Oh When the Saints are Generous

2 Corinthians 9:5-15
So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift[b] you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction. (demanding and obtaining from someone)

Willingly. In the final analysis, the key to giving lies in the attitude of the heart. In 8:12 and 9:7 Paul employs three adjectives that characterize the attitude that God finds acceptable. It must, in the first place, be a willing gift: if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable (8:12). It is not the amount that counts with God. If a readiness to give is present, then the gift is gladly received, whether it be large or small.

The gift must also not be offered "reluctantly" (literally, "with pain"; 9:7). Nor should it be done "under compulsion"--that is, as though there were no other alternative (9:7). Arm-toisting is a common practice today. Pledge drives too often work this way. Instead of soliciting willing contributions, fundraisers bring to bear external pressure of one kind or another (such as making pledges public and applauding large donations), and people feel forced to give so as not to lose face. This is what Paul was hoping to avoid by sending Titus far enough in advance to allow for the contribution to be willing, not forced.

The Cheerful Giver
6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully[d] will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Cheerfully Finally, the offering that God finds acceptable is one that has been cheerfully given (9:7; hilaros our English term "hilarious"). The cheerful giver is one who is happy to give and gives gladly. The sentiment is an Old Testament one. The last part of the verse is a free quotation of the Greek translation of Proverbs 22:8 (LXX): "God blesses a cheerful and generous person."
8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency[e] in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

9 As it is written,“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”10 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. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, they[f] will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

Generously.  It doesn’t mean that we are to take a vow of poverty. We are not to set our hopes on riches.

1 Timothy 6:17-18:
As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share.

The New Testament emphasizes generous giving.
1. Christ held up for an example the widow, who gave for an offering only two mites, but from her want, as greater than the rich who gave from their abundance, Luke 21:1–4.
2. The apostle Paul held up the example of the Macedonian Church. II Corinthians 8:2–4: Out of the most severe trail, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. (NIV)
3. Christ made himself an offering unto God by dying on the cross, which serves as the most mature example of giving. And God’s sacrifice of his only begotten son also demonstrates the ultimate nature of giving.

I have never regretted one time that I have been generous and sown into the kingdom of God. For that matter I have never regretted one time that I have been around generous people.

We should give willingly, cheerfuly and generously to the Work of God.

David Platt, director of the SBC International Mission Board has the unenviable task of attempting to gain control of an SBC missions budget that since 2010 has spent $210 million more than what they have collected. Because of this, Platt said, they will need to cut 600-800 individuals from their payroll. That should burden our hearts.  The average American gives only 2.32 percent of his or her disposable income to charities.  The estimate is that only 3% of the church gives a full ten percent of their income.

Some years ago a woman was preparing a box to be sent to some missionaries in India. A child gave her a penny. The woman used this penny to purchase a tract for the box. Eventually the tract reached a Burmese chief and was used to lead him to Christ. The chief told the story of his conversion to his friends, many of whom believed. Eventually a church was established and over fifteen hundred people were converted to Christianity. The lesson is plain: no gift willingly given is too small for God to use.

We should Give Willingly, Cheerfuly and Generously For Real Needs
Paul, on the other hand, defines need as a lack or shortage of life's necessities (1 Tim 6:8). In the first century this amounted to a want of food, clothing or shelter (2 Cor 11:27).

The Bible clearly indicates that we shall prosper from sowing money in the work of God and for real needs.
1. II Corinthians 9:6-8:…He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give, not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 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.
2. Luke 6:38: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

Do you love and trust money or do you love and trust in God?
I am not a prosperity gospel teacher. I despise it. I despise that people have twisted the scripture to mean something that it doesn’t mean. I despise when preachers get on tv and say that if you give $63.23 cents to their ministry or program that God will give you ten or a hundred fold. I despise that tv preachers and some pastors take the money of the people and use it for their selfish good. I despise when people lock the doors of the church and say if you don’t give, you don’t leave (I have heard of it happening Before). I despise when pastors talk and pray more about money than about salvation and making disciples.

But then Jesus talks about money. A lot. The tithe predated the law Cain and Able gave what was considered a tithe, a tithe was a part of the law, and continues as the beginning point after the law, I think Jesus and Paul up the “anty.” They say be willing, cheerful, and generous.

Give your first and your best. It requires faith to give first.  It doesn’t require faith to give a little bit of the last.  We encouarge you to give willingly, cheerfully and generously.