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Back to Sermons Index Back to Home Page 26th February 2006 PMBLESSED ARE THE GENEROUS Pastor Colin Meadows 2 Cor 9:6-15 ● Let’s be obedient! Tonight we have witnessed a step of obedience. Jayelle has demonstrated outwardly what she has experienced in her heart. She is moving on in obedience. What about us when it comes to the step of being generous people? We have been hearing messages on giving. Are we ready to move on in obedience in that regard? The CNN news of April 6 1999 told of a thief who stormed into an Easter service at a church in Louisiana, USA. He grabbed one of the worshippers and put a gun to his head. “Bring your money, what you have brought for the offering, and put it on the floor near me!” he yelled to the startled congregation. One by one they came up and put their offerings on the floor. When they had finished and he began stuffing the money into a bag he was heard to mumble “Why did they bring so many one dollar bills! What sort of an offering is that?” I love the words of Jesus in Acts: Acts 20:35 “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” The challenge is thus before us. Just how generous are we? As has been said, “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” What kind of life are we sowing? Are we ready to move in obedience in this area tonight? ● Let’s be generous! We have heard over the past weeks that all that we have has come from God. Thus when we give back, we are returning part of what we have so generously received. We are stewards of resources entrusted into our care. As such, we must invest wisely and give generously. Then as we give, God wants us to be cheerful givers. Not grimacing as we reluctantly peel off the notes, but with joyous hilarity, excited that we are able to pass on some of God’s wealth to others. Be generous, not like the story of the man who was so mean that he had a burglar alarm fitted to his rubbish bin. Be generous. Martin Luther noted that “the last part of a man to be converted is his hand on his pocket book”. It is important to note that when the Bible speaks of giving, it is using the word in a very general sense. It is not just in referring to cash. It is only in the past few centuries that we have become cash economies. In fact in some parts of the world, people still operate in a non-cash environment. Thus giving is much broader than just cash. It involves the three T’s: Treasure – yes, the cash that God has entrusted into our care. We are familiar with this means of giving but often only focus in that area. Learn to give of our treasure to others for God’s glory. Talents – the gifts and abilities that God has endowed us with. We are each gifted in different ways. Let us use our gifts for God’s glory. If you are gifted in a sport, then glorify God in that way. Perhaps you can write or teach or sing or do any one of a myriad of things. Do these things for God’s glory. Share you gifts with others for God’s glory. You might say that I don’t have much treasure and my talents are not like those of others, but I caution against such thinking. We each have what God has felt we need. Let us use these gifts for his glory. Our individual contribution is vitally important. A Russian Proverb states “If everyone gives one thread, the poor man will have a shirt.” There is another area of giving however in which we all share the same. Time – we each have the same number of hours in a day and days in a week. Sometimes we don’t know where the time goes however because we can fritter it away. Let us use time as a gift from God to be used generously for others. Use your gift of time to pray for others, to listen to others, to write or phone others to encourage them, to do practical things for others in our Lord’s name. Be generous in giving time to others for God’s glory. ● Let’s build! You might say “fine, I will give to people in need but not to buildings!” While I understand the motive behind what they are saying, can I encourage you to think a bit wider than this. I wish thus to make a quick comment about giving to building projects. I see our current building program as an important tool to enhance our ability to help people in need. Our prayer as a church leadership is that this building will be used by God to train, equip and encourage people to come to know God and to grow in their walk with Him. Our current buildings have been hampering that goal. In the book of 2 Kings, Elisha and the prophets were meeting together for teaching and fellowship but found they needed a bigger meeting centre. 2 Kings 6:1-2 “The company of the prophets said to Elisha, ‘Look, the place where we meet with you is too small for us. Let us go to the Jordan, where each of us can get a pole; and let us build a place there for us to live.’ And he said, ‘Go’.” That is what we are seeking to do here at RBC. To enhance our capacity to help others find Christ and to grow in Him. Let me try now to pull all these threads together as we complete this series on giving. ● Let’s remember God’s blessings We are a blessed people! Do you realize that today? 2 Cor 9:15 “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” We have been blessed in so many ways, but one gift is mentioned here. Just what was this gift that was beyond words to express, just out of this world? One can’t find words to cover the story. What amazing gift from God is being spoken of here? There can be only one response as far as I am concerned – the gift of God’s Son to the world! John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” In Christ we have been enriched beyond measure. We have been flooded with his riches, his presence, and his strength. We are a blessed people. Yes, we need often to stop and reflect on the incredible gift that God has given to us. He became poor so that we might become rich. What should our response to such blessings be? ● Let’s pass on the blessings to others. Give of our time, talent and treasure to enrich the lives of others. We have superabundance from God. Let the over supply flow out to others. There is a key verse in this passage that highlights our abundance. 2 Cor 9:8 “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.” That key phrase “having all that you need” One commentator noted that this refers to a person who has devoted their life, not to amassing possessions, but to eliminating needs. It speaks of a person who is content with very little, who has learnt to do without. The Chinese have a proverb which says “Those who know they have enough are rich.” In Africa, I met up with some of the most generous people I have ever met. They live in mud huts, with just a few chickens running around. One family we visited only had one chair that they graciously brought out for us to share. We spent time with them and as we were leaving, they caught one of their chickens to give to us. I protested strongly that we had all that we needed and their need was much greater. The old lady replied “No, God has been good to us. See, we still have five other chickens left.” She was someone who had learnt to live on little so that others could be blessed. How many chickens do you and I have at home? Can we spare one for a needy family, in response to the love and blessings that God has poured into our lives? God has been incredibly generous towards us. As the saying goes “An open handed Father does not like tight fisted children.” Yes, let us be a blessing to others. ● Generous people will be blessed Giving is like sowing seed. If you don’t sow, you get nothing. If you sow a bit, you harvest a bit. If you sow generously, you have a great chance of a good harvest. I was reminded of something very important this week. The Bible is not afraid to explain about the reward motive as we obey God in our giving. This theme appears in many places, especially amongst the teachings of Jesus. Examine his parables in particular. We don’t give because we will be rewarded but it is a wonderful side benefit, isn’t it! But we need to clarify the type of reward being spoken of here. Woody Allen commented once about religious faith when he noted “If only God would give me some clear sign! Like making a large deposit in my name at a Swiss bank” Sometimes we think of rewards that will come to a Christian in that light! Such is not the case. The types of rewards the New Testament speaks about are never material rewards. Rather the Bible speaks of the rewards that flow to the heart and to the spirit. What are the rewards we can expect if we are generous people? E As we give to others, God will continue to meet our needs. 2 Cor 9:8 “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.” We will have all that we need as we rely daily on his provision. This will enable us to give more. That is the first great reward of giving. We will never be able to out give God. What a blessing. I read recently of a young man, William, who left home to begin a soap making business. He was challenged by an older man to live for Christ and to give a tithe of anything he received for the needs of others. This he agreed to do. Over time, his soap making business grew and soon he was also making toothpaste. He started off by giving away 10% of his income but soon he raised that to 20%, then 40%. After a few years he was giving away 90% of what he earned but still he had enough. Yes, William Colgate’s business was blessed by God and even today when we brush our teeth, we can remember that God will meet the needs of generous people!! EAs we give to others we become rich towards God. 2 Cor 9:11 “You will be made rich in every way so that can be generous on every occasion…” Jesus said that as we give to the needs of others, we do it as to him. This is the essence of the last story or parable that Jesus told in Matthew’s gospel before he was betrayed. He spoke of giving to people in need – looking after the hungry, the thirsty, clothing the needy, caring for the sick, visiting those in prison. Matt 25:40 “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” When we give to others, in a very real sense we are giving to God himself. What an incredible thought! What a wonderful blessing. E As we give to others, we confirm our own faith in God. Faith without works is dead, but when we put feet to our faith and live out the truths of what we believe, then this confirms our faith. 2 Cor 9:12 “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…” We demonstrate what we believe deep in our hearts. That is a blessing. E As we give, others will praise and give thanks to God. 2 Cor 9:12,13 “…overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God… We will me the means that others will grow in their walk with God. What a blessing to flow to us! But there is more… Yes, there are so many blessings that flow into the hearts of those who are generous. But we give not in expectancy of what we receive. I like the words of R.L. Stevenson when he said “Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.” Live life with a giving spirit and leave the rest up to God. There are times when a farmer plants and he doesn’t harvest. Does that mean that we stop sowing? No, we press on, sowing seeds of blessing into the lives of others. We may never see the blessing this side of heaven. Press on! ● Be Generous! What do you intend to do about what you have heard? Has God spoken to you about being more generous with your time, your talents, and your treasure? Is this just an academic argument to you? Margaret Thatcher commented “No one would remember the Good Samaritan if he’d only had good intentions.” He acted on what he had and made a difference in his world. What about us. Do we just have good intentions about being generous or are we ready to go further? Can I encourage you to step out in faith and go on a journey with God. Be generous! |