Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, today we embark on a transformative journey, exploring the profound truths of generous giving as exemplified by the remarkable churches in Macedonia.
As your pastor, I must confess that in our beloved ICA church, we have not delved into the subject of giving as often as we should. In fact, as I searched my archives, I could only find two messages I had delivered on the topic of finances, money, and giving – one in 2015 and another in 2016. That’s a long time ago, my friends.
The Importance of Giving in Discipleship
But let me assure you, this is a crucial topic that deserves our attention. You see, giving is not just a peripheral matter – it is an integral part of our Christian discipleship. As followers of Jesus, we must be taught and equipped to understand what the Bible says about this subject.
Did you know that Jesus spoke about money and possessions more than 15% of the time in the Gospels? That’s more than his teachings on heaven and hell combined! This reveals the profound importance Jesus placed on how we handle our financial resources.
Lessons from the Old Testament: The Generous Israelites
Let us begin our exploration by looking at a powerful account from the Old Testament, found in the book of Exodus, chapters 35 and 36. Here, we witness the remarkable generosity of the Israelites as they were called to contribute to the construction of the Tabernacle, a place of worship and the dwelling of God among them.
“Moses said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, ‘This is the thing that the Lord has commanded: Take from among you a contribution to the Lord. Whoever is of a generous heart, let him bring the Lord’s contribution: gold, silver, and bronze…'” (Exodus 35:4-5)
The instruction was clear: those with a generous heart were to bring their offerings for the building of the Tabernacle. And the people responded with an overwhelming outpouring of generosity. So much so that Moses had to issue a command to stop the people from bringing more, for the materials were sufficient for the entire project (Exodus 36:6-7).
Why Were the Israelites So Generous?
You might wonder, “What led the Israelites to be so generous?” I believe there are two key reasons:
1. They could give because they were given. Remember, the Israelites had just been delivered from slavery in Egypt. As they left, they had asked the Egyptians for silver, gold, and jewelry, and the Lord had given them favor in the sight of the Egyptians (Exodus 12:35-36). They had been blessed with these possessions, and now they could freely give back to the Lord.
2. They could give because they were given their deliverance. The Israelites had experienced the miraculous power of God in rescuing them from the oppression of Pharaoh. Their very lives had been transformed, and they were now free to serve the Lord. Out of gratitude for their redemption, they willingly gave.
Beloved, before we give, let us remember that we can give because God has first given to us – both materially and spiritually. Our generosity is a response to the generosity of our loving God.
Lessons from the New Testament: The Generous Macedonian Churches
Now, let us turn our attention to the inspiring example of the churches in Macedonia, as recorded in 2 Corinthians chapters 8 and 9.
The backdrop is that about a year prior, the Corinthian church had committed to collecting an offering for the impoverished believers in Jerusalem. However, due to the influence of some who opposed the Apostle Paul, their relationship had become strained. So, in this letter, Paul is reminding the Corinthians of their earlier commitment and encouraging them to follow through.
But rather than focusing solely on the Corinthians, Paul shares about the remarkable generosity of the Macedonian churches. Listen to his words:
“We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.” (2 Corinthians 8:1-2)
The Macedonian Churches’ Remarkable Generosity
What makes the Macedonian churches’ giving so remarkable? They were giving generously despite being in a “severe test of affliction” and living in “extreme poverty”. Yet, out of their joy and gratitude, they gave beyond their means, begging Paul to let them participate in the relief effort for the saints in Jerusalem (2 Corinthians 8:3-4).
Beloved, let that sink in for a moment. These churches, facing intense hardship and struggling with poverty, were still driven to be generous. They did not let their difficult circumstances become a barrier to their willingness to give.
The Root of Their Generosity
But there is an even more profound lesson to be learned from the Macedonian churches. Paul reveals the true root of their generous giving:
“And this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.” (2 Corinthians 8:5)
You see, the Macedonians’ generosity was not simply an outward action – it was an overflow of their inward surrender to the Lordship of Christ. They had first given themselves to the Lord, and that led to their willingness to give their material possessions as well.
This is a crucial lesson for us all. Generous giving is not just about the money – it’s about our heart’s posture before God. When we truly surrender our lives to the Lord, our finances and possessions naturally follow. As the Apostle Paul reminds us, “You cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:24).
The Gospel of Generous Giving
As we consider these powerful examples of generous giving, let us not forget the ultimate model of generosity – our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul beautifully captures this in 2 Corinthians 8:9:
“For you know 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.”
This is the heart of the gospel – that though Jesus was rich, he became poor, so that we might become spiritually rich through his sacrifice. What an incredible exchange! This is the ultimate display of generous giving, and it should be the foundation of our own generosity.
A Challenge and a Call to Action
My dear brothers and sisters, I challenge you today to examine your own hearts and posture before God. Have you truly surrendered your life to the Lord, allowing your finances and possessions to be an outward expression of your inward devotion? Or have you been holding back, finding excuses for why you cannot be generous?
Remember the words of the Apostle Paul: “Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15) Let us respond to God’s generosity with our own generous hearts and lives.
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” (Mark 12:30)
As we strive to love God with our whole being, may our generous giving be a reflection of that devotion. Let us be like the Macedonian churches, giving joyfully and sacrificially, not out of compulsion but out of a heart that has been transformed by the gracious love of Christ.
Beloved, may the Lord ignite in us a spirit of generosity that overflows from our deep gratitude for all He has done. Let us be a church that models the generous heart of our Savior, bringing glory to His name.