2 Cor 8 :1-3
When I
started working, I tried to develop a habit of sending money to my mother every
time I received my salary. I did this not because my mom was poor or lacking
but because I always felt that I owed her much attention for what she did to
me; Giving birth to me, nourishing me and even my children. She was always
sending food to us till her last week when she died.
I was indebted to her. So I
tried to show my love by providing for her too. Human beings have this tendency
to respond to people based on how much they receive. As Christians, if we need
to consider this then with respect to what God has done for us, we would excel
in our giving. When we give for the
gospel, we are also appreciating what God has done for us. The one who receives
much must show much appreciation.
a)
God
First gave us (John 3:16)
1.
God
first gave us His son as a sacrifice for our sins. Jesus himself sacrificed his
position as the son of God and God in the trinity. He came and died in our
place. Not just dying but dying a shameful death on the cross; so that we can
live for eternity if we believe in Him. This is a great gift and if we consider
the value of this gift then we can evaluate the kind of appreciation we need to
show back to Him.
2.
We
are debtors to God (Ro 1:14). Though debtors we need to give out of love for
God and His ministry (1cor 13:3)
3.
The
Gold and the silver, the sheep and the cattle on the mountains belong to God.
What you have in your pocket, your home and yourself belong to God who created
everything in this universe. Who then are you to withhold that which does not
belong to you from God?
b)
God
gave us eternal life and he wants us to be imitators of him – Excelling in Giving 2Cor 8:1-
i.
The Macedonian church gave sacrificially just like the widows offering in Mark
12:44. She gave out of her poverty and the Holy Spirit and Christ recommended
her. The same is true of the Macedonian church who gave out of their hardship
(2 Cor 8:2)
ii.
Today
must of us do not give for evangelism, to the poor and the needy because of
self centeredness. We lie that things are hard. Even when God blesses, you
still cry. “Things are hard”! I tell you, what you are calling for yourself
will meet you. If you call poverty, you’ll receive poverty. If you call riches,
you’ll receive riches.
iii.
I
know God has already blessed me with riches. It is the grace of God that has
been given to me. It is God’s favor, He is pleased when we give sacrificially.
This grace is what is called favor.
iv.
If
you want God’s favor to be showered upon you, then you must open your hands and
give. A boxer can never receive because the hands are tight.
v.
Paul
collected this offering to help victims in Judea because there was famine
there. But Macedonian also were afflicted because of the difficult economic
situation they had. But they gave for the needs of others, when they also
expected help. Instead of crying they blessed others!
vi.
They
gave with a joyful spirit, even in their
poverty. Not grudgingly! They
were poor churches but did not use their state as an excuse not to give. Many
of us use the excuse of our poverty not to manifest the spirit of giving what
we have.
vii.
The Macedonian church knew the tremendous gift of grace that God has given to them
and the eternal glory that is yet to come. That is why they gave out of their
poverty.
viii.
We
have received God’s gift freely, so we should also give to others freely (Mt 10:8).
ix.
As
a church, we can only receive God’s favor if we give sacrificially to the
misfortune of others.
x.
As
Christians, we can only receive God’s favor if we give sacrificially to the
needy and for God’s ministry.
xi.
Those
people did not only give but they gave generously. The Bible says they “…abounded in the riches of their
liberality”
xii.
They
gave beyond their ability. They refused to allow their poor situation to hinder
them from doing what they had to do in response for God’s generosity to them.
·
I
want to hear some one say “I refuse to
allow my situation hinder me from responding to God’s generosity”
·
Turn
to your neighbor and say that aloud.
·
I will respond to God’s generosity
come what!
xiii.
Many churches gave what they could give. But the Macedonian church gave
more than what was expected of them. They gave more than their target. This is
the period for our harvest thanksgiving here in Mount Zion Baptist Church Boko.
Are you determined to give beyond your
ability?
xiv.
Are you determined to give
sacrificially?
xv.
I
know the church has budgeted for every group; youth, women and men. Have you
made your own personal budget for the thanksgiving?
xvi.
Are
you willing to go beyond your budget?
xvii.
If
you want God’s favor to be poured on you like what happened to the Macedonian
church, then you must give sacrificially.
xviii.
The Macedonian church had learned the spirit of giving that produces inward joy
and spiritual growth.
xix.
This
is the kind of giving that brings glory to God. He gave us eternal life through
the sacrificial giving of his only begotten Son.
xx.
We
can only reflect our God if we also give sacrificially. Our Lord Jesus Christ
recommended the widow with her offering. Are you ready to make your giving this
season seen and recommended by God?
xxi.
God
the Father recommended Abraham who was willing to give sacrificially even to
the point of giving his Son too. This is glorifying to God when we give out of
our poverty.
xxii.
Let
heaven open your doors this season as you get through the harvest thanksgiving.
Shalom!
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