2. The Grace of Giving (2 Corinthians 8-9)
Opening:
As parents Ruth & I were concerned that our children would be financially responsible in handling money. And so from the first time they received pocket money we sought to instil important principles for handling money. We told them:
Divide what you receive into 4 parts, in the following way
Put 10% into a container which is your gift to God, given at Sun school.
Because we think it’s important to learn to save, put 30% into another container for school banking;
Put a second 30% aside to buy a birthday present for your Mum, Dad & brother; we want you to learn to be practically mindful of others.
Do whatever you wish with the remainder; it’s yours to do with as you please.
At that time, the boys received $1 pw, and so there was a 10c offering, and 30c each for banking, family birthday presents, and discretionary spending.
Now to you young ones thinking that we’re tight parents, to those who are glad that we’re not your parents, remember that was in the early 1980s
In 2 Cor 8-9 Paul, as father of the Corinthian church, spells out to its young members the financial principles they were to understand as they made financial decisions. Like a responsible parent, Paul teaches his young charges principles for handling money.
So let’s remind ourselves of these financial principles.
Rob Keller
23rd May 2010

3. Giving Principle # 1
Christian giving is an expression of the grace of God (2 Corinthians 8:1-6)
Christian giving:
Starts with the grace (generosity) God gives (v1)
Christian generosity towards others is an outflow of God’s generosity towards us (v1-5)

4. Christian giving can be a gift of the Spirit (2 Corinthians 8:7)
Giving Principle # 2
Christian giving can be a gift of the Spirit (2 Corinthians 8:7)
All Christians are called to be generous, but some are given the particular gift of giving.
Show OH3: Giving Principle #2
The Corinthians already excel in the spiritual gifts of faith, speech, knowledge, earnestness and love; Paul urges them to excel also in this grace of giving. The grace of giving is a spiritual gift.
Many of God’s gifts are generously bestowed in some measure on all believers and given in special measure to some. For example, all Christians are called to share the gospel with others, but some have the gift of an evangelist. All Christians are called to exercise pastoral care for others, but some are called to be pastors. Just so, all Christians are called to be generous, but some are given the particular gift of giving. Those entrusted with significant financial resources have a special responsibility to be good stewards of those resources. E1

5. Giving Principle # 3
Christian giving is inspired by the cross of Christ (2 Corinthians 8:8-9)
Christian giving:
Is not the result of command (v8)
Is exemplified by the gospel:
Because of our poverty, Christ renounced his riches, so that through his poverty we might become rich (v9)

6. Christian giving is proportionate giving (2 Corinthians 8:10-12)
Giving Principle # 4
Christian giving is proportionate giving (2 Corinthians 8:10-12)
Giving must always be according to their means (v11)
Giving should never be less than proportionate to our income (v12)

7. Christian giving contributes to equality (2 Corinthians 8:13-15)
Giving Principle # 5
Christian giving contributes to equality (2 Corinthians 8:13-15)
“Equality”:
Is not egalitarianism
Sees an end to extreme social disparity
Show OH6 Giving Principle #5
Paul’s desire is not that others may be relieved while they are hard pressed, for that would merely reverse the situation, solving one problem by creating another. At present, Corinthian plenty will supply the needs of others, so that in turn, at a later stage, the plenty of others will supply Corinthian need.
Effectively, Paul calls for an adjustment; that is, an easing of need by affluence.
What is this equality for which Paul calls?
It is not egalitarianism. God’s purpose is not that everybody receives an identical wage, lives in an identical house, equipped with identical furniture, wears identical clothing and eats identical food. Our doctrine of creation evidences that God has made us different, and has given his creation a colourful diversity in physique, appearance, temperament, personality & capacities.
E1 In the local expression of belonging to the family of God, no person is ashamed of his poverty in the light of another’s affluence, and no person has to be ashamed of his affluence in the light of another’s poverty
If we are embarrassed either to visit other people in their home, or to invite them into ours because of the disparity of our economic lifestyles, something is wrong; the inequality is too great, for it has broken the fellowship.
If you keep your car out of sight of others in the congregation, then the equality is too great, for it’s broken the fellowship

8. Christian giving must be carefully supervised (2 Corinthians 8:16-24)
Giving Principle # 6
Christian giving must be carefully supervised (2 Corinthians 8:16-24)
Handling money is a risky business:
Don’t handle the money yourself; appoint someone to take charge (v16-17)
Appoint another who is recognised for their service to the gospel (v18)
Appoint a third, chosen by the churches (v19)

9. Giving Principle # 7
Christian giving can be stimulated by a little friendly competition (2 Corinthians 9:1-5)
Friendly Competition:
Between the northern & southern churches of Greece
We can all be stimulated to greater generosity by hearing about the generosity of others

10. Christian giving resembles a harvest (2 Corinthians 9:6-11a)
Giving Principle # 8
Christian giving resembles a harvest (2 Corinthians 9:6-11a)
Two harvest principles are applied:
We reap what we sow
What we reap has a double purpose
For eating
For further sowing

11. Christian giving promotes thanksgiving to God (2 Corinthians 9:11b-15)
Giving Principle # 9
Christian giving promotes thanksgiving to God (2 Corinthians 9:11b-15)
v11: your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God
v12: this service that you perform ... is ... overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God
v13: men will praise God for your obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity
v15: Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift

12. Exhortation of James Doing increases our understanding
James 1:22, 25: (GNB)
(22) Do not deceive yourselves by just listening to his word; instead, put it into practice. ...
(25) But if you look closely into the perfect law that sets people free, and keep on paying attention to it and do not simply listen and then forget it, but put it into practice---you will be blessed by God in what you do.
E1: James reminds us that God’s blessing flows to those who put into practice the things they’ve been taught; just knowing about something doesn’t cut it. For example,
Knowing the contents of the Rules of the Road booklet doesn’t make you a competent driver
A 27yr old student with a degree in International Business & a MBA is struggling to be employed as a manager because, although he’s been a top student, he’s only ever worked as a casual. As he said to me, knowing the theory is insufficient; I must be able to demonstrate to prospective employers that I’ve successfully applied what I’ve been taught.
E2: Applying what we’ve been taught also increases our understanding of matters arising from the application of those principles. For example with our boys, using the 4 portions principles ...
Chris had it easier than Matt when it came to having money to buy birthday presents. Because of the spread of our birthdays, Chris had 86 days to save for Matt, and then 176 days to save for Ruth and then 103 days to save for my birthday present. Matt had 236 days to save for Ruth, 103 days to save for me, and only 26 days to save for Chris. Matt, by following the finance principles outlined by his parents, soon learned that 26 days – at best 4 weeks – at 30c pw did not amount to much of a birthday present, even in the 1980s! Matthew quickly learned the need to budget his spending over the year.
As the boys became older, we allowed them to decide what were appropriate proportions to apply to the four parts. Initially, the 10% portion was fixed, but the other 3 portions flexed. One son was very keen to increase his savings by spending less on presents, whilst the other was less interested in saving; he preferred to use money as needs became evident.
Then we allowed them to change the 10% if they wished; they still haven’t reduced it.
Doing increases our understanding

13. Two Ways to Live Which model reflects your priorities? Live Work Give
Applying what we’ve been taught (ctd)
I remember one time, when Star Wars was all the rage, that the boys decided they wanted a speeder bike (Return of the Jedi – 1983). Now at 30c pw, it was going to take 50 wks for any one of the boys to save the $15 for this toy. So Chris suggested that they aggregate their savings in order to get the toy sooner. Matt had a concern to be settled before he’d support his brother’s proposal – because he was younger his allowance was less than Chris’ and therefore his contribution to the total cost towards the toy would be less – nevertheless, he was to have equal access time to play with the toy. They agreed and they pooled their savings!
Well, some time later the family was in a church service at which the speaker highlighted the opportunity to sponsor people participating in the 40hr Famine; the money raised would go those in need. Recognising the needs of others greater than his own need for the speeder bike, Matt turned to his brother & said, Our deal’s off; their need is greater and so my contribution goes to them. What a conundrum for Chris! Not only did he understand that the savings period for the toy had suddenly been doubled, his younger brother put him in a spot: was his (Chris’) need for the bike greater than the needs of those we’d just seen on the screen? Am I now going to give away some of my own savings to match my brother’s generosity? How much? What will that do for getting the bike? I’m sure all these thoughts flashed through Chris’ mind!
I only tell you this story because I think it helps us to understand something about the reading that might otherwise escape us. Let me explain through a question: what is it that the Macedonians saw, what was it that they realised/understood that enabled them to give as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability?
I can only guess but let me present to you two scenarios:
For some, it’s something like recognising that the needs of many people are much greater than my own, and therefore I direct resources accordingly.
Now this is good, but we should recognise three things: it is reactive (I’ve become aware of a need), the response is emotional & ad hoc (usually a one-off) . Eg natural disasters: Black Sat (7/02/09), tsunamis, earthquakes, mudslides, floods, etc
For others, sacrificial giving is inspired by the example of Jesus (vv8-9)
Now I suggest that these two scenarios are a reflection of two different ways of living SHOW OH12, E1, E2, E3.
Give
Work
Live
Which model reflects your priorities?

14. One Way to Handle Money
Give
Save
Live
Show OH13 One Way to Handle Money
I believe the financial principles we taught our boys are biblically based, and reflect one way of how to handle money. E1. This is the choice we’ve made wrt handling money. E2: We first give ourselves to the Lord, ...
Now some of you might be thinking, What’s influenced you to make this choice?
Show CBM video
Remember the Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12:13-21)? Why (v20) does God call the rich man a fool? What error of judgement has the rich man made, for God to call him a fool?
The problem wasn’t that he was wealthy.
Neither was it his fault that his assets had multiplied favourably
Rather his error of judgement was that he thought the increase of wealth was for his own use, rather than to meet the needs of those less fortunate than himself.
The extras that God gives his children is not so they might upgrade & upgrade & upgrade; rather it’s to be passed on to those less fortunate
The Father exemplified the behaviour he requires of his people when he gave His Son to meet the needs of those who were incapable of helping themselves.
Remember the Parables of the Shrewd Manager, & The Rich Man & Lazarus (Luke 16)?
The master commended the dishonest manager – not for his dishonesty but – for his foresight in preparing for that future day when the master calls on his servant to give account.
For those who reject this insight to the parable – like the Pharisees of Jesus’ time – Jesus tells a second parable, to highlight that how we handle that which we’ve received in our lifetime (v25) will be assessed against the teaching of the scriptures (v29, 31).
Give yourself first to the Lord, and then to (us) in keeping with the Lord’s will ... according to what one has.

15. Operational cost of Ministries
At CrossCulture ...
General Offering
Mission
Building Fund
Operational cost of Ministries
Missionaries
(32 adults,19 kids)
26 nationals
Special Projects
Joint Partnership
Building Development & Maintenance
Show OH14 At CrossCulture
E1: General Offering, Missions, Building Fund
Ruth & I contribute to all three opportunities for giving;
General Offering: GE 10% of salary, dividends, sale of shares, etc
Missions: Based on faith offering promise given at annual Global Missions Convention, paid weekly.
Building Fund: periodically; Temple Day; tax deductible;
This giving is earmarked for CrossCulture; any financial contributions to other churches or agencies is over and above that what I’ve just said.
E2: Because I’m here to talk about Faith Promise Giving I offer the following:
FP is reviewed & re-committed annually at Global Missions Convention
GMC:
Tentatively last Sun of April, from one Sun to another;
Strong focus on global missions, with a credible, visiting speaker
Faith Promise
Weekly money committed to supporting our missionaries
Africa, Russia, Asia (India, Nepal, China, Japan, Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, etc), PNG, South Seas (Fiji)
At first GMC (39 yrs ago), faith promise totalled $15pw; $8k
Not just about $s; we also measure the number of participants
National Workers (26) supported through 2 organisations, including AEFI
Projects: eg $5k for creating a Hindi Bible on MP3
Partnership: AKS (Orissa, India); SW China?
Closing: