Grace Baptist Church, Nokomis, IL.

Text:

“Now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the ministry for the saints, for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them. But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be. Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated–to say nothing of you–for being so confident. So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction. The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission flowing from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:1-15)

I think I’ve only preached one message on giving in the year and a half that I’ve been here (Mal. 3:10). Contrast this with Jesus, who preached more on money than Heaven and Hell combined. It’s not that I’ve been avoiding the subject. But like Paul, I just haven’t felt the need (v. 1). I don’t know what anybody gives specifically, but I can do a little simple math. According to a recent Barna survey, only about 24% of Evangelical Christians tithe. So with so much generosity in our church, why should I preach on tithing at all?

First of all, Jesus taught on giving (Matthew 6:19-21). Secondly, it’s easy to compromise in this area. Thirdly, there are many misconceptions about how and what we are to give.

In the Old Testament, believers were required to tithe. They were to give 10% (Lev. 27:30). But in actuality, the Israelites gave far more than 10%. It was probably closer to 30%. But the New Testament never commands us to tithe. Out of all the times Jesus talked about money, the only two times Jesus mentioned the tithe were when he condemned Pharisees for being hypocrites and boastful. I don’t want to imply that the Old Testament doesn’t give us useful instructions on giving. As with all of the Old Testament, it was fulfilled in Christ. But the principles of the Old Testament still show us how to please God (Deut. 16:17). But the New Testament gives us a different kind of instruction on giving altogether.

We’re to be eager, generous, cheerful givers (v. 2, 5, 7). Our rule for giving isn’t a percentage, it’s an attitude of gratitude. Yet we’re not to give flippantly, but intentionally (v. 7). We might give 5%, 10%, 50%, or like the poor widow, 100%. Often Christians want to give a little, just not too much. So how do we gain this attitude of gratitude?

Realize that you can’t out give God (v. 8). The grace mentioned here isn’t grace for salvation. He’s assuming you’ve got that at this point. It’s talking about God’s grace in providing for your needs. Logically, we’d think that those who give the most, both to the church and to others, would always be scraping by. But this isn’t the way it works. This isn’t a get rich scheme. The purpose is so that you would be able to give more (v. 11).

This brings up another reason to trust God in your giving. It causes God to be praised (v. 13-15). Any sacrificial, cheerful giving that we do is a reflection of the gift that God gave us in Christ. We give not to receive any blessing from God. We give because He’s already given us the blessing.