November 27, 2023
Building People of Substance for Works of Power
6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 9 As it is written: “HE HAS DISPERSED ABROAD, HE HAS GIVEN TO THE POOR; HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ENDURES FOREVER.” 10 Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, 11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. 12 For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, 13 while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men, 14 and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you.
2 Corinthians 9:6-14 NKJV
Have you ever felt pressured to give? I know I have. I remember one guy on TV saying that God told him there were 500 people who would send him a specific sum. He went on and on, looking angrily into the close-up camera. Unfortunately, it worked, though it took several agonizing minutes of grimaces. On another occasion, I was in a service with a missionary slide presentation. As the screen displayed children in various states of malnutrition, “Thank You for Giving to the Lord” played in the background. It was a real heart-tugger. I always wonder how many people make pledges in these high-emotion situations, then realize later they can’t fulfill the commitment. Maybe God will attribute part of the responsibility for their lie to the one who squeezed it out of them.
These are only 2 examples of the many ways that humans use to stir emotions to provoke giving. Early on, I made a decision not to do that. New Testament Spirit-people should make decisions based on their own conviction concerning the will of God. As Paul told the church at Corinth, “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion.” Some folks jump straight from this verse to, “the tithe is not for the New Covenant.” They assert that all New Testament giving should be as each individual is led by the Spirit. If you’re not “led” to tithe, then you shouldn’t tithe.
That idea has just enough truth to make it palatable, but I think it misses the point of the Law and the result of grace. Paul said this about the purpose of the Law:
Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, (9) understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, (10) the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, (11) in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.
1 Timothy 1:8-11 ESV
The Law is good to provide boundaries on the behavior of those whose hearts are not reliable guides. This is why, in our country, as fewer and fewer people serve the Lord, more and more law enforcement is required to control lawlessness. Indeed, the fallen nature of man inevitably runs afoul of any rule that consistently restrains it. We are rebellious and selfish by nature. Our current state of unrestrained crime comes from a diabolical combination of suppressing the Gospel and demonizing law-enforcement. Humans with no internal or external restraint are a dangerous species, indeed.
The Law was given to unregenerate people whom God wanted to live as His representatives in the earth. Think about what Jesus said concerning the divorce provisions in Deuteronomy 24. “He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so” (Matthew 19:8 NKJV). Recognizing that fallen man could never keep the original standard, God made a provision to make family life possible. Man’s inability to keep the Law was never a failure of the Law. The problem was always with men’s hearts. Jesus came to change that.
God set standards for His Old Covenant people so they would know how to reflect His nature to other nations. Under the New Covenant, the requirements go up, not down. The new birth changed the heart of man, not the nature of God. If you are Christ’s, then you have His nature in you. His standards are inscribed on your heart. Instead of, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” Jesus tells New Covenant believers to “Love one another as I have loved You.” The standard went up, not down. We no longer measure love by our pitiful and selfish human capacity, but by His absolute and selfless sacrifice.
When Paul said each of us should “give as he purposes in his heart,” he’s not giving us permission to be stingy, he’s instructing us to let the generous nature of God in us control and inspire our giving. It seems that some people read Paul’s instruction to the Corinthians as, “Man, I know that 10% thing was really tough. But don’t worry, Jesus has come and given His life so that you don’t have to give so much. Just do what you think you can.” NO! Read again the language Paul used to describe the kind of giving he was urging:
“Bountifully (3 times)” + “cheerfully” + “an abundance for every good work” + “dispersed abroad” + “multiplied seed” + “enriched for liberality” + “supplies needs” + “abounding” + “liberal sharing” + “exceeding grace of God.”
It’s almost like he was trying to make a point: The heart of a new creation wants to give like his Creator!
Somebody said: “All the money needed to send and support an army of self-sacrificing, joy-spreading ambassadors is already in the church.” – John Piper
Scripture Readings:
- The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself. (Proverbs 11:25 NKJV)
- But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 2 Corinthians 9:6 NKJV
Here’s the Point:
The Law gave us a blueprint for the kind of generosity that God intends for His image-bearers. The New Birth put that blueprint in our hearts. God’s principles and provision have not changed, but we have. The New Birth transformed our nature, enabling us to reach higher toward living up to the original design. It’s time to move forward, not pull back. Quit asking, “What do I have to do?” Look at Jesus square in the face and ask, “What should I do? What can I do? What would You have me do?” As His mom said, “”Whatever He says to you, do it” (John 2:5).
Pastor Virgil
3141 W. Ironwood Hill Dr.
Tucson, AZ 85741
New Class: “The Tithe. An 8-hour course focused on God’s plan and purpose in the tithe. The videos and course outline are available free of charge on the FCF Tucson YouTube channel.
pastorvirgil.com 