Today’s Word

Stewarding the Grace of Giving

 By William Vigue

“Moreover, brethren, we want you to know of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; How that in a great trial of affliction,…even in their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality… they were willing…; praying for us, with much earnest to receive the gift, and take upon the fellowship of the ministering to the saints… so too we desired Titus, that… he would also finish in you the same grace. Therefore, as you abound in every thing; faith, utterance, knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love to us… see that ye abound in this grace also.” (2Co 8:1-7)  

People of “a baser sort” in and around Corinth had sought occasion to attack the motives of Paul.  Knowing the “unlearned” Christians could be perverted by the accusations Paul was handicapped, but wisely suffered through it.  Now as Paul writes to the Corinthians it is clear the Holy Spirit was leading them to greener pastures regarding the grace of God.

In this same letter to the Corinthians Paul explained what Jesus meant by teaching him: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness”. (2 Cor 12:9) Paul confirms this understood of “sufficient grace” to have a strong outcome in another reference written to the Roman Christians.  He said; “they which receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness shall REIGN in life through Christ Jesus”. (Rom 5:17)  No wonder Peter wrote; “grace be multiplied to you”. (2 Pet 1:2)

Financially supporting the Ministry of the Word is a feature of God’s grace.  In fact, a favorite quote from Paul’s writings; “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” actually refers to him learning to both give and receive offerings.  (Phil 4:10-19)

When Paul received an offering from Philippi he wrote back thanking them.  In his thank you he explained how he learned through God instructing him to “be full and to be hungry, to abound and suffer need.”  Then he added that bold statement of faith; “I can do all things…” Specifically he was speaking of “giving and receiving”.   In him statement “I do not frustrate the grace of God” (Gal 2:21) Paul was teaching us to be obedient in all things by depending on God’s grace to supply sufficiently.

Using a promise of reward Paul encourages Christians to give.  “But this I say, He which sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which sows blessing shall reap also blessings.” (2 Cor 9:6)  God’s principle of sowing and reaping promises reciprocation.

“Every man according as he purposes in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Cor 9:6)

Paul lays out four important guidelines for giving from the heart.  We are remiss to limit the grace of giving to this exclusively for the scripture has much more to say about how we are to give.  But giving with the right attitude is important.  If you cannot give with a proper attitude you’re probably better off not giving.  Get your faith and love aligned with God first then offer your gift.

Paul further encourages us in the grace of giving with another reminder of promise.  “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:” (2Co 9:7-8)   God’s grace involves all things that pertain to our life; both spiritual and practical.  Sufficiency of all things comes from the work of grace.  But the process is ordered.  You have to practice the grace of giving before you will enjoy the grace of reaping.

“For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” (2 Cor 8:9) 

Does Paul refer to Jesus’ application of spiritual things, practical things or both?  Scholars differ, tending to take a stand on one side or the other.  I suggest the “two edged sword” applies here, meaning both streams of thought fit.

Spiritually speaking, In His pre-existence Jesus was always deity.  As the Word of God He was possessor of the richness of the Godhead.  But when He, “the Word of God was made flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14) He stripped Himself of those riches to become mortal (becoming poor).  Why?  So those will believe on Him could be made rich spiritually.  This is a common explanation of that reference.

However, there is the practical side to consider.  The context is very important.  Read the verses both before and after Paul’s statement.  Read the whole chapter.   Paul was addressing the issue of collecting offerings for the Work of the Ministry.

One of the oddities of Jesus’ initial entrance into fulltime ministry is that His “friends” thought He was “beside Himself”. (Mark 3:21-31)  A comparison of the other gospels suggests these “friends” were His brothers, sisters and mother. One translation says they thought He had gone “mad”, another, “he had lost His mind”.  Why; because He suddenly left his trade entered into the fulltime ministry of teaching, preaching and healing.  And probably worse in their mind was that He also immediately started inviting others; like Peter, James, John and all His disciples to forsake their jobs and possessions, take up their cross and follow Him in laboring for and trusting the heavenly Father.

All His years Jesus was a carpenter, not a Leviticus minister.  Carpentry was and is now a skill that provided decent compensation.  There is not much evidence in scripture that this means Jesus was a rich man but there is something to consider.  Jesus lived under the Mosaic Covenant.  That Covenant had the promise of great blessings, including financial ones. (Deut 28:1-14) The blessings were governed by conditions.

“And it shall come to pass, if you shall hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD your God, to observe and to do all his commandments… And all these blessings shall come on you, and overtake you…” (Deut 28:1-2)

No doubt, Jesus was the greatest keeper of the Covenant?  Wouldn’t you say He was the most diligent, the most observant and the most earnest doer of all God’s commandments?  So the characterization that Jesus was a literal rich man on the earth is not far fetched.

When it was His time to sacrifice His mortal life for us Jesus began by giving up His earthly possession. (Matt 4:18-21, Mark 10:20-31)  He forsook all as an example because in coming to Him all would have to give up things to follow Him.  Jesus gave His body as our spiritual sacrifice but He started the process with a grace to give up His possessions too.  (Matt 8:20)

Meat of the Word Ministries

14 Cottonwood Trail

Palm Coast, FL. 32137

www.meatoftheword.org

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 5th, 2009 at 5:02 pm and is filed under Bible Study. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.