2 Corinthians 8:16

But thanks be to God, who put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you. For indeed, he accepted the exhortation, and being more forward of his own accord, he went unto you. We have sent with him the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches. Not only that, but he is also chosen by the churches to travel with us in this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord and declaration of your ready mind.

We are avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance, which is administered by us, providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord but also in the sight of men. We have sent with them our brother, whom we have often proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent because of the great confidence I have in you. If any of you inquire about Titus, he is my partner and fellow helper concerning you. Our brethren are inquired of; they are the messengers of the churches and of the glory of Christ.

Wherefore, show them and before the churches the proof of your love and of our boasting on your behalf. Father, we ask as we look into your word that you would give us insight and understanding. Lord, grant us wisdom. You promise that if any of us lack wisdom, you would be the one to give it. So we are asking, Lord, that you would enlighten us with your word, by your Spirit, and transform us by the renewing of our minds, that we would reflect you more fully in the world in which we live. For we ask this in Jesus' name, and all God's people agreed, saying, Amen.

You can be seated. Amen. We have seen some wonderfully important truths regarding treasure, wealth, and giving over the last four weeks. We have been going through 2 Corinthians chapter 8, and I hope that we will get through chapter 9 today. We have considered the importance of stewarding and managing well the resources that we have been given.

In such a way that honors God and expresses His love and His grace, we reveal to the people of this world the love and grace of God. We have observed the principles of giving joyfully, willfully, and eagerly. We have seen that God is the one who inspires us. He motivates us to give by His grace and by His love.

We've also seen that it is God's will for us to give, and that through giving, God sanctifies us. He transforms us toward a fuller Christ-likeness in this world. It is God's aim that His church would be Christ-like, that we would represent Him well. God has blessed us so that we would be a blessing. Knowing His grace is showing His grace, and giving on our part results in great blessing.

Unfortunately, there are churches and ministries today that, when they talk about the principles of wealth, treasure, and giving, emphasize that giving is the path or a path to great blessing. While it is true that the Bible reveals this, there is so much more meaning in the concept presented in the Bible about being someone who gives. It is not just about giving so that you can get.

Many of us have probably experienced flipping through channels aimlessly, only to come across a channel where someone seems to be preaching or teaching the Bible. Out of curiosity, we stop for a moment to see what they are talking about. In their discussion of the Bible, they also tell people that they need to give, and if they give, they will receive.

There are plenty of people in our nation and throughout the world who give for the purpose of receiving blessings. There do seem to be many passages of Scripture that one can point to in support of that idea. Of course, taken out of context, you can find verses that support it. For example, in Acts 20:35, Paul quotes Jesus, who said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

So, there are biblical principles that support the idea that as a person gives, God also gives in return. God blesses the person whose hand is open in giving to others. We see this principle in both the Old Testament and the New Testament.

Solomon, that great wise king of Israel, said in Proverbs 3, verses 9 and 10, "Honor God with your substance and with the firstfruits of all of your increase." So, of everything that you bring in, first give to the Lord a sacrifice that is honorable to Him. Verse 10 says, "So shall your barns be filled with plenty, and your presses shall burst forth with new wine."

There are people who take those words and say, "See, there you have it. If you give, God’s going to give in return to you." Solomon also said in Proverbs 19, verse 17, "Whosoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and He, God, will repay him for his deed." There are many scriptures like this, but our giving is not to be motivated purely by the promise of blessing. We shouldn't give just so that we can get something from God. There are other, more important motivating factors, but the promises are there nonetheless.

There are promises in God's Word that say God does bless those so that they can be a blessing. As they are a blessing in giving, they are further blessed. However, the primary motivating factor for giving, as we have considered over the last several weeks coming to this text, is the free grace of God. Jesus said in Matthew chapter 10, verse 8, "Freely you have received, freely give." Having been the recipients of such great grace from God, we are also encouraged to freely give.

Now, this giving that Jesus is speaking of in context is not necessarily about money. It is about the opportunity of giving forth the gospel and the power of the gospel. The reality is that we have freely received such great grace from God, and we should extend that freely to other people. We live in a nation that has experienced blessings like no other nation in the world, so we have great potential in what we can give.

We have seen that when we give, we give as unto the Lord. When we give to a ministry, when we give to a church, or when we give to an individual, the scriptures reveal that it is as if we are giving it to the Lord. The practical reality is that when we are giving, we are handing it off to somebody else. We are handing it off to another human being.

This has caused some to be cautious in their giving. Why? Well, as we saw last week, every single human being is wicked—wicked to the core. Every one of us has an evil, fallen heart. Jeremiah said in Jeremiah chapter 17, verse 9, "The heart of man is desperately wicked." Those are extreme words being used about our hearts. Every Christian who has been saved by grace through faith recognizes the wickedness of their own heart.

Because of the wickedness of our hearts, and the fact that bound up in every one of our hearts is selfish greed, when we are giving something freely to someone else, there is a caution in our flesh. We know that they are just as wicked as we are. We might think, "Oh, okay, I'm giving this to the Lord," but in giving it to them, we wonder if they are going to treat it correctly. Has anybody ever had that kind of thought in giving? I know I have. There have been times when I felt this way. Why? Because we know and have seen that there have been people who have misused what was given in the name of Christ for the work of God. There are ministries and ministers, sadly, who have misused what has been given in the name of God and unto the Lord. There are those who are unscrupulous, who do not deal well and have failed in their integrity in that area, because the heart of man is desperately wicked.

Now, 2,000 years ago, it was no different. There were people in the church at Corinth who were also cautious in extending themselves and what they had earned by their work for the work of the ministry. Paul, a year before he wrote this letter, had been in the church at Corinth and had shared with them a need for the church in Jerusalem. When the Corinthians first heard about the need in the church at Jerusalem, their hearts were stirred, and they felt that God was calling them to meet that need financially. They wanted to give; they had a desire to do so. They even began to receive an offering at that time for that purpose. However, somewhere along that year, between when they first had that desire and when Paul wrote this letter, there began to be a hesitancy, a caution, and a concern within them about actually giving.

It seems, as we read through the text, that part of the caution and concern was for themselves. They were worried that they might also suffer need, and then what would they have if they gave away what they had? However, there also seems to be concern about some accusations. As we've looked at extensively in 2 Corinthians, there were accusations against Paul's character that caused some in the church at Corinth to question whether or not they wanted to give this sizable financial gift to Paul and those with him to carry it to Jerusalem.

Paul recognizes the importance of being above reproach in the area of dealing with wealth. God created His church and instituted it so that through the church, He would express His love and grace to the world. One of the ways that God expresses His love and grace through His church is by practically meeting the needs of other people, both those within the body of Christ and those outside of it. When God created His church, He established it as an entity through which goods would be given.

As a result, when Paul instructs Timothy, one of his young ministers, about how he ought to lead a church in 1 Timothy 3, he emphasizes the importance of ordaining overseers and servants within the body of Christ. Twice in chapter 3 of 1 Timothy, he states that they need to be people who are not greedy for money. That seems like good common sense, right? The problem is that common sense is not all that common. We've all met people who seem to lack it, and as you ask the question, you might think, "No, you don't."

We want to ensure that those within the body of Christ, particularly in church leadership, are not greedy for money. Another way of putting it is that they should not be lovers of money. Why? Well, three chapters later, in 1 Timothy 6, Paul states that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Those who have pursued it, who have fallen in love with it, have erred in the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

So, there were some in Corinth, as there are some in our day and in churches across our nation, who were concerned about the potential of their gracious offering that they were going to give to Paul and his co-laborers.

They were concerned that, in some way, this might be mishandled. In the next section we are looking at in 2 Corinthians 8, verses 16 through 24, Paul is seeking to alleviate those concerns. He addresses specific issues and tries to show them that the way in which they are handling this gift, this grace, is above board and done with the utmost integrity.

We already read through it once, but I want to read through it again. Let's look at verse 16 and unpack this a little as we go. We will see what it is that Paul says to the church at Corinth to try and alleviate their concerns. Because we, too, twenty centuries later, should seek to follow similar principles, the principles that are outlined here.

In verse 16, he says, "But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care or placed love into the heart of Titus for you." The Corinthian church knew Titus. He was a young minister of the gospel of Christ and a co-laborer with Paul, someone that Paul was discipling. He was one of the primary go-betweens between the Apostle Paul and the church at Corinth. The church at Corinth knew him well.

Paul continues, "So he already had a desire to go to you. And so when I exhorted him to go back to Corinth and deal with this issue, he had no problem with it." In verse 18, he adds, "And we have sent with him the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout the churches." So with Titus is coming another unnamed individual whom Paul calls "the brother."

Not only that, in verse 19, Paul mentions, "but who has also been chosen by the churches to travel with us with this grace, with this gift, which is to be administered by us." This refers to the transportation and distribution of the gift unto the glory of God, as a declaration of their willingness and a demonstration of their ready mind to give.

In verse 20, Paul states his aim: "Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance, which is transported and distributed, administered by us, providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men."

We have sent with Titus and another unnamed brother our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent upon the great confidence I have in you. Whether any inquire about Titus, he is my partner and fellow helper concerning you. If our brethren, these two unnamed individuals, are inquired of, they are messengers of the churches and the glory of Christ. Therefore, when they come, show to them and before the churches the proof of your love and of our boasting on your behalf.

Paul has requested the churches in Macedonia, such as Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea, as well as the churches of Galatia and the church of Corinth, to give an offering for the needy church in Jerusalem. They are now in the process of receiving that financial offering, carrying it back to Jerusalem, and distributing it to the church. By this time, this is a significant amount of money, a significant amount of treasure. Just as today, there were questions among the people in the church about how this would be handled. Would it be managed well?

In these verses, Paul explains that we are stewarding this faithfully, and here are the ways we are doing it. If you're taking notes, there are about five important things in this passage to consider regarding those in leadership who are taking care of financial concerns and administering these matters in the church.

Number one: the offering was received and carried by more than one individual. In the text, Paul mentions Titus and two unnamed brothers, stating that they will carry this back to Jerusalem. So, there are at least four individuals involved: Paul, Titus, and these two unnamed brothers. There are also other people mentioned in the text that we will see as we go through it. As they carry this gift and receive the financial offering from the church, Paul emphasizes that it is to be carried by more than one individual.

Again, it seems like common sense, doesn't it? But common sense is not all that common. So, why more than one individual? The reality is that the heart of man is desperately wicked. Even though we are saved by grace through faith, we are not in a position where we are never tempted. Because our hearts are filled with greed and selfish desire, if we are put in a situation where it is just us and whatever this tempting thing is, along with the enemy—our adversary, the devil—who loves to tempt us with the lures of this world, there is a very real possibility that someone could fall into sin.

Even some very reputable individuals within the body of Christ throughout the years have fallen into sin in this area dealing with money. Those who are wise and take the Scripture seriously seek to set in place administrative plans, policies, and procedures to mitigate the temptation that might come. None of us is above temptation. The enemy would love to get any one of us to fall, and he would especially love to get a leader within the body of Christ to fall. If he can take out a leader, he can take out a whole bunch of people with that person, discouraging them from wanting to serve and from wanting to be a part of the work of the Lord.

So, Paul says, "Listen, we are doing everything we possibly can to make sure that we are honorable to God and honorable before men as well." The heart of man is desperately wicked; therefore, we do not want to put someone in a place where there is unnecessary temptation. Amen? Paul emphasizes that we are not just going to have one person dealing with this.

Secondly, those receiving the offering were of good report among the brethren. How many of you remember the name Judas Iscariot? Judas is an interesting character. He was the one among the twelve disciples of the Lord who carried the money bag. In every depiction I have ever seen of Judas, whether in a movie or in a book, he always looks like this creepy scoundrel. I don't think he looked like that. I think when you looked at the twelve,

He was probably the one who seemed to have his act together more than anybody else. Why? They obviously didn't want Peter to have the money back, the loudmouth who was always having issues. But they gave the money back to Judas, which seems to indicate that he probably looked like he was doing pretty well with it. Unfortunately, he was not. The Scriptures say that he was taking from the money bag. That's why he got angry when the woman came and anointed Jesus with the very costly oil. He said this could have been sold for 300 denarii, which is 300 days' wages, a year's salary, and given to the poor. The Gospel of Mark tells us he said this not because he was concerned for the poor, but because he had his hand in the money bag and was taking what was in there.

People are not above temptation, and if put in unnecessary situations with unnecessary temptation, they may fall. We should make sure that we are selecting people who are of good report. Verse 16 tells us here in 2 Corinthians chapter 8 that one of these individuals was Titus. Titus was a well-known co-laborer and companion of the Apostle Paul. He was well-known to the Corinthians as well because he was the one who carried the letters back and forth between Paul and the church at Corinth.

Verse 18 tells us of this unnamed individual. Commentators for centuries have speculated about who this unnamed person probably was, but we have no idea. The Scriptures don't tell us, and we have no need to speculate because it's not there in the Scriptures. One day, when we get to heaven, we might find out who that unnamed person was that Paul is referencing. Some people say, "Oh, it was Luke." Others say it had to be Timothy. Maybe it was Silas. We just don't know what the person's name was.

But notice what we do know about this individual. This person was well-praised as a minister of the Gospel. The churches knew who he was as a faithful minister of the Gospel. It seems that this brother ministered among the churches in Macedonia, where Paul was at this point in time. The churches of Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea knew who he was. He was even selected by those churches to be a part of the team that carried the offering to Jerusalem. So, Titus was the first guy. The church in Corinth knew Titus; he was a friend of Paul's, a co-laborer with Paul, and a minister to the Corinthians.

Then this unnamed brother, who was a minister of the gospel, had a good report. In verse 22, we read of a second unnamed brother. Look at verse 22 of 2 Corinthians chapter 8. We have sent with them Titus, our first unnamed brother. We have also sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved. Again, the name is unimportant, but the character is not.

You see, there are a number of people in this church who deal with the financial issues and oversee these matters. You may not know their names, but they better be of good character. Amen? Paul says he was diligent in many things. How did they know that he was diligent? Because he had been tested and proved faithful. Tested and proved faithful. Again, we don't know their names, but we know their character.

The first principle in administering that which is received financially within the body of Christ is common sense. It shouldn't be just one person overseeing this. We don't want to put a person in that position of temptation. Secondly, those who are given the task, although they may be behind the scenes and their names may not necessarily be shouted out in the church every single week, need to be people of good report.

Number three, the churches involved in this gift—churches in Galatia, churches in Macedonia, and churches in the city of Corinth—were involved in selecting the individuals to help oversee the transport and distribution of it. They selected people from their own church to be a part of this. These were people they knew, people they had the opportunity to observe.

How do we know this? Well, look at verse 23. Whether anyone inquires of Titus, he is my partner and fellow helper concerning you, or if our brethren are inquired of, these two unnamed individuals are messengers. The word "messenger" there is "apostolos" in Greek. They are literally apostles, sent ones from the churches and the glory of Christ. So, the churches of Macedonia...

The churches of Galatia had selected individuals that they commissioned for this task. These were people who were above and beyond reproach, ministers of the gospel, and respected individuals. In verse 19, it talks about the first unnamed brother, stating that he was chosen by the churches to travel with us, with this grace, this gift, which is administered by us unto the glory of God, and as a declaration or revelation of your love. The two brothers who were with Titus were sent by their churches to be a part of this task.

A year before this, Paul was instructing the church at Corinth about receiving this offering in the book of 1 Corinthians. He told them in 1 Corinthians chapter 16, verses 3 and 4, that they should also select people from their church to be a part of this work. In fact, if you turn over to 1 Corinthians 16, the first two verses deal with the very practical realities of receiving an offering within the church. However, look at verses 3 and 4. Paul says, "And when I come, when I show up to receive this offering, whosoever you shall approve or appoint by your letters, by your recommendation, them will I send to bring your liberality, your gift, to Jerusalem. And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me."

Paul emphasizes that when he comes to receive this practical offering, the gift they are going to send will be carried by people they approve through their letters of recommendation. They are going to accompany him to bring this gift to Jerusalem. Paul is making it clear that they are doing everything possible to ensure they are above and beyond reproach, so that no blame is brought against them in carrying this gift down to Jerusalem. He reiterates this in verses 20 and 21 of 2 Corinthians chapter 9, stating that they do not want to be blamed or have any reproach brought against them in the administration of this gift. They want to be honest before God and before the world.

This is the way that we are here at this church as well. We seek to make sure that we have put in place administrative policies and procedures to ensure that we are above and beyond reproach. First and foremost, we do everything before God, who sees all things. He sees everything, even that which the church, the body of Christ, does not see. We recognize that He sees all and is in all places.

Even though we know He is watching when the tithes are being counted, we never just have one person do it. We always have two or three people present to ensure good accountability. Additionally, when checks are issued here at the church, there are always two signers required to sign that check. Two of the pastors on staff are the signers on the checks, and a check cannot be signed by just one person. Each of us must look at it and ask, "Is this right? Is this good? Is this going to the right place?" Furthermore, the person who cuts the check is not the person who gets to sign it.

We have established these planned administrative policies, and we actually have a book that Pastor Richard put together on how we go through these processes. We seek to ensure that, before God and before the body of Christ, we are doing things right. Sadly, many churches do not adhere to these standards. That is one of the reasons why we started the ministry called Calvary Admin Services, where we help other churches do it the right way. Common sense is not all that common, and we want to make sure that we are following the principles outlined in the Scriptures.

Now, the next thing we see, point number four, is that these steps were taken to ensure that no criticism would be brought against the ministry or the ministers. I already referenced the verses, 2 Corinthians 8, verses 20 and 21. I want to read them from the New Living Translation. Notice what it says: "We are traveling together." Why do we have all these people involved in this? "We are traveling together to guard against any criticism for the way that we are handling this generous gift. We are careful to be honorable before the Lord, but also want everyone else to see that we are honorable."

The gift was not to be received by one person; it was to be received by a group of people who had a good report among the churches. Those individuals were selected by the churches that knew them.

And this was done so that there would be no reproach brought against the ministry or the ministers.

Now, point number five, if you're taking notes: when steps like this are taken, it is easy for the body of Christ to fulfill the exhortation that Paul gives in the last verse of chapter 8. Look at 2 Corinthians 8, verse 24. What's the proof of their love? Well, we already saw in the text in 2 Corinthians 8 previously, a couple of weeks ago, that the giving itself, the gift itself, was a proof, a demonstration of their love.

We all recognize that words are great, but devotion is more realized; devotion is more revealed as it is demonstrated. How many married couples do we have in here? Raise your hand, married couples. Okay, how many of you married ladies, when your husband asked you to marry him, received a ring? Raise your hand. Most of you.

He's saying to you, "I know I'm a dirty, rotten scoundrel, and I know I'm asking you to put up with me for the next 25, 30, 40, maybe until death do us part. I love you, and I'm trying to prove my devotion by showing you this really sparkly little pretty thing here. I know I'm asking an awful lot of you to put up with me until death do us part. But I love you, and I want to demonstrate it to you in this very practical way."

So Paul says to the church at Corinth, "Listen, when these guys show up, because we're doing this the right way, therefore, prove your love. Demonstrate your love by giving this gift. Show not just to this group of guys receiving it, but to the churches all around, your love and our boasting on your behalf. Prove that what we've been saying about you is true and right."

What does he mean? Well, look at chapter 9, verse 1. He says, "For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write unto you." What in the world does he mean? These are those verses that I just love in the King James Version because it says it in a very romantic way, but you look at it and go, "What in the world is he talking about?"

He says, concerning the ministering, the sharing with the saints, the giving of an offering, a gift to those who are in need within the body of Christ, "It's unnecessary that I even write to you." I don't even need to write all this stuff to you. I've just written an entire chapter on this, Paul says. I just talked about it quite a bit. It's unnecessary that I write it unto you.

Why is it unnecessary that I write unto you? For, in verse 2, he continues, "I know the forwardness of your mind. I know the willingness of you to give. I know that you're a bunch of willing people, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia." I know how much you're into giving to people who are in need. So much so that I have talked you up to the churches in Macedonia. I've been boasting about you in Philippi, in Thessalonica, in Berea. I've been telling them about that church down in Corinth, which is a giving and loving church.

When I shared with them the need in Jerusalem, they almost jumped out of their seats and said, "We want to give to that. We want to help with that." I didn't even tell them, "You should do this." They just did it. I know the willingness of your mind, which I boast of you to them in Macedonia, that Achaia, that's where Corinth was, was ready a year ago. Your zeal has provoked very many.

Paul says, "I went to the churches in Ephesus. I went to the churches of Philippi, Berea, and Thessalonica. I told them, listen, I shared the need with the church in Corinth about Jerusalem." They wanted to give so much that they could hardly contain themselves. They were so passionate about this. I shared that news with the people in Ephesus, Thessalonica, Berea, and Philippi. Because of your example, they said, "Well, we want to do that too." Your giving has provoked others to give, and I boast of you.

So, look at the next verse, verse 3. Yet, I have sent the brethren.

Lest our boasting of you should be in vain, I said that you may be ready. Lest happily, if they of Macedonia come with me and find you unready, we should be ashamed, not even to say you, in this same boasting confidence. Paul said, "I boasted so much of your willingness," and then I heard of your hesitancy. I told the churches of Ephesus and the churches of Macedonia how you wanted to give and could hardly contain yourselves in giving. Then Titus comes back to me and says, "Hey, they're not quite ready to give anymore. They're not as willing as they once were."

Paul expresses his concern, saying, "I just boasted about you a whole bunch." He worries that if he shows up with a group of people from the churches of Macedonia and you say, "No, we're not going to give," what will they think? He will be ashamed, and you will be ashamed as well. I have to admit, these are some truly audacious exhortations from Paul. These are some seriously bold words from the Apostle Paul. He says, "You were excited to give. I boasted about how willing you were to give, and now you don't want to give. I feel like a fool."

Could you imagine saying that today? This is amazing.

Therefore, I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, Titus and these two unnamed individuals, that they would go before you, that they would go ahead of me and make up beforehand your bounty. I want this to come together before I show up, whereof you had notice before, so that it might be ready as a matter of bounty and not as of covetousness.

What in the world is Paul saying? The New International Version puts it this way: "So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers, Titus and these two guys, to visit you in advance and to finish the arrangements for your generous gift that you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift and not grudgingly given."

Paul says, "I don't want to show up because I'm coming your way. I'm coming from Macedonia in the north. I'm going to come down and meet up there in Corinth, and then we're going to get on a boat and go back to Jerusalem." He expresses his concern about showing up with this group of people who are traveling with him to Jerusalem to carry this gift, only to find out that you are not ready.

I thought you said you wanted to give this. Then you said, "Oh, I guess we said we'd give it, so we have to." I mean, that would be a bummer, wouldn't it? So, I thought I'd send these guys ahead. These are incredibly bold words from Paul. You almost feel the compulsion and the pressure, don't you? In one sense, it feels like he's pressuring them to do this. Yet, in just a few verses, he's going to say, "Don't give reluctantly, and don't give being compelled to give, because God loves a cheerful giver." It seems like, what's going on here? On one side, it seems like Paul is saying, "You really need to deal with this." On the other side, he says, "Well, don't give if you can't give joyfully, if you can't give eagerly."

You said you're going to give, you started to give, and I boasted about your loving charity. Now, don't fail to finish what you started. I don't want to be ashamed, and you don't want to be ashamed when the brothers from Ephesus, Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea show up to bring this gift.

Look at verse 6. "But this I say: He which sows sparingly shall reap sparingly, and he which sows bountifully shall reap bountifully." This is one of those verses that is highlighted time and time again by those we would call prosperity theologians or prosperity teachers. If you're flipping through channels and you land upon one of those televangelists, this is probably one of the things they will be saying: "Sow seeds of faith in your giving, and if you sow, then you're going to get." How many of you have heard something like that before? "Sow it and you're going to get, and sow big, because if you sow little, you're just going to get a little back, and if you sow big, you're going to get a whole bunch back."

This stuff spreads like wildfire. Why? Because our hearts are greedy, and there's a part of us that goes, "Wait a minute, you're telling me that if I just invest that, I'm going to get this?" I mean, that's totally American culture, totally American mindset. And so, it just spreads like wildfire. But it seems like Paul is almost saying that. I will readily admit that there are some who have used this verse in a wrong way.

Taken out of its context, it has been used in a way that the Bible does not support. The truth, though, is crystal clear, and it's an important truth.

First, consider the illustration purely from the perspective of a farmer, because that's what Paul is talking about. Sowing is planting, and he who plants just a little bit is only going to reap a little bit. He who plants a lot will reap a lot. The idea is this: imagine you're a farmer. It may be hard for us to do, because we don't necessarily live in a farming culture today in Escondido, California. But imagine if you were a farmer, and you have a 10-pound bag of seed. That's all you have left. There you stand, looking at your field. It's about the time for planting, and you're saying, "All I have left is this bag of seed."

You want to be really careful with this. You want to make sure that you don't use too much, because you don't want to lose it all. In sowing it, there is a part that feels like loss. As you're planting it in the ground, there is a sense that you had a lot, and now you have none. There is potential for a harvest in that bag, but it remains a potential until it is planted. Only when it is planted can it bring forth any fruit. If you only plant 10% of it, one pound of it, you're only going to reap back a small portion. However, if you sow abundantly, the concept in planting terms is that you're going to get a bigger harvest.

Still, you're planting in hope. You're planting, expecting a harvest, but it's still in hope. For a time, until that harvest comes in, you experience a significant loss.

Paul applies this to giving. He says to the Corinthians, "Listen, you have treasure. You expressed a willing desire to share what you have with those who have nothing." In the process of actually giving, they developed a concern that caused hesitation. Either they were concerned for themselves, fearing they wouldn't have enough, or they were concerned about how it would be dealt with and received by those overseeing it. As a result, they hesitated.

Paul's illustration is given to induce an abundant willingness on the part of the Corinthians to give. They already had that willingness, but something had crippled it. So, Paul is seeking to reignite in them that desire.

He that gives sparingly will receive a moderate reward, but he that gives abundantly will receive a greater reward. How is this not prosperity theology? Notice that the ultimate motivation for giving is the grace and glory of God. Again, we have to read things in context.

The ultimate motivation for giving is the grace and glory of God. Look at verses 11 through 15 of the same chapter, Second Corinthians chapter nine, verse 11. He says, "You being enriched in everything, you have a lot, you have a ten-pound bag, if you will, for what? To all bountifulness." You have been enriched so that you can give forth bountifully.

What happens when you give forth bountifully? It causes, through us, what? Thanksgiving to God. When you give, it causes thanksgiving to God. For the administration of this service not only supplies the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God. He says that when you give this, when you minister it out, it takes care of the needs of people who are needy, and it produces great thanksgiving. He who sows abundantly produces great thanksgiving.

In verse 13, we read, "While by the experiment of this ministration, as you're experiencing this and giving, they who are receiving glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ." Because you have submitted yourself to the gospel of grace, they glorify God. This is also true for your liberal distribution unto them and to all men. They are glorifying God because you've submitted yourself to the gospel of Christ and because you've been giving to them freely.

In verse 14, it states, "And by their prayer for you, which long after you, the exceeding grace of God in you." They are experiencing God's grace in you as you're giving. Finally, in verse 15, we see, "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift."

What do we see in these verses? The ultimate motivation for giving is the grace and glory of God.

We remember that He has given us this phenomenal gift. It stirs us to give of the bounty that we have, and when we do, it stirs thanksgiving and glory to God. That's the ultimate motivation. When we sow bountifully, we increase the bounty of the glory of God in thanksgiving. We express bountifully the grace of God through what we give.

However, we cannot overlook the reward of promise that is given here in this passage. The reward of promise is bountifully given when people give bountifully, but also when they give cheerfully. Look at verse 7; we are going to wrap it up with 2 Corinthians chapter 8, verse 7. Every man, according as he has purposed in his heart, so let him give. Make a decision about what you're going to give, but don't give grudgingly or of necessity. Don't give reluctantly or because you're being compelled to do so. Why? Because God loves a cheerful giver.

I am so glad you answered that well. God loves a cheerful giver. The implication is that God does not love, or loves less, someone who gives reluctantly or by compulsion. He loves a cheerful giver. The word "cheerful" in the original Greek is the word "hilaros." It sounds like "hilarious," and that's where we get our word. God loves a person who gives hilariously.

Look at verse 8. As you give, God is able to make all grace abound toward you. What does that mean? It means that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, will have what you need. When you give of yourself, He is able to give to you what you need so that you have sufficient resources. Why? Look at the end of verse 8. It states that you have sufficiency in all things and may abound in every good work. He gives you more so that you can abundantly do more.

In verse 9, Paul provides scriptural support from the Old Testament, specifically from Psalm 112. As it is written in the Psalms, "He that has dispersed abroad, he has given to the poor." Notice this.

His righteousness remains forever. Paul focuses our attention on eternal prosperity and not temporal prosperity. You see, this human body is finite and temporal; it is all going to burn someday, everything that we see. Because we are finite and temporal, we are inordinately focused on temporal treasures. We filter every prosperity teaching verse in the Bible through the lens of right now, but ultimately, they always point us to eternal treasures and not to the present. They point us to heaven.

Psalm 112, verse 9 states, "As you give to the poor, your righteousness remains forever." In verse 10, it continues, "Now he that ministers seed to the sower, both ministers bread for your food, and multiplies your seeds sown, and increases the fruits of your righteousness." God will take care of your needs so that you can take care of the needs of others and increase the fruits of your righteousness that remain forever. The prosperity verses of the Bible are not focused on temporal treasure; they are focused on eternal treasures.

I can prove it to you. Turn in your Bibles to Luke chapter 14. I love this passage. In Luke chapter 14, Jesus is invited to the house of a wealthy Pharisee, a wealthy religious man. This guy has a party and invites a whole bunch of people to his house, including Jesus. When Jesus gets there, he talks with the host and says this:

In Luke chapter 14, verse 12, Jesus said to the man who invited him, "When you throw a party, when you make a dinner or a supper, do not call your friends, nor your brethren, neither your kinsmen, nor your rich neighbors, so that they will bid you again and repay you somehow." He advises the host not to invite a whole bunch of people who have a lot of possessions just so they will invite him to their party and give him something in return.

So, who should I invite? In verse 13, Jesus continues, "When you make a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind."

Lame party. Why? Why shouldn't I invite all the cool people?

Verse 14 states, "And you shall be blessed." For they cannot repay you. Where is it, Jesus? For you shall be repaid. When? At the resurrection of the just. If you read the Scriptures diligently, you will find verses that deal with reward. There are tons of verses in the Bible, especially in the New Testament, that focus on reward, reward, reward. However, it is always centered on eternal reward. We, because of our finite nature, are focused on temporal reward. So, we filter it all the wrong way. We need to look at what the Bible says: "You shall be rewarded."

This is why Jesus could say, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." Paul also says, "God loves a cheerful giver." He loves a cheerful giver—someone who can give willingly and eagerly.

In Exodus, chapter 25, Moses shared with the children of Israel the word of the Lord. God said, "You're going to build a temple, a tabernacle." So, anyone in the nation who is willing and has a willing heart was asked to give silver, gold, and all kinds of different furs from animals, as well as various fabrics for the construction of the tabernacle. He said, "Whoever can give willfully, bring this offering. But if you can't give it willfully, don't bring the offering."

Over the next ten chapters, they discussed building this temple, and people brought their contributions together for the tabernacle. Then, in Exodus chapter 35, beginning at verse 4 and continuing through the end of chapter 36, all the materials came together. Five times in chapter 35, it states, "Those whose hearts were stirred and they gave willfully."

In the fulfillment of it, in Exodus chapter 36, verse 7, Moses had to stand before the people and say, "Stop giving. It's too much." Could you imagine? I don't think there's any other place in the Bible where someone had to stand up and say, "We have enough. Don't give anymore." Why is that? Because they gave willfully, eagerly, and cheerfully.

Well, you say,

I don't feel like giving. I don't feel cheerful. I'm not really cheerful about giving. How do I get cheerful? There are four things, and then we're done. We should have been done ten minutes ago, but here are the four things.

Number one, remember. Remember the greatness of the gift that you've received in Christ.

Number two, consider. Consider the promise of reward in eternity.

Number three, pray. Pray for a change of heart.

And number four, give sacrificially as unto the Lord.

Remember the greatness of what you've received in Christ. Consider the promise of reward in eternity. Pray for a change of heart, and then give sacrificially. I guarantee you, because I've experienced this myself and I've heard testimony from others within our church, when you make a decision mentally to go in that direction, your heart will follow. Where the head goes, the heart follows.

Remember what He has done. Consider what He has promised. Pray for a change of heart and give sacrificially. I guarantee your heart will follow. Amen?

Let's stand and pray.

Father, I thank you for the sweetness of your word, even though sometimes when we take it in, it challenges us and rebukes us. But, Lord, you are transforming us more and more into the image of your Son. Help us to reflect you in the world in which we live, which is completely opposite of what we see in your word, especially in the area of giving.

Lord, shine through us so that people would see our good works and glorify you, our Father in heaven. For we ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. Thank you.