Last week I mentioned how I don’t much enjoy talking about the subject of giving. Here I am now, having to preach a second consecutive message on the subject (And that during the Christmas season). One of the ways I comfort myself is by noting that the subject of Christian charity is a subset of the larger issue of Christian economics.
As Christians we derive all our understanding from Scripture. Our conscience is to be held captive by the Word of God. And we believe that the Bible sets for us, not just a plan of salvation, but an entire worldview. In other words, the Bible doesn’t just say that Jesus saves me from this world. It tells us how this world is to operate—how we are to operate within this world. So we look to Scripture for an understanding of politics, education, art, recreation. And the word of God also sets out for us a complete system of economics.
The Bible is unique in that it provides the foundation for free market. The 8th commandment sets forth the principle of private property when it says “Thou shalt not steal.” And the rest of Scripture elaborates on what that means as it talks about the need for labor, industry, productiveness, diligence in a vocation, and (subsequently) the right of wages from that labor. We also learn about the importance of thrift, saving for the future, inheritance. We can also derive principles of a more political economic slant, such as taxation, inflation, debt, spending, etc.
And, certainly as our passage here this morning indicates, principles dealing with proper Christian charity.
I mention this because the topic of economics has been one particular area where the church has been deficient in its understanding. Typically the church has adopted a socialistic approach to economics and baptized pagan financial systems such as communism & fascism. A pastor friend of mine used to teach economics at a Christian college in this area. He would often begin his intro to economics class by asking the students there who claimed to be a Christian. Being that it was a small Christian school, pretty much everyone would raise their hands. He then would ask them to tell him some of what the Bible said about money. He said that it would be unusual to have even one person be able to give him any sort of answer.
All in all, the Scripture has a lot to say about economics, things that both Democrats and Republicans and Libertarians could learn.
And the passage this morning does give us some light on the subject of Christian economics, especially as it relates to giving. As a matter of fact, that there is such extended treatment of giving in the Bible is indicative. I mentioned last week that one of my sources I’ve looked at is Gary North’s economic commentary on the Bible. North mentions that most economic theorists do not even consider charity in their published works. Giving is not usually mentioned by humanistic authors, and if it is, there is relatively limited amount of space dedicated to it. It is a non-issue.
So that there is even these two chapters in Scripture says something significant about the place that giving has in Christian economics. And as we go through this passage today, I believe you will find quite a bit of teaching on it. As a matter of fact, I hope that it isn’t too much. I’m a little afraid that there may be too much packed in to this message today.
But I’d like to consider with you three basic things about Christian charity: its nature, basis, and consequence.
I. The Nature of Christian Charity: Christian Insurance Plan
The whole reason we have these two chapters is because Paul is on a fundraising mission. The people of God in Jerusalem have fallen on desperate times. They are in great need. And the means God uses in bringing about their relief is the broader body of Christ. We might even note that it is the international church that is the channel of comfort.
And this is significant. Because it reminds us that God has instituted a means of caring for His people. And what we find is that this is God’s insurance plan.
We spend a lot of time in our day worrying about different kinds of insurance. We get car insurance, health insurance, life insurance, insurance for our house. These things may indeed have their place, but we should recognize that long before insurance companies existed God had instituted a form of catastrophic coverage within the institutional church.
Insurance companies understand the idea of playing the numbers. Get a lot of people to contribute certain sums of money and that can offset the payments that need to be made for certain individuals. That is exactly what God has done. First you have it in the family. God said, “Be fruitful and multiply.” And there you have it. Parents have multiple kids and in doing so they have played the numbers game. They have insurance for the time when they become aged and can no longer take care of themselves.
Then you have it in the church. What is it that deacons do but use the combined giving of the church body to care for the individual needs. And we might then say that the local church becomes instrumental in the broader denomination or international scene as they contribute to those regions that are affected by adversity.
The church is God’s insurance plan. It is the means of caring for His people.
So you see here the nature of giving: God is using each of us to maintain and support his kingdom. The money that is contributed to the church becomes the funnel of kingdom advancement
Now we recognize that this means that each individual in the church needs to be playing its part. The numbers game only works if all who are a part are contributing to the degree that they should. There has to be a healthy pool of funds from which the deacons can pull in order to do this.
So we recognize that there is a reminder here of how important it is, not just to be giving, but giving to the degree that we should. This system obviously emphasizes the importance of giving and living up to the command to give a commensurate portion of your income to the Lord.
Just think of it this way, if we could bring it down to the smaller scale. A small church—one with 15-20 so families, could not only support a full time teaching elder, but also a single mother with 4 children. These children could not only be well fed and clothed, but they could also be giving a proper Christian education.
There you have Christian charity—a full coverage insurance plan, which enables the next generation to escape a circle of poverty and become even more successful in life.
Unfortunately, that’s not typically the way things roll. Giving in the church on average does not rise to those levels. But if the church did abide by God’s standards for giving, so much could be done. So I want to encourage you to think about your giving on that basis.
And I want to encourage you young people starting out in this regard. Make a habit of it. Make it a priority to give. You’re right now setting the standards that are going to be in place for the rest of your lives. What you decide to do now with regard to your financial dealings will be how things are likely conducted on down the road.
I want you to take this system that God has ordained to heart and see yourselves as part of the great plan for supporting and advancing God’s kingdom.
II. The Basis of Christian Charity
A. Based on voluntary action
This is noted a number of times in this passage.
All these verses are simply reminding us that this money is given completely at the free will of the giver. It is not a tax or something that one is compelled to give.
This is important to note because a lot of people have used these verses to promote a “Christian” form of socialism. They believe that the government should be the instrument in redistributing wealth and they would say, “See, Paul expects these Corinthians to pony up. And so we should vote in bureaucrats who will create more and more entitlement programs and compel people to give to those who are deemed to be in poverty.
This couldn’t be farther from the truth. The Bible no where gives you any reason to thing that people should be forced against their wills to give money to anyone. The Bible does not support socialism or communism. If you are poking a gun in someone’s head and saying, “Give or go to jail.”, then you are doing it wrong. The Bible doesn’t say that. All giving should be based in one’s voluntary decision to do so.
Another thing we should see is that it is based in genuine love.
B. Based on genuine love (altruistic) [8:8]
Look at 8:8 again. Paul says, “I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine.”
Paul’s obviously having to prod the Corinthians a little bit here. They aren’t all that willing to part with their money. But you understand what he’s saying. You guys should be willing to contribute because this is in keeping with Christian virtue. It is your job to show concern for those in need and who are experiencing hardship.
Christian giving should be altruistic and it should be the overflow of one’s personal love and concern for his fellow man (and in this case, fellow believers in Christ).
Now, you get that point right? Christian giving should be motivated by love. There should be something altruistic about it. But it is interesting then, what Paul says in verses 13-15. Right after talking about genuine love, he talks about how self interest plays a part.
C. Based on self interest (reciprocate)
In verses 13-15 he talks about fairness (or equality, as some versions have it). He says your abundance should supply their need so that their abundance can supply your need. In other words, Paul’s saying that the circumstances could easily be reversed. You could one day find yourself impoverished and at the mercy of others. And wouldn’t you want the people in Jerusalem to contribute to your need?
So Paul’s saying that they need to recognize history is full of ups and downs. Just because things are going good right now, doesn’t mean that the economy won’t tank later in the year. And it is good to keep in mind that you may need somebody to reciprocate someday.
So Christian charity is based in voluntary action, genuine love (selfless love), but yet also self interest. One last thing to observe here—and it is a very important one. It is that our giving is not humanistic. We need to understand that our giving is based in gospel realities.
D. Based on gospel realities
Look at verse 9. After urging them to give Paul says, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, he became poor that you through his poverty may become rich.”
As you read this passage you can’t help but see that Paul’s understanding of economics flow out of and are intimately linked to the person and work of Christ. You’ll notice that Christ’s incarnation and sacrifice is put in financial terms. So we can say that our salvation is the direct result of Christ’s charity. Thus, we are the beneficiaries of His self sacrifice and willingness to let go of all of his wealth.
So you can see here that Christian charity is not a form of class warfare or a moral imperative to pursue poverty. Christian charity is simply an way to mimic Christ. It is a way of exemplifying the gospel that you yourself have embraced.
The giving we do is may involve self sacrifice and a reduction in personal comfort, but it is aimed at the wider advancement of God’s kingdom. To put it another way, Christian charity recognizes the roll of humiliation in bringing about exaltation. Humiliation and servitude are the avenues God uses to bring about the greater enrichment of his kingdom.
And this brings us then to the next point: In this passage we are taught that Christian charity has consequences. Good consequences.
III. The Consequences of Christian Charity
Most of chapter 9 talks about these consequences. And the one that is given the most ink is our own personal prosperity. Paul makes it abundantly clear that your giving will, in the long run, end up resulting in your further financial enrichment.
A. You gain financially
Look at verse 6. Paul uses imagery drawn from the agricultural world as a proverb. If you sow, you will reap. As a matter of fact. The more you sow, the more you will reap. And just in case you don’t believe him, he repeats it in verse 10, saying, “He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.”
The idea of sowing and farming may be lost on us city folk to some degree. But you’ll understand that you put one seed in the ground and it usually ends up being multiplied. A single tomato plant will end up producing much more fruit.
And this is something that differentiates us from other humanistic economists. Most economists do not treat giving as a means to financial enrichment. They may recognize that it will increase your personal self esteem (you may feel good about having done it). They may say that it will be a good networking move because you’ll look like a company that is caring and supportive. But most economists do not give a chapter in their textbooks to this topic. You will barely find any discussion at all, if there is any to be had by them.
Most humanistic thought sees charity as a loss of capital. They deem it as a form of impoverishment that has no return on investment.
But here we are reminded that there is more to the economic system than mere deterministic cause and effect. We are reminded that God is sovereign over all the earth and His Providence governs the monetary flow throughout the world. So, when we give, we give in faith. We believe that God sees what we do in secret. He records the donations given unto him. He delights in them. And, as a rule, he subsequently rewards those the simple acts of faith.
To be sure, it may take time. The return may not be immediate. Just as a farmer looks upon the seed that he has sown and doesn’t see it spring up over night, the return on investment may end up taking a while.
Now, this is where many people get queasy and begin thinking about TV preachers and the name it and claim it movement. But we should not be shy in acknowledging what God’s word expressly says. We might only acknowledge that this is money wisely given for the benefit of God’s kingdom (and not to some charlatan faith preacher on TBN).
But this is not the only consequence of your giving. Paul not only says that you will gain, he also notes that God also gains an increase through it.
B. God gains worship [11-13]
In verses 11-13 Paul notes that the gifts of the Corinthians will end up causing and increase in thanksgiving. Verse 12 uses that word abundant (i.e. overflowing) to express the degree of thanks that God will receive. And then verse 13 says that God will be glorified as a result of your generosity.
And surely this is the highest goal and greatest consequence that we can hope for. When we put our money towards the Lord, the repercussions in the spiritual world are truly felt.
The Bible is unique in that it provides the foundation for free market. The 8th commandment sets forth the principle of private property when it says “Thou shalt not steal.” And the rest of Scripture elaborates on what that means as it talks about the need for labor, industry, productiveness, diligence in a vocation, and (subsequently) the right of wages from that labor. We also learn about the importance of thrift, saving for the future, inheritance. We can also derive principles of a more political economic slant, such as taxation, inflation, debt, spending, etc.
And, certainly as our passage here this morning indicates, principles dealing with proper Christian charity.
I mention this because the topic of economics has been one particular area where the church has been deficient in its understanding. Typically the church has adopted a socialistic approach to economics and baptized pagan financial systems such as communism & fascism. A pastor friend of mine used to teach economics at a Christian college in this area. He would often begin his intro to economics class by asking the students there who claimed to be a Christian. Being that it was a small Christian school, pretty much everyone would raise their hands. He then would ask them to tell him some of what the Bible said about money. He said that it would be unusual to have even one person be able to give him any sort of answer.
All in all, the Scripture has a lot to say about economics, things that both Democrats and Republicans and Libertarians could learn.
And the passage this morning does give us some light on the subject of Christian economics, especially as it relates to giving. As a matter of fact, that there is such extended treatment of giving in the Bible is indicative. I mentioned last week that one of my sources I’ve looked at is Gary North’s economic commentary on the Bible. North mentions that most economic theorists do not even consider charity in their published works. Giving is not usually mentioned by humanistic authors, and if it is, there is relatively limited amount of space dedicated to it. It is a non-issue.
So that there is even these two chapters in Scripture says something significant about the place that giving has in Christian economics. And as we go through this passage today, I believe you will find quite a bit of teaching on it. As a matter of fact, I hope that it isn’t too much. I’m a little afraid that there may be too much packed in to this message today.
But I’d like to consider with you three basic things about Christian charity: its nature, basis, and consequence.
I. The Nature of Christian Charity: Christian Insurance Plan
The whole reason we have these two chapters is because Paul is on a fundraising mission. The people of God in Jerusalem have fallen on desperate times. They are in great need. And the means God uses in bringing about their relief is the broader body of Christ. We might even note that it is the international church that is the channel of comfort.
And this is significant. Because it reminds us that God has instituted a means of caring for His people. And what we find is that this is God’s insurance plan.
We spend a lot of time in our day worrying about different kinds of insurance. We get car insurance, health insurance, life insurance, insurance for our house. These things may indeed have their place, but we should recognize that long before insurance companies existed God had instituted a form of catastrophic coverage within the institutional church.
Insurance companies understand the idea of playing the numbers. Get a lot of people to contribute certain sums of money and that can offset the payments that need to be made for certain individuals. That is exactly what God has done. First you have it in the family. God said, “Be fruitful and multiply.” And there you have it. Parents have multiple kids and in doing so they have played the numbers game. They have insurance for the time when they become aged and can no longer take care of themselves.
Then you have it in the church. What is it that deacons do but use the combined giving of the church body to care for the individual needs. And we might then say that the local church becomes instrumental in the broader denomination or international scene as they contribute to those regions that are affected by adversity.
The church is God’s insurance plan. It is the means of caring for His people.
So you see here the nature of giving: God is using each of us to maintain and support his kingdom. The money that is contributed to the church becomes the funnel of kingdom advancement
Now we recognize that this means that each individual in the church needs to be playing its part. The numbers game only works if all who are a part are contributing to the degree that they should. There has to be a healthy pool of funds from which the deacons can pull in order to do this.
So we recognize that there is a reminder here of how important it is, not just to be giving, but giving to the degree that we should. This system obviously emphasizes the importance of giving and living up to the command to give a commensurate portion of your income to the Lord.
Just think of it this way, if we could bring it down to the smaller scale. A small church—one with 15-20 so families, could not only support a full time teaching elder, but also a single mother with 4 children. These children could not only be well fed and clothed, but they could also be giving a proper Christian education.
There you have Christian charity—a full coverage insurance plan, which enables the next generation to escape a circle of poverty and become even more successful in life.
Unfortunately, that’s not typically the way things roll. Giving in the church on average does not rise to those levels. But if the church did abide by God’s standards for giving, so much could be done. So I want to encourage you to think about your giving on that basis.
And I want to encourage you young people starting out in this regard. Make a habit of it. Make it a priority to give. You’re right now setting the standards that are going to be in place for the rest of your lives. What you decide to do now with regard to your financial dealings will be how things are likely conducted on down the road.
I want you to take this system that God has ordained to heart and see yourselves as part of the great plan for supporting and advancing God’s kingdom.
II. The Basis of Christian Charity
A. Based on voluntary action
This is noted a number of times in this passage.
- 8:8 = “I say this not as a command.”
- 8:10-12 / 9:1-3 = Giving was based on their “desire.” (8:8) They were “ready” to give when they first heard about the need. But had lagged off. Paul’s now reminding them of that initial eagerness.
- 9:5 – It was a gift they had promised. He wants it to remain a willing gift, and no something given under compulsion.
- 9:7 “Each one should give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver.” (NO compulsion.
- 9:13 – “Generosity” It cannot be generosity if you don’t have a choice in the matter.
All these verses are simply reminding us that this money is given completely at the free will of the giver. It is not a tax or something that one is compelled to give.
This is important to note because a lot of people have used these verses to promote a “Christian” form of socialism. They believe that the government should be the instrument in redistributing wealth and they would say, “See, Paul expects these Corinthians to pony up. And so we should vote in bureaucrats who will create more and more entitlement programs and compel people to give to those who are deemed to be in poverty.
This couldn’t be farther from the truth. The Bible no where gives you any reason to thing that people should be forced against their wills to give money to anyone. The Bible does not support socialism or communism. If you are poking a gun in someone’s head and saying, “Give or go to jail.”, then you are doing it wrong. The Bible doesn’t say that. All giving should be based in one’s voluntary decision to do so.
Another thing we should see is that it is based in genuine love.
B. Based on genuine love (altruistic) [8:8]
Look at 8:8 again. Paul says, “I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine.”
Paul’s obviously having to prod the Corinthians a little bit here. They aren’t all that willing to part with their money. But you understand what he’s saying. You guys should be willing to contribute because this is in keeping with Christian virtue. It is your job to show concern for those in need and who are experiencing hardship.
Christian giving should be altruistic and it should be the overflow of one’s personal love and concern for his fellow man (and in this case, fellow believers in Christ).
Now, you get that point right? Christian giving should be motivated by love. There should be something altruistic about it. But it is interesting then, what Paul says in verses 13-15. Right after talking about genuine love, he talks about how self interest plays a part.
C. Based on self interest (reciprocate)
In verses 13-15 he talks about fairness (or equality, as some versions have it). He says your abundance should supply their need so that their abundance can supply your need. In other words, Paul’s saying that the circumstances could easily be reversed. You could one day find yourself impoverished and at the mercy of others. And wouldn’t you want the people in Jerusalem to contribute to your need?
So Paul’s saying that they need to recognize history is full of ups and downs. Just because things are going good right now, doesn’t mean that the economy won’t tank later in the year. And it is good to keep in mind that you may need somebody to reciprocate someday.
So Christian charity is based in voluntary action, genuine love (selfless love), but yet also self interest. One last thing to observe here—and it is a very important one. It is that our giving is not humanistic. We need to understand that our giving is based in gospel realities.
D. Based on gospel realities
Look at verse 9. After urging them to give Paul says, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, he became poor that you through his poverty may become rich.”
As you read this passage you can’t help but see that Paul’s understanding of economics flow out of and are intimately linked to the person and work of Christ. You’ll notice that Christ’s incarnation and sacrifice is put in financial terms. So we can say that our salvation is the direct result of Christ’s charity. Thus, we are the beneficiaries of His self sacrifice and willingness to let go of all of his wealth.
So you can see here that Christian charity is not a form of class warfare or a moral imperative to pursue poverty. Christian charity is simply an way to mimic Christ. It is a way of exemplifying the gospel that you yourself have embraced.
The giving we do is may involve self sacrifice and a reduction in personal comfort, but it is aimed at the wider advancement of God’s kingdom. To put it another way, Christian charity recognizes the roll of humiliation in bringing about exaltation. Humiliation and servitude are the avenues God uses to bring about the greater enrichment of his kingdom.
And this brings us then to the next point: In this passage we are taught that Christian charity has consequences. Good consequences.
III. The Consequences of Christian Charity
Most of chapter 9 talks about these consequences. And the one that is given the most ink is our own personal prosperity. Paul makes it abundantly clear that your giving will, in the long run, end up resulting in your further financial enrichment.
A. You gain financially
Look at verse 6. Paul uses imagery drawn from the agricultural world as a proverb. If you sow, you will reap. As a matter of fact. The more you sow, the more you will reap. And just in case you don’t believe him, he repeats it in verse 10, saying, “He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.”
The idea of sowing and farming may be lost on us city folk to some degree. But you’ll understand that you put one seed in the ground and it usually ends up being multiplied. A single tomato plant will end up producing much more fruit.
And this is something that differentiates us from other humanistic economists. Most economists do not treat giving as a means to financial enrichment. They may recognize that it will increase your personal self esteem (you may feel good about having done it). They may say that it will be a good networking move because you’ll look like a company that is caring and supportive. But most economists do not give a chapter in their textbooks to this topic. You will barely find any discussion at all, if there is any to be had by them.
Most humanistic thought sees charity as a loss of capital. They deem it as a form of impoverishment that has no return on investment.
But here we are reminded that there is more to the economic system than mere deterministic cause and effect. We are reminded that God is sovereign over all the earth and His Providence governs the monetary flow throughout the world. So, when we give, we give in faith. We believe that God sees what we do in secret. He records the donations given unto him. He delights in them. And, as a rule, he subsequently rewards those the simple acts of faith.
To be sure, it may take time. The return may not be immediate. Just as a farmer looks upon the seed that he has sown and doesn’t see it spring up over night, the return on investment may end up taking a while.
Now, this is where many people get queasy and begin thinking about TV preachers and the name it and claim it movement. But we should not be shy in acknowledging what God’s word expressly says. We might only acknowledge that this is money wisely given for the benefit of God’s kingdom (and not to some charlatan faith preacher on TBN).
But this is not the only consequence of your giving. Paul not only says that you will gain, he also notes that God also gains an increase through it.
B. God gains worship [11-13]
In verses 11-13 Paul notes that the gifts of the Corinthians will end up causing and increase in thanksgiving. Verse 12 uses that word abundant (i.e. overflowing) to express the degree of thanks that God will receive. And then verse 13 says that God will be glorified as a result of your generosity.
And surely this is the highest goal and greatest consequence that we can hope for. When we put our money towards the Lord, the repercussions in the spiritual world are truly felt.