Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to tell you a little story.
Many years ago, I was at a church service somewhere, and I know that when we give an alm, it’s supposed to be done in secret but I’m using this story to illustrate the blessings of God. When the service was all done I gave everything that I had in my wallet. I didn’t feel forced to do it, I just freely gave it. I think it was $40, but we had to drive to Southern Minnesota that weekend and I had no money for gas. I did happen to have just enough gas in my car to get there, but the next day when we went to a dollar store, my wife had told me that she found a small treasure chest that she clearly saw a dollar bill inside of. I think they only wanted 10 cents for it so I bought it. As soon as we got into the car, we opened it up and found exactly $40. But this is the way God works and I’ve seen it happen many times in my life. When you freely give to the things of God, He blesses you because of it. Even Abel was blessed for giving so lovingly unto God.
This reminds me of the Christian life.
The scriptures are very clear about sowing a financial seed to the work of God. There are many people who frown on this in the world today, but the Lord Jesus has ordained that those who preach the gospel can live of the gospel. It’s the income through the gospel that provides for them and their families, housing, and other simple pleasures in their life. Just like any other person in the world, they are making a living too by providing others with Spiritual knowledge and other things that they need to get to heaven. Even like a soldier who walks away from everything in order to enter the military, he and his family are well taken care of. Well, the same is also true as a soldier of God. Providing for their needs shows that the love of God is in you, because the love of money is the root of all evil. But even though some people didn’t want to give to to those who were spending their time preaching, the Apostle put up with it for the sake of maintaining unity and love in the church.
Tithing was done in Judaism, but in the Christian faith it’s not forced upon you by the Old Testament law. The Apostle teaches the church to give from the heart, whether it’s a lot or a little, but he does explain to them that those who sow bountifully are going to reap bountifully. Today we are going to take a look at this large passage of Scripture piece by piece and talk about it.
2 Corinthians 9:1-15 (KJB) For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you: For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many. Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready: Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting. Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.
(First of all, this entire passage is about giving in the church. A bounty is defined as a large and generous supply of something, given with an open hand and in a kind manner to a preacher’s needs. But God can prosper you financially when you give generously, and make even more finances appear in your life. I’ve seen this happen many times in my own life. God can even bless you with physical health and other such things. When you minister financial seed to the sower of God’s Word, He can bring bountifulness into your life and increase the seed that is sown. He can prosper you, just as the Apostle teaches in another passage of Scripture.
1 Corinthians 16:2 (KJB) Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
(So, back to our main study passage once again,……)
But this I say, 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: (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men; And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you. Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
Jesus is an incredible Gift to the world, and a preacher is a gift to the church. The Lord is watching what you give from the heart for their work towards you. Jesus even commended a poor widow, because she only needed to tithe her money according to the Old Testament, but out of love and kindness she gave everything that she had available.
Luke 21:1-4 (KJB) And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
So when it comes to giving in the church, make sure that you give according to your heart, because I don’t think any of us want to receive a free gift from somebody that was given in ill will. But know this, that the blessings of God can certainly come upon you when you give bountifully to the work of God, and it all begins by,..,.
…….Freely Giving
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.
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