Text: 2Corinthians 8: 1-9
I was at a pastor’s conference. A veteran pastor described a worship service he had attended. All went well, he said. But something important was missing. I wondered what that could be. What would you guess? After a few moments, he said, the offering. The offering? I was a bit surprised. Why would he say that?
Today we get a sense of what that pastor meant. But before we get started first an admission. A pastor can get a bit nervous when he takes up the subject of what we put in the offering plate. He might be tempted to ignore the subject. But if we believe that all of this is God’s Word and this Word has a lot to say about giving, then this should not be neglected. And if we remember that we are speaking of Christian giving, if we remember that we are Christian pastors speaking to Christian people about God’s work, then we have every reason to think about these truths of God and apply them to our hearts and lives.
Here the Apostle Paul writes to the Christians in Corinth. He turns to the subject of a collection being take up by a large number of congregations. You see, the Christians in Jerusalem were suffering great need from a famine and persecution. Paul had asked the Christians in other areas to share from what they had with their fellow Christians. To encourage the Corinthians, he pointed them to the remarkable example of the Christians in Macedonia. An example inspired by God’s rich grace. That is something we have all experienced. Not just the Christians in Corinth and Macedonia. But you and me:
You Know the Grace of Our Lord
Look at verse one. Paul writes, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. If you and I were writing this letter, we might have said. Look at the outstanding support the Macedonians gave. But no. Instead Paul speaks of the grace that God had given them.
That reminds us of something we should never forget when we talk about Christian giving. We can never give anything unless the Lord first gives something to us. King David understood that. He once prayed. Everything comes from you and we have given you only what comes from your hand. You and I cannot give anything that we did not first receive from the Lord.
But here Paul is speaking about another grace given to the Macedonians. Their heart for giving, their willingness to give. For that too is a gift of God’s grace.
So when we notice that our hearts are not willing to support the Lord’s work. When we notice that our hands are on my wallet for fear the church might ask for some of my money, when we notice that we have a convenient excuse not to offer our time and talents to the Lord’s service, need to repent and pray. Create in me a clean heart O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Lord, give me that willingness once more.
But God doesn’t just zap us with willingness. He inspires it. God inspires us as he did these people by holding before us what he has given us in Jesus Christ. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
Every time we celebrate Christmas and stand before Jesus’ manger bed we are reminded. Every time we stand at the foot of Jesus’ cross with its’ shame and suffering, we are reminded of the poverty that the Son of God endured that we might have a Savior from sin and death. But more than that. We are reminded for the great riches that are yours and mine in Christ. Riches that never spoil or fade. The riches of God’s forgiveness from all our guilt. The riches of a new life as God’s child and the riches of eternal life that death cannot touch.
Well any Christian who knows what the Son of God gave up for him, can’t help but be moved. Any Christian who senses the value of what Jesus has earned for him by his death will surely find in his heart a desire to thank God by giving of himself.
We see that in these Macedonians. Paul said, they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will. (5) What did Paul and the others expect? Very little. These people were poor. Yet they were generous. How? Why? They knew the grace of our Lord and gave themselves to Him. Maybe you’ve heard the story of the little girl in church with her family. Something strange happened when the offering plate came by. She put it on the floor and stood in it. Her dad was shocked. He quickly took it away and passed it on. Why did you do that? In Sunday they told us, to give ourselves to the Lord.
She had the right idea, didn’t she? Like these Macedonians she gave herself to the Lord. And you know something? Once we do that the rest follows. Missions are supported and missionaries are sent. People are helped. When God’s people dedicate themselves to the Lord, the needs of Jesus’ church take care of themselves. Hearts look to give.
And here again Paul points to the Macedonians and writes: Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. Think of how these Christians approached the matter of giving. For them, it wasn’t a duty. It was a privilege. It was opportunity the Lord placed before them to respond to his grace. In fact, Paul tells us they urgently pleaded with him to taker what they were willing to give. Paul may have thought, even said, Wait, you need this for yourself. But the Macedonians pleaded that they take it.
And this they offered with overflowing joy. These were poor people. Bible poor not American poor with social safety nets to catch them. And yet they found a great deal of joy in being able to give in a way that honors the Lord.
For after all, selfishness lives in us all and with it, we struggle. And all of us have met selfish people who keep a tight grip on what is theirs. We’ve all met selfish people. But let me ask you this. Have you ever met one who is happy, really happy and content?
You see, these people experienced a truth that escapes far too many. Jesus said: It is more blessed to give, than to receive. And it’s true. There is joy to be found in the grace of giving. Joy as we meet the needs of others. And joy in getting out that message that meets that all important need.
I think of my friend Pastor Jim Radloff. Supposedly, he’s retired. But these past years he’s been active in China Friends. From thousands of miles away he has taught Chinese people about Jesus using Skype. In person on trips funded by good Christians, he has taught and baptized. And that’s just one example of the many opportunities. Opportunities to hold up the saving name of Jesus to a world on a free fall towards death and judgment. Opportunities that bring joy to the giver.
And finally notice Paul’s approach. I am not commanding you. We are not a church that compels anyone to give. We don’t insist on some level you must meet. For as Paul writes elsewhere the Lord loves a cheerful giver.
Instead, we point people to the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. We point them to the love of God at a cross for each of us. We point them to that love so wide, long and deep in a Savior who bled and died for us all. And we point them to the awesome blessing of forgiveness and life that are ours in him. Blessings that invite a response. Blessing that move hearts to give. Some in a profound and wonderful ways For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.