This exposition of 2 Corinthians 8:16-24 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, August 26, 2018.
Intro:
The old miser was told there was no hope. He was going to die and it was time to get his affairs in order.
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The old man sent for his doctor, his lawyer and his preacher. Once the three were gathered around his deathbed the old man said, “They say you can’t take it with you but I think I’ve found a way. I have three envelops and I want each of you to take one. You are the only ones I trust. Each envelop contains $100,000 in cash. Just before they seal the casket I want each of you to slip in your envelop.” All three pledged to do so. The day of the funeral each man slipped his envelop into the casket as promised. On the way home, the conscious stricken doctor said, “I’m building a clinic so I took $50,000 and put the rest in the coffin.” Then the lawyer confessed, “I kept $75,000 for a legal defense fund and put $25,000 in.” The preacher said, “Gentlemen I am ashamed of you. I put in a check for the full amount!”
Calvin said, “There is nothing that so leaves a man open to sinister insinuation as the management of public funds.” We know that to be true and unfortunately the church of the Lord Jesus has seen it share of scandals involving the mismanagement of money. When you consider some of what has been done it is understandable that a skeptical, scoffing world casts aspersions on preachers and their offerings. That is not new, apparently there were questions swirling around the apostle Paul and the offering being collected for the church at Jerusalem. We read about it in 1 Corinthians 16:1-4, 2 Corinthians 8-9 and Romans 15:14-32. 2 Corinthians chapters 8 and 9 are basically Paul’s urgent call for the Corinthians believers to fulfill a commitment they have already made (8:11; 9:2).
…So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have.
…for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them.
So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction. (9:5)
This evening our focus will be on chapter 8 beginning with verse 16.
Text: 2 Corinthians 8:16-24
As we work through this text we find that…
Thesis: In his instructions to the Corinthians believers about the offering for the church in Jerusalem the apostle Paul provides us a model for biblical giving.
I want to share with you 3 principles that should guide us in our approach to giving through the church to the work of the gospel and the relief of the poor.
- Our giving is to be motivated by and a reflection of genuine concern for the gospel and for others. (8:16-17)
- We should demand that our gifts be handled with integrity and accountability. (8:18-23)
- Our giving should be a tangible expression of our love for Christ and His church. (8:24)
Conclusion:
This is the extension of the first half of the chapter.
Give to show your love.
Your love for Christ.
Your love for the Church.
Your love for the poor.
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