1. Joyful Giving
Good morning. Today, we continue our series about Loving God and loving our fellow man.
We have considered many topics including; devotional prayer and Bible reading, dependence and obedience, our identity in Christ, becoming God’s ambassador, our relationship to the world, Biblical friendship, and last week, praying for the saints. Today, we consider the topic of giving and more specifically joyful giving.
When I mention giving, what do you think of? Many will think I am speaking about giving money to the church? That is certainly part of it. But there is so much more than that. Follow with me as we study the important topic of Joyful Giving

2. Outline Definitions God’s Gifts to Us Our Response to God’s Gifts
Key Giving Text; 2 Corinthians 8:1-15
More Biblical Giving Principles
Summary
Here is a quick outline of today’s message.
First, some definitions…..What is joyful giving?
Second, we will consider God’s gifts to us.
Third, we will address our response to God’s gifts.
Fourth, we will look at a key passage that discusses principles of joyful giving, 2 Corinthians chapter 8.
Then, a few more Biblical giving principles.
Finally, a quick summary.
Let’s begin with a word of prayer.

3. Definitions
Giving: to grant possession or control of something to another person at no cost
Joyful: happy, glad, rejoice, delighted
Biblical joy:
“I will take joy in the God of my salvation” Habakkuk 3:18
Joy is a fruit of the Spirit, Galatians 5:2
State of delight and well being that results from knowing and serving God
Joyful giving: delight from giving that is in concert with knowing and serving God
What is the definition of giving?
Giving…
Joyful…
Biblical Joy
Habakkuk The Lord’s response: The Lord has His appointed time, The righteous shall live by faith. The Lord gathers for Himself all nations and collect as His own all peoples. Five woes. But the Lord is in His temple., let all the earth keep silent before Him.
Robert Dean “Christian joy is a state of delight and well being that results from knowing and serving God.”
So what is joyful giving? Joyful giving is the delight resulting from giving that is in concert with knowing and serving God

4. God’s Gifts to Us: The Bible
For Salvation
“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17
For Sanctification
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
There are many marvelous gifts of great worth that God has given us. This morning I want to highlight 8
The first is the gift of the God’s Word, the Bible
The Bible is instrumental in salvation and also sanctification
With respect to Salvation, Romans 10:17 says: “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
The word of Christ, is the gospel. The gospel in a nutshell is found in John 3:16: For God so loved the world, that he gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
Paul in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 speaks of the value of the Word in Sanctification. We read:
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent for every good work.”

5. God’s Gifts to Us: Eternal Life
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
“Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift!” Corinthians 9:18
The second gift is Eternal Life
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
“Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift!” 2 Corinthians 9:18
We are not just saved for the moment, but saved for all eternity

6. God’s Gifts to Us: Holy Spirit
“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” John 6:33 “And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38
The third gift is the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is active in many ways:
- Creation; The Bible says that the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the water Gen 1:2
The Holy Spirit is integral to salvation
- He convicts of sin and leads the sinner to repent
- Jesus said: “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” John 6:33
- The new Christian receives the gift of the Holy Spirit. Our second text reads: “And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38
The indwelling Holy Spirit is instrumental in our sanctification the process whereby we become more and more Christ like. The Holy Spirit:
--Teaches us spiritual things; gives us spiritual insight. Apart from the Spirit, we would be ignorant of spiritual truths John 14:26, 1 Corinthians 2:10-11
-- Talks to us…provides guidance; Acts 13:2; 16:6-7
-- Intercedes for us, prompts us to pray, Romans 8:26
-- Comforts us John 14:26
-- and the Holy Spirit reminds us of Scripture John 14:26
What a wonderful gift God gave us in His gift of the Holy Spirit. Imagine life without the Holy Spirit…there would be no life.

7. God’s Gifts to Us: Spiritual Gifts
“To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” 1 Corinthians 12:7 “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” 1 Peter 4:10
A fourth gift God has given each Christian is Spiritual gifts.
Paul says: “To each [that is to each Christian] is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” 1 Corinthians 12:7
Peter clarifies this in his epistle by noting: “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” 1 Peter 4:10
Notice that God’s gifts have been entrusted to us, we are to be stewards of them, and they are to be used to serve one another….or build up the Church of Christ.  

8. God’s Gifts to Us: Evangelists, Shepherds, Teachers
“And He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the ministry for building up the body of Christ Ephesians 4:11-12
The fifth gift from God, we note this morning, is evangelists, shepherds and teachers
Paul in writing to the Ephesians says: “And He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the ministry for building up the body of Christ Ephesians 4:11-12
We are not alone. God has provided evangelists to help get us saved, shepherds to nurture us and teachers to help us grow.

9. God’s Gifts to Us: Good Things
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom their is not variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:17
The sixth gift of God is Good things.
Scripture says: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom their is not variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:17
If we experience good things they are from God. The corollary is that it all good things come from God, we should be thanking God for His many blessings.

10. God’s Gifts to Us: Hope
“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God our Father, who; loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in very good work and word.” Thessalonians 2:16-17
The seventh and very precious gift is Hope.
“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God our Father, who; loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in very good work and word.” 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
The unsaved world does not have hope. The Christian knows the plan of the ages and He knows that God loves Him, died for him, that God will ultimately prevail and we will live with Him forever. Hope keeps us going in the worst of circumstances.

11. God’s Gifts to Us: Victory
“But thanks be to God who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57
Related to the last gift, God gives us victory.
Paul writes to the Corinthians: “But thanks be to God who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57
The Christian has been assured of victory over sin and death

12. God’s Gifts Summary Comprehensive Held nothing back
“inexpressible/indescribable gift”
2 Corinthians 9:15
“so great a salvation” Hebrews 2:3
Let’s summarize the gifts of God.
They are comprehensive: salvation, sanctification, purpose for life, eternal hope and joy
God held nothing back: God have His only Son
“inexpressible/indescribable gift”2 Corinthians 9:15
“so great a salvation” Hebrews 2:3

13. Think back at the gifts of God
Think back at the gifts of God. There are many more than I have quickly listed.
In view of the gifts of God, what should be our response?
Think for a moment about that.

14. Our Response to God’s Gifts
“…love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all of your soul, and with all of your mind and with all of your strength…love your neighbor as yourself.” Mark 12:30-31
“Therefore, I urge you brothers in view of God’s mercy to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.” Romans 12:1
A spiritual act of worship
“Do not neglect to to do good and share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” Hebrews 13:16
Here are some Scripture to help us frame our response to the gifts of God.
We start with Jesus’ summation of the law; “…love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all of your soul, and with all of your mind and with all of your strength…love your neighbor as yourself.” Mark 12:30-31
Then a practical exhortation from Paul found in Romans 12:1; “Therefore, I urge you brothers in view of God’s mercy to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.”
Spiritual acts of worship-include a broken spirit, Ps 51:17-service, Romans 15:16-praise, Hebrews 13:15-and possessions, Hebrews 13:16
Look at what Hebrews says about sharing or gifting
“Do not neglect to to do good and share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” Hebrews 13:16

15. Our Response to God’s Gifts
“We should love one another…by this we know love, that he laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.” 1 John 3:11,16
“But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” 1 John 3:14-15
“As we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Galatians 6:10
The Christian should love God and love one another…
The apostle John writes: “We should love one another…by this we know love, that he laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.” 1 John 3:11,16
Giving is one very important aspect of Christian love
Again John writes: “But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” 1 John 3:14-15
Paul adds; “As we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Galatians 6:10
Put together what do these passages teach?
I submit that, as Christians, our responsibility is to overflow God’s love to other people. Christianity is not just a belief and mind set but actions.
Giving and sharing is at the heart of Christianity. It is a way of testifying about the generous God that we serve and that is within us.
God wants us to gift and share as He has so abundantly gifted us.

16. Who Owns Our Possessions?
God owns everything
“The earth is the Lord’s…the world and those that dwell therein, for He has founded it…. Psalm 24:1-2
Bought with a price
“You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
We are stewards of the resources He has entrusted to us (Luke 12:41-48) and are accountable for how we manage those assets (Romans 12:14).
Who owns our possessions? Three thoughts
First, God owns everything
“The earth is the Lord’s…the world and those that dwell therein, for He has founded it…. Psalm 24:1-2
Second, we have been bought with a price
“You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Third, we are stewards of the resources He has entrusted to us (Luke 12:41-48) and are accountable for how we mange God’s assets (Romans 12:14).

17. How Much Should We Give? Sacrificially Our His Bodies
Physical
Mental
Spiritual
Our His resources
Financial
Real estate
Living things
Possessions
How much should we give?
CHART
We have established that God has given us gifts
In response, we must acknowledge that God owns everything and that what we have has been entrusted to us. We are stewards of God’s resources.
As we know God and serve Him, we learn God’s values, one being abundant giving.
The ultimate example being the gift of His Son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins.
Giving is about so much more than money.
Having established that Christian giving involves much more than money, I now want to talk a little about giving principles.
While the text I am using is about funds, the principles readily can be applied to other facets of giving.

18. Key Giving Text; 2 Corinthians 8
Background
Other churches helping Jerusalem church
Macedonian churched very generous
Corinthian church started help but has fallen off the pace
The key test on giving principles I would like to discuss is 2 Corinthians chapter 8
By way of Background
The Christians in Jerusalem were poor and needed funds.
Other churches helping Jerusalem church
Macedonian churches (Thessalonica and Philippi) were very generous
Corinthian church started help but had fallen off the pace

19. 2 Corinthians 8:1-15
1 We want you to know, brothers about the grace of God
that has been given among the churches of Macedonia.
2 For in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy
and extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of
generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to
their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly
for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints 5 and
this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to
the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 6 Accordingly,
we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should
complete among you this act of grace.
I have broken down the passage into smaller sections.
First, we will read the section and then look deeper to learn the giving principles
Lets get started

20. 2 Corinthians 8:1-15: Deeper Look
1 We want you to know, brothers about the grace of God
that has been given among the churches of Macedonia.
2 For in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy
and extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of
generosity on their part.
Macedonian church giving reflected God’s grace in their lives
Joy in the Lord overcame extreme poverty and resulted in huge generosity
Joy is the delighted feeling that comes from knowing and serving God
1 We want you to know, brothers about the grace of God that has been given
among the churches of Macedonia. 2 For in a severe test of affliction, their
abundance of joy and extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity
on their part.
How is the grace of God involved? What the Macedonian Christians did (give generously), was not a normal human reaction. They had been persecuted and were poor as well. But because their lives had been transformed by the grace of God, they had new values. They loved the Jerusalem saints and in spite of their own circumstances they gave abundantly. So Macedonian church giving reflected God’s grace in their lives
Joy in the Lord overcame extreme poverty and resulted in huge generosity
Remember Christian Joy is the delighted feeling that comes from knowing and serving God
Bill MacDonald notes: The Macedonian churches “were able to combine affliction, joy, poverty and liberality.”

21. 2 Corinthians 8:1-15: Deeper Look
3 For they gave according to their means, of their own
accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part
in the relief of the saints 5 and this, not as we expected,
but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the
will of God to us. 6 Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he
had started, so he should complete among you this act of
grace.
Gave according to their means
Gave of their own accord
Gave first to the Lord and then as the Lord led, to other Christians
3 For they gave according to their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us
earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints 5 and this, not as we
expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to
us. 6 Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete
among you this act of grace.
Gave according to their means
Not 10%...according to their means
The question we must ask is how much is too much…God gave His all
Gave of their own accord
Not under duress, but freely, as the Spirit led
Gave everything to the Lord and then as the Lord led, gave to other Christians. Here is the model for our lives. Everything to the Lord and then waiting for the the Lord’s guidance on how He might want it gifted to others.
The concept of giving according to their means is not just a NT concept. In Deuteronomy 16:17 we read: Everyman shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord you God which He has given you. Deuteronomy 16:17

22. 2 Corinthians 8:1-15
7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—
see that you excel in this act of grace also. 8 I say this not
as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others
that your love also is genuine. 9 For you know that the
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich,
yet for your sake He became poor. So that you by His
poverty might become rich. 10 And in this matter I give
my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not
only to do this work but also to desire to do it. 11 So now
finish doing it well, so that our readiness in desiring it
may be matched by your completing it out of what you
have.
Lets read the next 4 verses

23. 2 Corinthians 8:1-15: Deeper Look
7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in
knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—
see that you excel in this act of grace also. 8 I say this not
as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others
that your love also is genuine.
Excel in this act of grace [giving]
Prove your love is genuine
“Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” John 3:14-15
“…faith by itself , if it does not have works is dead.” James2:17
7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all
earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also. 8 I
say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love
also is genuine.
Excel in this act of grace [giving]. Paul exhorts us to work hard on improving our giving skills.
Prove your love is genuine. As we have already noted, the Christian walk is about action. Consider these passages:
“Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” John 3:14-15
“…faith by itself , if it does not have works is dead.” James2:17

24. 2 Corinthians 8:1-15: Deeper Look
9 For you know that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that
though He was rich, yet for your sake he became poor. So
that you by His poverty might become rich. 10 And in this
matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year
ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do
it.
Christ, the supreme example for giving
9 For you know that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet
for your sake he became poor. So that you by His poverty might become rich. 10
And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started
not only to do this work but also to desire to do it.
The gift of Christ, the perfect Passover lamb, is the supreme example for giving and
should motivate us.

25. 2 Corinthians 8:1-14 Give out of what you have Matter of fairness
11 So now finish doing it well, so that our readiness in
desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of
what you have. 12 For if the readiness is there, it is
acceptable according to what a person has, not according
to what he does not have. 13 For I do not mean that others
should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of
fairness 14 your abundance at the present should supply
their need, so that their abundance may supply your need,
that there may be fairness.
Give out of what you have
Matter of fairness
11 So now finish doing it well, so that our readiness in desiring it may be matched by
your completing it out of what you have. 12 For if the readiness is there, it is
acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not
have. 13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that
as a matter of fairness 14 your abundance at the present should supply their need,
so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness.
Give out of what you have
Matter of fairness

26. 2 Corinthians 8:1-14: Deeper Look
12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to
what a person has, not according to what he does not
have. 13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and
you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness 14 your
abundance at the present should supply their need, so
that their abundance may supply your need, that there
may be fairness.
Give based on what you have
If you have resources, help those who do not
12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not
according to what he does not have. 13 For I do not mean that others should be
eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness 14 your abundance at the
present should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need,
that there may be fairness.
Paul emphasizes again that gifts are based on what you have.
If you have resources, help those who do not
In summary, Paul in 2 Corinthians chapter 8 provides key principles for giving.
While the section is about raising funds for the Jerusalem church, many of the
principles are applicable to all facets of Christian giving

27. More Biblical Principles
“Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” 2 Corinthians 9:5
“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7
“For the ministry of this service [giving] is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.” 2 Corinthians 9:12
Now we quickly turn to four more principles of giving.
First, “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” 2 Corinthians 9:5
The second principle deals with our attitude when giving; “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7
The third deals with the results of giving; “For the ministry of this service [giving] is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 2 Corinthians 9:12

28. More Biblical Principles
“On the first day of of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.” 1 Corinthians 16:2
The fourth principle involves setting aside funds so that we can easily meet needs when they arise.
Paul tells the Corinthians; “On the first day of of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.” 1 Corinthians 16:2
These four principles further our understanding of Christian giving.

29. Summary
God has lavished gifts upon us the greatest being the gift of His Son Jesus
Our reasonable service is to give our lives and all that we own to Him. We are stewards.
Give faithfully and sacrificially using Biblical principles; not just money but everything
Giving will result in needs being met and glory to God
Joyful giving: delight from giving that is in concert with knowing and serving God
This brings us to our summary:
God has lavished gifts upon us many gifts of great worth, the greatest being the gift of His Son Jesus.
Our reasonable service is to give our lives and all that we own to Him. We are stewards of God’s resources.
We should give faithfully and sacrificially using Biblical principles; give, not just money, but everything.
Giving will result in needs being met and glory to God.
Joyful giving should be our goal. That is God’s kind of giving… delight from giving that is in concert with knowing and serving God.