Biblical Financial Principle #6b - Cheerfully and Willingly Invest in God’s Kingdom

Cheerfully and willingly invest time, talents and assets in God’s Kingdom - Part 2:

During Paul’s period of ministry there was a need to assist the believers in Jerusalem. He told the Romans: "For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem." (Romans 15:26)

In this context of giving to help the poor among God’s people Paul wrote: "And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much 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." (2 Cor. 8:1-4)

Paul urged the Corinthians to be part of this opportunity but he did not “command” them. Paul stressed the correct attitude of willingness: "But just as you excel in everything-in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us-see that you also excel in this grace of giving. I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have." (2 Cor. 8:7-12)

Paul mentioned a desire that he had for “equality” amongst the believers. Then he continued with the emphasis on being eager and enthusiastic: "For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action." (2 Cor. 9:2) In the Book of Acts we are told that: "All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had." (Acts 4:32)

Paul told the Corinthians about the need for being generous and not giving grudgingly and then said: "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: 'He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.' Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God." (2 Cor. 9:6-12)

In 2 Cor. Chapters 8 and 9 there is no appeal here to the tithe as a standard against which to measure our giving. Instead Paul pointed to other believers and to Jesus, whose love moved them to give, first themselves and then money.
Paul taught the Corinthians: "...we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God." (2 Cor. 4:14-15)

The Greek word for "grace" is "charis." Kenneth Wuest comments that the word comes to its highest and most exalted content of meaning in the New Testament. It refers to God’s offer of salvation with all that that implies ... offered without any expectation of return, but given out of the bounty and free heartedness of the giver (God) ... there is no room for good works on the part of the sinner as a means whereby he could earn his salvation, or after salvation, whereby he might retain that salvation ... good works naturally issue from and are required by grace.

In the case of material giving Paul exhorted these churches to give to the poor. He personally spear-headed a collection from predominantly Gentile Christians for the needs of mostly Jewish Christians in Jerusalem. Yet when he specified the manner in which giving was to be done, he did not follow the Old Testament pattern of a fixed tithe. Rather, he told the Corinthians that “each one should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income” (1 Cor. 16:2), suggesting proportional giving but leaving the decision about degree or extent to individual determination. In a later letter he reminded them that “each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7).

The principles we can glean from this situation are that out of love for God and love for others we should willingly and enthusiastically and cheerfully express our generosity. Whatever we do for the Lord, the Church, other Christians and the world our motivation needs to be love and gratitude and joy. Our gifts and our service must proceed from a cheerful heart and we must never give out of compulsion.