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Stewardship #4 the Rewards of Giving 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

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Stewardship #4 the Rewards of Giving 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 Stewardship #4 The Rewards of Giving 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 We have come to the last of our messages from our series “Truths About Giving” and today’s study is titled “The Rewards of Giving.” In this series, we have looked at important aspects of giving but none is more important that today’s “Truths About Giving.” In our text, Paul draws to a close his teaching on the grace of giving with some tremendous insight on the rewarding ministry of Christian stewardship. In these verses he is determined to impress on his readers the all-important fact that the grace of giving is God's supreme method of rewarding those who give gifts as well as those who receive gifts. To bring this great truth to light, he speaks in these verses concerning four important matters. He speaks, first of all, concerning the fruitfulness in giving. Look at verse 6, "But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” Paul is teaching us that the laws of harvest operate not only in the natural, but also in the spiritual realm. Paul illustrates this fact by drawing attention to the farmer who sows his spring crop. The farmer knows that what he has sown in the spring he will harvest in the fall. One of those unalterable laws states that he will reap what he has sown. Moreover, the farmer understands that the proportion of his reaping will be determined by the proportion of his sowing. If he is foolish enough to sow sparingly he will reap sparingly; on the other hand, if he is wise enough to sow bountifully he will also reap bountifully. This principle is operative in all areas of Christian experience, and especially in the area of giving. The believer recognizes that giving is not a question of scattering, but of sowing. It is not a contribution; it is an investment. All giving constitutes a challenge to our faith. No farmer sows without exercising simple faith in the law of harvest. If he had no faith he would not sow at all. In Galatians 6:7-9 Paul speaks specifically of the rewards of fruitfulness in giving, "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” The Greek reads like this, “Don’t be misled - you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” In this passage, which is primarily associated with the subject of giving, the apostle shows that there are two kinds of sowing which result in two kinds of reaping. 1 There is a carnal harvest, as seen in Galatians 6:8, "He who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption.” There is no reward in this kind of giving. A carnal Christian sows to the flesh by spending resources to gratify personal desires. Such a person must expect nothing less than the reaping of corruption. That which might have been rewarded by being invested in the Lord's work will be nothing but "wood, hay and stubble" at the judgment seat of Christ according to 1 Corinthians 3:12-15. The Word of God is simply telling us that this matter of carnal giving is based on motives as well as means: for it is not only what we give but how we give and why we give that matters in the presence of God. There is also a spiritual harvest, as seen in once more in verse 8, "He who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” Here is the reward of fruitfulness in giving, which is available to all who will step out on faith in the ministry of Christian stewardship. The indication from the Greek text means that as we respond to the indwelling Holy Spirit in love, sacrifice, and stewardship, we shall be adding interest to the capital of eternal life, which we already have in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:8-9 makes it very clear that nobody can merit the gift of eternal life by personal works of righteousness, "For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast." But, let us never forget that at the very heart of the gospel is the whole principle of giving. Heaven could never be enriched with the company of the redeemed if Jesus had not given Himself, even to the death of the cross. By the same token, we can never enrich the church or our personal lives without sacrificial stewardship. There is no fruitfulness without the ministry of giving. He speaks also of the joyfulness of giving, as seen in verse 7, "You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” If the truth were known, the thought of words like tithing, giving, stewardship, usually causes us some discomfort. In the average church family, when we are challenged to trust God in our giving, we experience a spirit of unwillingness and even rebellion. Look at what the Word of God says right here where we are told, "And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure." Why is it that so many of God's people are not willing to worship God through their giving? I think the answer is found in these words, "You must each decide in your heart how much to give.” Listen to me very carefully; giving is primarily a heart matter! Cheerful giving comes from a heart that is in love with Jesus!! Cheerful giving comes from a heart that understands the price that was paid for his salvation! Cheerful giving 2 comes from a heart that is so grateful for their salvation they cannot help but give!!! If your giving is from a grateful heart, it does not matter if it is smallness of the "widow's mite" or the bigness of the real estate of Barnabas. The truth of the matter is that God does not look at the amount of your gift; He looks at the attitude of your heart!! The Greek word translated "cheerfully" here can be rendered "hilarious," suggesting a spirit of real enjoyment, which sweeps away all human restraints. What does that mean? It means that if we are giving out of a grateful heart, our giving becomes a method of worship! It means that our giving is a time of enjoyment!! It means that our giving is a time of gladness and praise!! There is also the returns of our giving, as seen in verse 8, 10, "And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say, “They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.” For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.” Let me remind you of the words of Jesus in Luke 6:38, "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you measure it shall be measured to you again." The miracle of giving is that it produces a ministry of giving. Ladies and gentlemen, the God of Elijah is still the same today. When Elijah put himself at God's disposal he never lacked anything, even though the land was scourged with famine. Even when the brook Cherith dried up and the ravens ceased to bring his daily bread, God provided his daily bread. Later, in Psalm 37:25, David testified, "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." It was Paul who, under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, wrote this classic scripture in Philippians 4:19, "My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory." Child of God, the old adage is tattered and worn, but it is still true that "You simply cannot out-give God." It is a sad truth that Satan has stolen the blessings of giving from of God's children by creating in them a spirit of greed. Now, listen very carefully, the only evidence that you have overcome the sin of greed is reflected in your giving!!! If you are not saved, why not today? 3 Please stand for prayer. Father, Your Word is true. If I can trust You with my salvation, surely I can trust you with my finances.
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