Lesson 500

(Lesson 500)(12-29-12) 2 Corinthians Chapter 9, "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. 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."

In this lesson Paul encouraged the Corinthians to give freely of what they had, explaining that their charitable giving in support of the poor, and evangelism, would be returned to them in excess and assuring the continual spread of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Among Christians, a charitable heart is promoted in the New Testament above all other spiritual convictions, 1 Corinthians 13:1-4, 8 and 13, "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity."

It is interesting to note that in every scriptural instance, concerning giving, the primary purpose is to support the poor and in some instances, to support evangelism. (There are a couple of references made to tithing before Jesus fulfilled the Law of Moses, which, by the way, has nothing to do with today's giving among Christians.)

Some "churches" finance certain outreach "missions" and also give generously to the poor. These are efforts that are truly sanctioned by New Testament scripture. However, a great portion of the money collected by today's "churches" is spent to make the membership more comfortable as they "worship".

Some sects even spend a part of the collections on mailing programs intended to pressure the membership to contribute their "tithes".

Heaven knows I have NO right to judge the intent of the giving practices of anyone, but there seems to be something terribly wrong with "giving in the name of the Lord" to promote one's own comfort.~