BIG IDEA:
GOD GUARANTEES A RETURN ON SPIRITUAL INVESTMENTS –
THE PROMISES OF GOD PROMOTE GENEROUS GIVING WHICH BINDS BELIEVERS TOGETHER IN GLORIFYING GOD
INTRODUCTION:
Have you ever made a really bad investment?? Discouraging to throw your money away. How generous are you when it comes to investing in the Lord’s work?
I. (:6-11a) 5 PROMISES OF GOD THAT PROMOTE GENEROUS GIVING
A. (:6) Promise of Proportional Reaping
1. Sow sparingly . . . Reap sparingly
“Now this I say, he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly”
2. Sow bountifully . . . Reap bountifully
“and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully.”
Implies a careful effort; not just a scattering of the seed by careful
Planting; Laws of nature apply to laws of giving
B. (:7) Promise of Blessing of Free Will Offerings
1. OT Background of Free Will Offerings
2. Positively: Purposeful Giving
“Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart”
3. Negatively:
a. Not grudgingly
b. Or under compulsion
4. Blessing: “for God loves a cheerful giver”
“hilarious”
C. (:8-9) Promise of Abundant Grace
1. Key Principle:
“And God is able to make all grace abound to you”
2. Meeting All Your Needs
“that always having all sufficiency in everything”
3. Providing Extra Resources to Help Others
“you may have an abundance for every good deed”
4. (:9) Supporting OT Quote – Result = Abiding Righteousness
“as it is written, ‘He scattered abroad, he gave to the poor, his righteousness abides forever.’” Psalm 112:9
Tasker: Paul now produces Scripture proof for the truth that the giver shall be provided with the means of giving. In Ps. cxii, after stating in verse 3 that the man who fears God will never lack riches, the psalmist goes on to say in verse 9 that the righteous man, who desires to express his righteousness in beneficence, will never lack the means of doing it. Righteousness is used here for “almsgiving” (cf. Mt. vi. 1).
D. (:10) Promise of Supplying Both Abundant Seed and Abundant Harvest
“Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness” God provides the capital for all spiritual investments
E. (:11a) Promise of Overall Enrichment
“you will be enriched in everything for all liberality”
II. (11b-14) THERE ARE IMMEDIATE RETURNS ON SPIRITUAL INVESTMENTS – GENEROUS GIVING BINDS BELIEVERS TOGETHER IN GLORIFYING GOD
A. (:11b-12) Produces Abundant Thanksgiving to God
(in addition to meeting the needs of the saints)
“which through us is producing thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God.”
B. (13) Causes the Recipients to Glorify God
1. Because of Obedience to the Confession of the Gospel
“Because of the proof given by this ministry they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ”
2. Because of the Generosity of the Gift
“and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all”
D. (:14) Binds Believers Together — receiver prays for giver
“while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you.”
Relates to spiritual growth and ministry
(:15) BENEDICTION
“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”
Some think this refers to God’s grace in the life of the Corinthians to spur them to giving … but it must refer to God’s incredible gift of His Son (John 3:16)
* * * * * * * * * *
PREACHING CHRIST:
1) Christ is the supreme example of sowing abundantly; of giving purposefully (setting His face to go to the cross); of giving freely and cheerfully.
2) Throughout His earthly ministry, Christ had all of his physical needs met by His heavenly Father and was prospered in righteousness.
3) The gospel of Jesus Christ is all about giving and should produce in us a spirit of generous giving if we are obedient to our confession.
4) Words are not adequate to describe the incredible gift of Jesus Christ (and the associated grace) which has been given to us by the Father.