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The
Cheerful Giver
It is common for a
church to ask for money; it is
fairly common to remind the believer (when asking) that "God loveth a
cheerful giver" (the old King
James is so much more quotable); It
is somewhat rare to remind the believer of being a cheerful giver without asking
for money; it is downright unusual
to explain the how and why of cheerful giving - and the results that it brings. Paul's
"Dutch Uncle" Talk In our first
section, we find Paul, the Apostle, in full authority, reminding his children of
what they are to do: {9:1} There is no need for me to write to you about this
service to the saints. {2} 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. {3} But
I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this
matter should not prove hollow, but
that you may be ready, as I said you would be.
{4} For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared,
we‑‑not to say anything
about you‑‑would be ashamed of having been so confident. {5} So I
thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and
finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then
it will be ready as a generous
gift, not as one grudgingly given. ‑‑ 2 Corinthians 9:1‑5 (NIV) Relying on his
children.
Paul is telling them that he has bragged on them - and now they better
deliver. Sounds a little harsh -
but they made the commitment, not Paul. Just
like my dad to me (and me to my sons), dad tells son to follow through.
Follow through on what? The
commitment you made so enthusiastically. The
first essential of giving is that it come from a commitment in the heart.
Here's how Moses was commanded on the matter: {2} "Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering.
You are to receive the offering for
me from each man whose heart prompts him to give. ‑‑ Exodus 25:2 (NIV italics added) Follow Through. Paul knows these children all too well. They are emotional people who will commit, but not follow
through. It sounds cold to our
cynical ears, but what he does next is in fact practical help.
He sends someone to encourage and help them.
In short, he does whatever is necessary to help them follow through.
We often fail in this. People
make a commitment - and then we allow them to fail in the follow through.
If we consider ourselves our brother's keeper, we should not do this.
It sounds like "pressure sales" to us - to Paul, it was helping
his children keep their promises to God. We
do this (as in Promise Keepers) in many areas, but our money seems more sacred
than God. Preparation
prevents grudging giving. The oft-repeated phrase,
"God loveth a cheerful giver," is found in the next section.
So how do we prevent grouch giving?
By preparation! Think of it this way:
Suppose Steve talks this class into giving a thousand dollars to PCC
(slick tongued salesman that he is!) Further
suppose that we promise to do so by the end of the year.
That gives us six months - and we wind up doing it at Christmas.
If Christmas rolls around, and money is tight, how do we feel about that
thousand dollars? What kind of look
is on our faces? (And how low is
attendance that week?)
But suppose that we put aside fifty dollars a week - no great trick for a
class of this size. In twenty weeks
(a month and half to spare) we have the money ready.
We have change to spare! Now
what kind of look is on our faces? This
is why Paul told the Corinthian church in his first letter to put things aside
on the first day of the week: {16:1} Now about the collection for God's people: Do what
I told the Galatian churches to do.
{2} On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of
money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I
come no collections will have to be made.
‑‑ 1 Corinthians 16:1‑2 (NIV)
Indeed, in the Old
Testament, the Jews were explicitly warned against being unprepared, in the
matter of release: {7} 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. {8} Rather be openhanded and freely lend him
whatever he needs. {9} Be 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. {10} Give
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. {11} There 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. ‑‑
Deuteronomy 15:7‑11 (NIV italics
added) The Principles of
Giving Paul next goes on to
lay out the principles of giving: {6} 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. {9}
As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his
gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." {10} Now he
who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also
supply and increase your store of
seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.
{11} You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on
every occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
‑‑ 2 Corinthians 9:6‑11 (NIV) Measure for
measure - the principle of sowing. It is
important to understand that this is not "health and wealth" gospel.
It is rather a question of the container size (remember Elisha and the
oil?). The principle is not one of
bargaining with God. Rather, it is
a question of understanding God's character and how He reacts to the giver. Our Lord put it this way: {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."
‑‑ Luke 6:38 (NIV)
You see the point?
God will use your measuring cup when ladling out His blessings to you.
He deals with you in your own terms.
The Old Testament put it forcefully: {17} He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he
will reward him for what he has
done. ‑‑
Proverbs 19:17 (NIV) The old King James
puts the phrase "he will reward him" as "will he pay him
again" - and one scholar of memory added, "and what a marvelous rate
of interest!" Motive in giving.
It is important to see that motive is more important than gift.
Indeed, the Lord needs nothing from us, and we need everything from Him.
C.S. Lewis explained it as being like having a small child come up to his
father and ask for ten dollars to buy him a Father's Day present.
It's a loving gesture, and the father really does appreciate it, but your
accountant would not consider the father to be ten dollars to the good. This, by the way,
explains God's complete indifference to the size of the gift.
What difference does it make how much you give?
He owns everything anyway. Everything
- except the heart you
withhold from Him. So we find that God
wants a cheerful giver. What does
this mean? What motive are we
talking about? I'm cheerful enough
when drunk; is this a reason to get
sauced? Consider the Scripture
again: {3} If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my
body to the flames, but have not
love, I gain nothing. ‑‑
1 Corinthians 13:3 (NIV)
The cheerful giver
is the one motivated by love. Rich in every
way.
If you are enamored of "health and wealth gospel," you will
think that God owes you wealth if you give.
God owes you nothing; you
borrow the very idea of existence from Him.
But if you will trust Him, you will be rich in every way.
Remember? {27} "Consider how the lilies grow. They do not
labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not
even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. {28} If
that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and
tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you
of little faith! {29} And do not
set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. {30} For the pagan world runs after all
such things, and your Father knows
that you need them. {31} But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. {32} "Do not be
afraid, little flock, for your
Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. {33} Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for
yourselves that will not wear out,
a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. {34} For where your treasure
is, there your heart will be also.
‑‑ Luke 12:27‑34 (NIV) The issue is not one
of wealth, but of trust. If your
heart is with him, so will your money be. Your
money He does not need; He loves
you and desires your heart fully. It
is the only thing, ultimately, that you can really withhold from Him. The Power of
Praise Paul now turns to
the results of giving: {12} This service that you perform is not only supplying
the needs of God's people but is
also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. {13} Because of the service by which you have proved
yourselves, men will praise God for
the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with
everyone else. {14} And in their
prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of
the surpassing grace God has given you. {15} Thanks be to God for his
indescribable gift! ‑‑
2 Corinthians 9:12‑15 (NIV) God is glorified. For Paul, whose heart is in the Gospel, the great blessing of
such an act is not the physical relief it brings. Rather, it is
first that God is glorified. Men
will praise God because of what you have done.
The principle is an Old Testament one:
you honor God with your wealth: {9} Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits
of all your crops; {10} then your
barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim
over with new wine. ‑‑
Proverbs 3:9‑10 (NIV) There is an
interesting example of this in the New Testament: {10:1} At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a
centurion in what was known as the
Italian Regiment. {2} He and all his family were devout and
God‑fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God
regularly. {3} One day at about
three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw
an angel of God, who came to him and said,
"Cornelius!" {4} Cornelius stared
at him in fear. "What is it, Lord?" he asked. The angel
answered, "Your prayers and
gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. ‑‑
Acts 10:1‑4 (NIV italics added) You see the point? People will pray
for you.
"Prayer helps - in any denomination."
One of the most potent forces on earth is a devout little old lady on her
knees. And if that lady is praying,
thanking God that you are so generous? Think
what must have happened to these ladies: {8:1} After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and
village to another, proclaiming the
good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him,
{2} and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases:
Mary (called Magdalene) from whom
seven demons had come out; {3} Joanna the wife of
Cuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others. These
women were helping to support them out of their own means.
‑‑ Luke 8:1‑3 (NIV)
How would like to
have Jesus Himself thank God for you, in His prayers? Do you suppose it happens when you aid His brothers and
sisters? The Question of
Obedience.
One final thought must be brought out.
You must put your money where your mouth is.
If you say you are a Christian, where is your money?
If you expect people to praise God because of you, they must see your
actions. This is "the
obedience which accompanies your confession" or, as the King James puts it,
"your professed subjection." It
is indeed commanded: {17} Command those who are rich in this present world not
to be arrogant nor to put their
hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in
God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. {18}
Command them to do good, to be rich
in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to
share. {19} In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a
firm foundation for the coming age,
so that they may take hold of the life that is
truly life. ‑‑
1 Timothy 6:17‑19 (NIV) In America the
wealthy, it is hard to avoid this one. But
if you need any further motivation (and I hope you don't), consider these words
of our Lord, concerning his coming again: {31} "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and
all the angels with him, he will
sit on his throne in heavenly glory. {32} All the nations will be
gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as
a shepherd separates the sheep from
the goats. {33} He will put the sheep on his
right and the goats on his left. {34} "Then the King will say to
those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your
inheritance, the kingdom prepared
for you since the creation of the world. {35} For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and
you gave me something to drink, I
was a stranger and you invited me in, {36} I needed
clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in
prison and you came to visit me.' {37} "Then the righteous will
answer him, 'Lord, when did we see
you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you
something to drink? {38} When did we see you a stranger and invite you
in, or needing clothes and clothe
you? {39} When did we see you sick or in prison and
go to visit you?' {40} "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth,
whatever you did for one of the
least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
{41} "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you
who are cursed, into the eternal
fire prepared for the devil and his angels. {42} For
I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave
me nothing to drink, {43} I was a
stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed
clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did
not look after me.' {44} "They
also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in
prison, and did not help you?' {45}
"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do
for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' {46} "Then
they will go away to eternal
punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
‑‑ Matthew 25:31‑46 (NIV) Thus speaks the King
of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Creator. To
sum it up, He asks you to
-
prepare for giving
-
give cheerfully
-
receive bountifully It is an act of
love, and an act of obedience. And
in the last day, He will separate the obedient from the damned. |
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