2Corinthians 9:6-15; Season 8, Episode 7 (30min)

"The Proportion of the Gift"

The Outline:

II. EXHORTATION:
The Appeal of Paul the Father (6:11-9:15)

FOR YOUR CLEANSING (6:11-7:1)
FROM MY CONFIDENCE (7:2-16)
ABOUT THE COLLECTION (8:1-9:15)

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C. ABOUT THE COLLECTION (8:1-9:15)

Examples of Grace Giving (8:1-9)
Principles of Grace Giving (8:10-9:15)

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2. Principles of Grace Giving (8:10-9:15)

The Reliability (8:10-12)
The Equality (8:13-15)
The Honorability (8:16-24)
The Responsibility (9:1-5)
The Generosity (9:6-15)

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e. The Generosity (9:6-15)

An Enrichment (9:6-11)
A Thanksgiving (9:12)
A Praise (9:13)
A Prayer (9:14)
A Gift Beyond Words (9:15)

***

APPENDIX: Giving[i]

PERCENTAGE OF GIVING

In the OLD TESTAMENT:

Numbers 18:21-24; A Tithe (10%) To maintain the temple

Deuteronomy 14:22-24; A Tithe (10%) To the Lord’s feasts and sacrifices

Deuteronomy 14:28-29; A Tithe (10%) Every third year for the poor and for the Levites

TOTAL = 20%; EVERY THIRD YEAR = 30%;

(Or 23.3% EQUALIZED ANNUALLY)

In the NEW TESTAMENT:

Acts 20:35; A general blessing to any giver (NO % Specified)
1Corinthians 6:20; Everything you are and have (100%) belongs to God already — You are now a 'steward' of what is already His
1Corinthians 16:2; The only criterion for New Testament giving — It is proportional (“As God has prospered”)

Note: ‘TITHING’ as such is:

Never exhorted in the New Testament. Paul taught for two whole chapters on the subject of giving (2Corinthians 8 & 9), and did not attempt to “Christianize” the Old Testament tithing procedure.

Mentioned in the Gospels as historical record, but Jesus Himself speaks of it only in derogatory terms (Matthew 23:23; Luke 11:42).

A Law principle, implemented within the nation of Israel as a part of their theocratic ‘tax structure.’

GIVING is a blessing of grace (Acts 20:35), and grace has no fixed standard. Even during the Mosaic Covenant, grace giving was practiced. (Ezra 1:6, “a free-will offering,” and Ezra 2:69, “According to their ability they gave …”)

PLACE OF GIVING

OT:Malachi 3:10; “The storehouse” (At the Temple)

NT: Matthew 6:1-4; “In secret”

Galatians 6:10; “To all people, and especially to those who are of the household of faith”

1Corinthians 16:2-3; “On the first day of every week put aside and save.”; Note: It is not clear whether this was carried out individually or brought to a corporate fund at their gathering.

1Timothy 5:17-18; To those who work in the Word

PRINCIPLES OF GIVING: 2CORINTHIANS 8 & 9

8:1-6; MOTIVATED GIVING:

“According to their own ability, and beyond …”
“Of their own accord”
“The favor of participation”; Notice: In direct contrast to much of today’s solicitations for support, who it was doing the “begging” — it was the GIVERS who were “BEGGING us with much entreaty for the favor …”!
“First gave themselves to the Lord and to us …”

8:7-15; GRACE GIVING

“This gracious work”
“The sincerity of your love”
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ”
“For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable …”
“That there may be equality”; Note: This does not support the economic principles of Marxism, but rather a balance of responsiveness to needs.

8:16-22; QUALITIES OF A COURIER/TREASURER
and PRINCIPLE OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

“Very earnest"
A reputation “in the things of the gospel”
(But Paul keeps him anonymous here)
“Appointed by the churches”
“Taking precaution so that no one discredits us”
“Regard for what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.”

Note: The extent to which it is necessary to stay HONORABLE: “taking precaution that no one should discredit us in our administration of this generous gift.” Sadly, the name of Christ has been dishonored by the way some ministries have handled the Lord’s funds. They have fallen short of their responsibility of taking proper measures so as to not be “discredited.” Paul seemed intent upon this principle when he included in 1Corinthians 16:2-3: “…that no collections be made when I come.”

“Tested and found diligent”

9:1-5; PLANNED AND COMMITTED GIVING:

“That …you may be prepared” (Diminish Embarrassment)
“Arrange beforehand your …promised bountiful gift” (Avoid Covetousness)

9:6-11; QUALITIES OF THE GIVER:

“Just as he has purposed in his heart” (Planned)

“God loves a cheerful giver”; (Happy)

1Corinthians 16:2-3;“put aside and save" (Regular)

PROMISES TO THE GIVER:

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you”
“Having all sufficiency in everything”
“Now He … will supply and multiply”
“You will be enriched in everything for all liberality”

9:12-15; RESPONSE BY THE RECIPIENTS:

“Producing thanksgiving”
“Glorify God for your obedience”
“Prayer on your behalf”

Note: The Support of Workers

It is clear from Scriptural commands and examples that certain workers or elders are to be supported financially by God’s people.(1Timothy 5:17-18; Philippians 4:15-19) But this support seems to come as a willful response of believers to the needs of those serving Christ and from their obedience to God’s Word.
Paul was even committed by principle to work part or full time in his own business to avoid the extra complications that can arise because of money.(1Thessalonians 2:9; 2Thessalonians 3:8; 2Corinthians 11:9) In fact the King James uses the word “chargeable.” This seems to indicate that Paul did not want to enter into an artificial accountability to someone simply because they were forced to “pay his salary,” or to ever feel like his “patron(s)” owned him and his ministry.[ii]
It seems that the key principle is one of freedom.A worker for the Lord should be free to preach and teach and lead without becoming unduly “bound” to the person(s) providing the resources. Those who give to the Lord should be free to obey God by giving willingly without being pressured by a contract—written or “understood.”[iii]
The Lord’s worker should be accountable to proper spiritual authority in the local church regardless of the amount or direct source of financial support, but should steer clear of the trap of “professional” ministry that determines a person’s “job” by the amount of his “pay.”[iv]

[i] Excerpted from the book From the Fold to the Flock by Glendall Toney, Xulon Press, 2012.

[ii] Someone once told me, "Where the money comes from, there is also accountability.” I have concluded that that person was right. And it is a perfectly acceptable principle for all work, except (I have come to see) in the area of the Lord’s work. If you dig a ditch or build a bridge or are a CEO in a major corporation, those who pay your wage have every right to tell you how to do your job. But what price can you put upon the Lord’s ministry? Also, if this were true, every pastor, teacher, evangelist, etc., would become the “employee” of whoever is paying for his services. Whether it’s the board of the church, or the congregation, or the prominent successful business person, or the lone rich widow, the Lord’s worker enters into a sort of “bondage” that in the end will dictate the content and spirit of his ministry and message. I know about one church which, after having one pastor for 10 or 12 years, went through five ministers in six years, until the last fellow figured out that none of his predecessors (nor he) did what the first pastor did—drop by the auto dealership of a prominent member (and supporter!) once a week for coffee and a chat.

[iii] Can you imagine the dilemma that could arise in the Lord’s work if an evangelist or Bible teacher began to ‘charge’ what the ‘market value’ of his services are worth, using as a gauge other similar important professions such as a doctor or lawyer or ‘motivational speaker’. What would be the equitable ‘wage’ for the salvation of a soul or a transformed life or just one great sermon?

[iv] I personally believe the principle of “not letting your left hand know what your right hand is doing” (Matthew 6:3) on both sides. The worker does God’s work and receives support as it comes from Him, without being bound to whoever is paying the highest bid. The giver should give with “no strings attached” as “to the Lord,” so that there is no threat of “control” over what should be God’s work.