2 Corinthians 8-9

Jesus talked about financial stewardship more than he talked about heaven and hell combined. 

This was written 30 yeas after the ascension of Jesus. Full physical persecution hasn’t fully ramped up, but financial persecution is in full swing. Christians in Jerusalem were ousted from local commerce and were struggling to even eat. The church in Corinth said they were going to give and then stalled out. Paul is writing to them and encouraging them to follow through on the promise. The scriptures are not trying to rob us. It is trying to help us be free from the idolatry of money. This is not socialism. It is radical, Biblical generosity. 

1. They gave to the need through the church. “I can be generous on my own.” Yes! That doesn’t negate the rightness of giving through the church to accomplish greater good by joining together. 

2. Giving is a spiritual discipline. 2 Cor 8:7 Spiritual disciplines are things we do to form our hearts toward God. When you divorce generosity from your spiritual life you are stunting your spiritual growth and choosing to have a limited experience of God. Just because some people have a particular spiritual gift doesn’t mean the rest of us are off the hook. We should be pursuing all of them. Luke 12:24 3. Giving is a statement of trust of God. 

4. Giving is an act of grace, not a commandment of the law 2 Cor 8:7b-8; 9:5 A grace means a work of the Spirit in me. Is the tithe a requirement for NT believers? Tithe is hinted at before the law and a commandment of the Mosaic law. Galatians says we aren’t under the law. Jesus upheld it when talking to the Pharisees. No matter where you land, grace always goes farther than the law. People who argue that the tithe is OT only use this excuse to not give. The tithe was the bare minimum for people who had not been renewed by the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Not, “how much do I need to” it’s “how much do I get to?”

5. Giving is much more about what is in your heart than what is in your hand. God doesn’t need our money to fund His Kingdom. His using of our resources is a grace. We get to participate. If you view this as “God tax,” keep it. That brings no pleasure to God. 2 Cor 9:12-13

The practice of giving mirrors God’s generosity. You cannot be Christlike and not be radically generous. 2 Cor 8:9; 9:15 

6. God sees giver and will take care of the giver. 2 Cor 9:8 “Sowing money” does not mean God will repay you in money. The riches of the Kingdom are not the riches of this world. Giving is not a hack for wealth. It is not transactional. He won’t leave you regretting you gave. You will abound in joy.