of methods of cure and of food, made the pestilential distemper, which began after a violent manner, the more lasting. The destruction of men also after such a manner deprived those that surived of all their courage, because they had no way to provide remedies sufficient for the distresses they were in. When therefore the fruits of that year were spoiled, and whatsoever they had laid up beforehand was spent, there was no foundation of hope for relief remaining, but the misery, contrary to what they expected still increased upon them; and this not only on that year, while they had nothing for themselves left [at the end of it], but what seed they had sown perished also, by reason of the ground not yielding its fruits on the second year."

3.     It is because of this famine and the general poverty of the Jerusalem Church that Paul and the other Apostles started taking a collection from all the churches. This event is recorded in Acts 11:27-30:

"And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius). ²⁹So the disciples determined, evelyone according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. ³⁰And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul."

4.     Paul makes mention of this contribution also in the book of Romans, which at this point in his ministry he had yet to go there.

Rom 15:25-27 "At present, however, 1 am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints. ²⁶For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. ²⁷They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings."

III.          Arguments to Appeal to them to Give Worthily

A.    He cites the example of others, 2 Cor. 8: 1-4

“And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. ²Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. ³For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, ⁴they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.”

1.     Paul tells them of the generosity of the Macedonian Churches. Corinth was in the region of Achaia. They were poor and in trouble but they gave all they had, far more than Paul had expected.

2.     Public speakers used a standard rhetorical technique called "comparison”, which often served to stimulate moral competition. Many speakers, including Paul, were willing to appeal to ancient city and other geographical rivalries to spur their hearers on to greater zeal. Macedonia and Corinth were such rivals.

3.     At the Jewish Feast of Purim there is a regulation which says that, however poor a man is, he must find someone poorer than himself and give him a gift.

B.    He cites the example of Jesus Christ, 2 Cor 8:9

1.     Paul says of Jesus: "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich."

2.     In Philippians it says of Jesus:

Phi 2:5-8 "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ⁶who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. ⁸And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."

3.     For Paul the sacrifice of Jesus did not begin on the cross, nor at his birth, but it begin in heaven, when he laid his glory aside and consented to come to earth.

4.     Jesus said of himself in Mat. 8:20: "And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."

C.    He cites their own past record, 2 Cor 8:10-12

“And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. ¹¹Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. ¹²For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.”

1.     Paul points out they were one of the first to volunteer to give money for the church at Jerusalem, but for some unknown reason a year had passed and they had not completed given the money.

2.     Paul encourages them to finish the work that they were so desirous to do.

3.     In verse, 12 Paul says if the willingness is there then the gift will be acceptable. It doesn't matter how much one gives, it's the willingness of the heart to give that matters most.

D.    He reminds them that life has a strange way of evening things up, 2 Cor 8:13-15

“Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, 15 as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little."

1.     Undoubtedly, the church at Corinth was richer than other churches so he reminded them that their plenty that they gave now would supply the need that the Jerusalem Church had.

2.     In addition, at some later date should the tides change and the Corinthian Church need help then other churches would come to their aid.

IV.     The Principles of Generosity, 2 Cor. 9:6-8

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

A.    Background to Almsgiving

1.     Definition

a)    The collection for the church at Jerusalem has as it's background in the Jewish practice of almsgiving.

b)    The word translated as "almsgiving" literally means "pity, compassion, or acts of mercy” with special reference to "benevolent giving".

2.     Almsgiving in the Old Testament

a)    Although almsgiving is not explicitly mentioned, the duty of compassionate aid to the poor is strongly emphasized in all parts of the Old Testament.

b)    The Mosaic Law required the people to take care and provide for the poor:

i)       The Israelites when they were to harvest their crops each year were not to harvest the comers, but to leave those for the poor of the land to gather.

Lev 19:9 "And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the comer of your field. And you shall not gather the gleaning of your harvest."

ii)      Nor, each year were the Israelites to glean the vineyards but were to leave some for the poor.

Lev 19:10 "And you shall not glean your vineyard. And you shall not gather the leavings of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and the stranger. I am Jehovah your God."

iii)    Every third year the tithe of the produce was to be for the needy and the poor of the land.

iv)   Every seventh year the fields were to lay fallow and the poor could eat off of what sprang up. They were to be lent money without interest.

v)    Proverbs says you curse God when you oppress the poor:

Pro 14:31 "He who presses the poor curses his Maker, but he who honors Him has mercy upon the poor."

Pro 28:27 "He who gives to the poor shall not lack, but he who hides his eyes shall have many a curse.”

3.     Almsgiving During the Inter-Testamental Period

a)    Following the exile, greater emphasis began to be placed on the value of almsgiving. Especially since the neglect of the poor was one of the reasons Jerusalem was destroyed in 587 BC.

b)    Almsgiving began to become a sign of one's piousness.

c)     Gradually, almsgiving lost the motive of inner compassion and was regarded as a meritorious act with sacrificial and atoning values.

Ecclesiasticus 3:30 "Water extinguishes a blazing fire, so almsgiving atones for sin."

Tobit 12:9 "For almsgiving delivers from death, and it will purge away every sin. Those who perform deeds of charity and of righteousness win have fullness of life."

d)    This view of almsgiving was the one that prevailed during the time of Jesus.

4.     New Testament Teaching on Almsgiving

a)    In Mt. 6:2-4, Jesus criticized the way the Pharisees and Sadducees practiced almsgiving, of whom he identifies as hypocrites.

Mat 6:2-4 "Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. ³But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."

b)    The Greek word translated "hypocrite" is a word that comes from the Greek theater. It described the play-acting of the actors and to the fact that they wore a mask for each different person; they may be playing in the play. Therefore, a hypocrite is someone pretending to be someone he is not.

c)     In this passage, Jesus required purity of motive, indifference to and even avoidance of public praise and self-forgetfulness.

d)    Jesus prized not the costliness of the gift but the love and self-denial. which prompted it.

e)    The word that is translated, as "give to the needy" in this translation is the Greek word "almsgiving".

f)      This passage in Matthew also assumes that His followers will practice almsgiving.

g)    The Jews had in the temple two chests for alms; one was for what was necessary, i.e. what the law required; the other was of the free-will offerings.

i)       To escape perdition some would grudgingly give what necessity obliged them; others would give cheerfully, for the love of God, and through pity to the poor.

ii)      Of the first, nothing is said; they simply did what the law required.

iii)    Of the second, much is said; God loves them.

iv)   To these two sorts of alms in the temple, the apostle most evidently alludes to in 2 Cor. 9:7:

"Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart; not grudgingly, or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver."

B.    Giving is Like Sowing Seed, vs. 6  

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”

1.     Paul insists that no man was ever the loser because he was generous.

2.     Giving is like sowing seed. The man who sows with a sparing hand cannot hope for anything but a meager harvest, but the man who sows with a generous hand will in due time reap a generous return.

3.     Jesus said in Luke 6:38, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

4.     Malachi said to the people of his time that were with holding their tithe, “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” (Mal 3:10)

5.     However, the rewards that the New Testament envisages are usually never material. It promises not the wealth of things, but the wealth of the heart and of the spirit.

C.    Give Cheerfully, vs. 7  

 "Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart; not grudgingly, or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver."

1.     Paul insists, that it is the happy giver whom God loves.

2.     Deut 15:7-11 lays down the duty of generosity to the poor.

“If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother.  ⁸Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs.  ⁹Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: "The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near," so that you do not show ill will toward your needy brother and give him nothing. He may then appeal to the LORD against you, and you will be found guilty of sin.  ¹⁰Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.  ¹¹There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.”

3.     There was a rabbinic saying, which said, “That to receive a friend with a cheerful countenance and to give him nothing is better than to give him everything with a gloomy countenance”.

4.     Seneca said, “That to give with doubt and delay is almost worse than not to give at all”.

Paull giving tithe Corinthians almsgiving Jesus Christ