GIVING AND RECEIVING – PART ONE

Welcome back, friends. Today, we have an important topic to discuss. We are familiar with it, I know; but I want to approach it from a slightly different perspective. And that is: Giving and Receiving. We want to see what the scripture says. We’ take our text from,

2 Corinthians 8:1-7

Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: ² that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. ³ For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, ⁴ imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. ⁵ And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. ⁶ So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. ⁷ But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also.

That’s the grace of giving.

PRAYER:

Father, we want to implore that You help us as we go through this very important topic: Giving and Receiving. Make it clear to us; make it clear to us, we pray, in Jesus Name. Amen!

We will attempt to answer two important questions in this first part. I’m not even sure we will be able to answer the two questions. But there are actually three questions:

• Why should Christians give?
• What do Christians give?
• How do Christians give?

Why Should Christians Give?

1. The nature of God answers that question.

The nature of God calls for giving. God is a giving God. The bible introduces Him to us as in Genesis as a giving God. The earth is a gift from Him. Apart from this material gift, which is the earth, the bible also gives us a catalogue of the priceless spiritual gifts God gave the world through His people Israel.

Romans 9:3

³For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, ⁴who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; ⁵of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.

We are familiar with John 3:16: so familiar with it now that we do no give it sufficient thought.

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

In this we find the climax of God’s giving nature. People can give without love, and at little or no cost; but no one can love without giving sacrificially. Only the giving that stems from love is true giving. And this is the giving that honors God.

The nature of God is one reason why Christians should give.

2. All of life depends on giving and receiving.

Galatians 6:2&6

² Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

⁶ Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.

There you find giving and receiving. One gives something spiritual. And the Word of God says, you, the recipient, can also give: but something physical. I know that some of us are familiar with John Donn’s famous statement; John Donn who lived long ago. He said,

No man is an island,
Entire of itself,
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thy friend’s
Or of thine own were:
Any man’s death diminishes me,
Because I am involved in mankind,
And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;
It tolls for thee.

John Donn is telling us that all of life depends on giving and receiving. And wherever you are, wherever you may be, you are in a position to receive; you are in a position to give.

3. God has designed giving as a means of enriching or blessing His people.

Proverbs 11:24-25

²⁴ There is one who scatters, yet increases more;
And there is one who withholds more than is right,
But it leads to poverty.
²⁵ The generous soul will be made rich,
And he who waters will also be watered himself.

God has designed giving as a means of enriching His people.

Malachi 3:10

¹⁰ Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,
That there may be food in My house,
And try Me now in this,”
Says the Lord of hosts,
“If I will not open for you the windows of heaven
And pour out for you such blessing
That there will not be room enough to receive it.

I know some say that tithing is not for the New Testament; it is in the Old Testament. But I want to remind you that Abraham paid tithe to Melchizedek; and Melchizedek is a type of Christ. But that apart, those who say that tithing is not for the Christians, I want to tell you that it is a good way to start; because under grace (which is your argument) you are supposed to give more than one-tenth.

2 Corinthians 9:6

⁶ But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

God has designed giving as a means of prospering His people. The one who gives God prospers him more. How? God is looking for an open channel to pour His blessings into that, because when the channel, you: if you are the open channel, when God sees that you will flow with His gifts, with His blessings to others, He will pour more and more into your life. Do not be like the Dead Sea that receives and does not give out. And that’s why it is dead; for no life can thrive there. But the sea of Galilee is so rich. It receives and gives.

What does God expect us to give? Why do we give? We’ve seen why we need to give. We give because the nature of God calls for it – because our God is a giving God. We give because all of life depends on giving and receiving. God has designed giving as a means of enriching or blessing His people.

When we come back we look at what God expects us to give. What does the Christian really give?

But before I pray I want to challenge you, friend, with that verse that we read earlier: the old scripture – John 3:16, ¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave…

He has given you the best; and that is His Son. Whoever receives this Son…

To receive this Son means to believe in Him. You will not perish; you will have eternal life – the greatest gift that God has given to any man. Have you received the Son of God, friend. Do so now.

PRAYER:

Father, we thank You again for this opportunity we have had to look into Your Word. And I pray for my friends; and I pray, dear Lord, that You bless those who have not received this Savior, that You bless them now with eternal life. And those who have received, that You open them up as Your channel of blessing, that You may pour more and more blessings, spiritually as well as materially, into their lives; that they may dispense to others. Grant this, Father, we pray, in Jesus Name. Amen!