Stand Strong in the Word
Stand Strong in the Word is a weekly bible study that teaches through the Bible verse by verse in chronological order. For more information, visit www.standstrongministries.org.
Stand Strong in the Word
#286 “Your Example Matters: Inspiring Others Through Giving” (2 Corinthians 9:1-5)
Have you ever thought about how you’re using the blessings that God has given you? Do your acts of generosity encourage others to trust God more, or do they show a little hesitation in sharing what’s already His? In this episode, we’re going to see how your example of giving can bless your life, strengthen your community, and truly honor Christ’s mission.
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Have you ever thought about how you're using the blessings that God has given you? Do your acts of generosity encourage others to trust God more, or do they show a little hesitation in sharing what's already His? Today, we're going to see how your example of giving can bless your life, strengthen your community and truly honor Christ's mission. So turn to 2 Corinthians, chapter 9, and let's learn God's word together. Well, hey there, my friends, welcome to Stand Strong in the Word podcast, jason Jimenez, with you, as always. Blessed to be with you guys as we continue our study here in 2 Corinthians. Now we are transitioning into chapter 9. So, as always, I encourage you guys to check out any other episodes that you have missed. Leave a review, comment, share it with your friends so we can continue. That's our mission here to stand strong in God's word together.
Speaker 1:I was reminded again in recent travels and this is so sad. We have so much access, especially here in the United States, to the Bible and when I've had the privilege of going around the world, sometimes they can, you know, receive the Bible Like they have freedom to do that. It's not like banned other places it is, but in some cases where it's not banned but they just don't have access or the money to get shipments to be able to distribute Bibles, and so they're few and far between. In some cases. I've been a part of some communities where they have shared Bibles and many of them are memorizing it so that they can go home and if they're literate, they can write it down, if in fact they have those type of resources, and so it just was one of those things where, you know, then I come back in my office and again, internet aside, but just looking at the actual printed Bibles, that I have been privileged and blessed. Many of them were given to me as gifts from loved ones in the ministry all these years, you know, during you know, some type of ceremony. I was just speaking not too long ago at an event. They gave me this beautiful leather study Bible, you know, and it just I'm so thankful and so friends as you and I have the opportunity to study God's word together.
Speaker 1:Let us thank God that we have the Bible. Some of you may be listening and you're in a different, because we look at the analytics and there are people from around the world that listen to this podcast. What a blessing. And in some cases you're seeing some areas in the Middle East and parts of Europe and even in Russia, and so let us pray for the people, my friends, that are listening in these areas, and let me just tell you, if you are one of those individuals, we love you, we are praying for you and we're so thankful that you found this podcast where we could study God's word. I just pray that God would use you in a tremendous way.
Speaker 1:So, with that being said, let us now transition into chapter nine. Let me just read verses one through five and the title really, for this message that we're going to be diving into is your example matters, and we're going to learn today how we are to inspire others through giving. Now, I've said this repeatedly and I do not ever want to stop saying this I want to be a broken record and I want to say this in humility and honesty and brokenness. I would not be doing this podcast, I would not be able to write the books that I've been privileged to write, in the articles, in the videos, in the speaking engagements, in the counseling, in the evangelism and doing ministry of apologetics and work with families and being able to be a part of so many amazing organizations like Focus on the Family Summit, ministries Stand to Reason if it wasn't for the giving of men and women who make this possible. Every night, when my wife and I pray together that is one thing that we repeatedly pray with Thanksgiving is the generosity. Lord, thank you for the generosity of the men and women, the brothers and sisters that you have raised up to support the ministry.
Speaker 1:So, as I've been exploring chapter 8 with you, even on my own personally, into chapter 9, I get emotional Because the livelihood that God has called me to do and it's by faith, all of us are living by faith. But running a nonprofit that runs on people's generous giving, on donations, is just a tremendous example of God's church, our family. And that's what we are, my friends, we are family together. And so, even as I've been convicted and looking and thinking man, what is my example? How am I even inspiring my children to give, not just financially but to be people who are giving in their service to one another? And I got to say I'm so thankful that my children love to serve and I give credit to the Lord, I give credit also to my wife and I try to play a part as their spiritual leader, as their father.
Speaker 1:But I want you guys to understand that when we are looking at this passage, you know, take time, as we oftentimes do on this podcast, to say Lord, how are you using me? What kind of example? If there's an area that we got to work on, you know, let's be open about it. So I pray this encourages you guys. It convicts you certainly, yes, but in that conviction that it encourages you to want to give of yourself and allow the Holy Spirit to use you.
Speaker 1:So let's dive right into chapter nine, verse one. It says now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the ministry for the saints, for I know your readiness. 9, verse 1. It says boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready. As I said, you would be. Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated, to say nothing of you, for being so confident. 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.
Speaker 1:So there is a lot that we are going to be looking at today. That again is going to reflect and help us to be the example that God has called us to be. And we're going to do it by looking at what Paul's doing as he opens his heart to the Corinthians and he's explaining about this advantage that they have, not because they're wealthy people, but this advantage that God has given this opportunity, and how the Macedonians have been used by God and now how the Macedonians are seeing the example that the Corinthians have set and that's again highlighting our big picture overview is being an example and how we give of ourselves. Now, before we go any further, I want us to remember what Paul had talked about, going back in verses seven through 15, because it's all about graceful giving, remember. Back in verse seven, he says but I, but, as you excel in everything, notice he says, in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness and in our love for you. Then he says see that you excel in this act of grace also.
Speaker 1:So giving remember we learned is an act of grace. So when you and I are asked the question what sort of example am I Really? What we're boiling it down to is this Am I a gracious individual? See, when we're impatient, or when we are hostile or when we are distant, or when we are vindictive, or when we are revengeful or vengeful. That, my friends, is not being gracious. What sort of acts of grace do you give people, even if they're the most difficult?
Speaker 1:I was just on a conference call recently and an individual is expressing deep seated remorse now, over time, because there's frat, there's a fracture, or I should say a fracturing or a separation, because it's pretty bad and sad between these two loved ones over time. What has happened is bitterness has set in and so acts of grace are not being committed to one another. There's no action there. We're not seeing again in their faith and their speech and their knowledge and all earnestness, and so there should be an earnestness. That we learned last time as Paul was talking about and remember he also said in verse eight that the earnestness has, there's a genuineness to it, so you can't fake it.
Speaker 1:Verse nine was about Christ being our example. It said remember, for you know the grace of our Lord, jesus Christ. So we're thinking okay, what does it look like for me to extend an act of grace? Well, kindness, patience, being generous, being forgiving, giving people the benefit of the doubt. But then we will look at Jesus, the ultimate example of grace, and it says that though he was rich, meaning he was in heaven, and yet for our sakes, he became poor, as Philippians 2, 6 and 7, that he put aside his, not that he stripped himself of his divinity, but he took on humanity. And it says so that you, by his poverty, might become rich. So he literally was even poor on earth. He was not seeking a kingdom, he was not seeking to be the most famous of them all, he was not trying to prove people wrong. He came not to condemn the world, but through him the world might be saved. And so when we treasure that, my friends, when we reflect that our savior took on flesh John 1, 14, and he bore our sins, he who knew no sin became sin on our behalf.
Speaker 1:Remember you, go back to second Corinthians, chapter five. That's what Paul was telling us. He didn't know any sin. Corinthians, chapter five that's what Paul was telling us. He didn't know any sin and yet he took our sin while we were still sinners, dead in our trespasses and sins. You see this in Romans, chapter three, romans, chapter six, romans, chapter five, if you five and six, and then you also see this whole destructive behavior of us, that we were alienated from the life of God. This is something Paul talks about, obviously, throughout the book of Romans, but also James, the half-brother Jesus, talks about this. And yet, despite all that, or in Ephesians, chapter two, verse one, that we are dead in our trespasses and sins.
Speaker 1:Jesus Christ came into this world to live a life that we could look to, that can inspire us to extend acts of grace, to be an example of love and forgiveness. So, as we looked at those passages and as we are now looking at what Paul's talking about here in really, you know, provoking people, compelling people, not forcing people, but encouraging people to, as Hebrews 10, 24 says, consider one another, to provoke unto love in two good works. That is the focal focus of what Paul's saying here in chapter nine now. So, once again, as you look at verse one, paul's writing to them. He says writing about the ministry for the saints. So he's highlighting the work that God is doing in the church. Now, despite the fear and the struggles, god brought about repentance. God brought about godly sorrow of the Corinthians. Now, obviously they had to be willing to give of their lives to the Lord. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit. You go back to the first letter that Paul talked about, and so he was showing them. If we are to be like this, like our Savior Jesus, and yet you are dabbling in the world, that is an unrepentant life and there's an ultimatum and it's like choose this day that we see throughout the Old Testament, and so godly sorrow followed among the Corinthians and that produced great earnestness and great eagerness to give back to the churches. In fact, if you see this in Romans, chapter 15, you see this language that Paul actually uses and this is something that we. I love this because this actually gives us insight into Paul talking about certain instances throughout his letters. That kind of shows you the parallels but also the connection of his time as an apostle, and so Romans 15 actually is highlighting what he talks about in 2 Corinthians. So 2 Corinthians is actually before remember Paul's writing this before Romans.
Speaker 1:Here on this podcast, we're doing a chronological teaching and we started way back years ago in the gospels. Some of you are thinking, jason, are you ever going to get through the New Testament? But doing one podcast a week? You know we're going to be doing the new Testament for years and I can't wait. When that's over, we're going to do a chronological teaching throughout the old Testament.
Speaker 1:But if you go back to Romans, chapter 15, and you see here in verse 25, this is Paul mentioning what he's writing actually here that we're reading in second Corinthians 9.
Speaker 1:So let me just read this passage to you. He says at present, however, I'm going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints. So what we're going to be learning in this passage is there are going to be two brothers they're not mentioned that Paul's actually going to be using to go to bring the aid to the saints. And so Paul is mentioning this at this point later in Romans, and he says for Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem, for they were pleased to do it. Notice, they were pleased to do it, they wanted to be involved in this and indeed they owe it to them.
Speaker 1:For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings. When, therefore, I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will leave for Spain by way of you. I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ. And then he says I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord, jesus Christ, and by the love of the spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God and on my behalf. So notice the generosity that we see that Paul's mentioning here of the collection because of the church.
Speaker 1:If you go back to Galatians, chapter two and verses nine and 10, it says and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and to me that we should go to the Gentiles and to the circumcised. Only they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do. So this was something when Paul was set in motion as an apostle, one of the criterias that they set forth for him as he was reaching, with Barnabas at the time, to the Gentiles, which is, you remember, paul was unique in the fact that he was a Roman citizen and he was a Pharisee at one point. So he was a brilliant, studied under Gamaliel, member of the Sanhedrin, and he had great power. Before he was Paul the apostle, he was Saul of Tarsus. In Acts, chapter nine, we see that and you could also see his testimony throughout the book of Acts.
Speaker 1:But the point is that Paul was able to reach not just his people, the Jews, but also the Gentiles. He had studied the philosophy. That's why he was able to write to the Corinthians, because he knew their language. He quotes some of their thinkers, some of their philosophers. We see this, him, you know, doing this as well with the cretins he mentions to Titus, and we see him going to Mars Hill, oropagus, you know, in Acts, chapter 17. And he knows Stoicism, he knows Epicureanism and he's able to have this dialogue and he's able to openly debate among them. Not only does he do that among the religious leaders, as he shows them the scriptures, because he knows, I would venture to say, as I've even studied a lot of scholars who've looked at the life of Paul most believe that the that clearly the Torah he had memorized, but much of the Old Testament, if not all of it, I mean, you think about that, my friends, it's just mind boggling. And so Paul was able to engage both Jews and also Gentiles. And so when he was called forth to go reach the Gentiles, one of the things with criteria was hey, remember the poor, don't neglect the very people that even Jesus ministered to.
Speaker 1:So in 2 Corinthians 9, 1 through 5, here that we're going to be learning on today's podcast, paul takes on the role of a proud parent. I mean, he's expressing his delight in the Corinthians. Generosity, their willingness to give, serves as a shining example for the entire church, and what you and I know this does is it inspires others to contribute and to share as well. I can't tell you how many times, through the giving of others, that has inspired me to give in return, to be reminded sometimes and this is good, because you and I don't always make the right decision. We're not always immediately, earnestly and zealously giving, you know from our checking or savings account, but you and I have had, and we pray that we are these people as well. But when you remember the generosity of others, how that really encouraged you to say you know what So-and-so was, so giving to me. I want to extend that same to others, because their willingness to give is an example for the entire church to be that giving as well. And this is something that Paul openly explains here in verse one and two, as to why he's going to be sending these brothers with this collection. The IVP New Testament commentary says, quote Paul engages in a bit of reverse psychology with the Corinthians.
Speaker 1:To prevent embarrassment for all parties concerned, he does four things. He recalls their initial enthusiasm and how it had stirred the Macedonian churches to action. That's in verses one and two. He refers to the Corinthians loss of face Should any Macedonian delegates come and find them unprepared, in verse four and he announces the upcoming visit of the brothers to make sure this does not happen. Versus three and five. And finally, he reminds them of the blessings that come from generous giving, and that's something we're to be seeing in verses 6, all the way to verse 15.
Speaker 1:So Notice that Paul, as a proud parent one of the things he does and he's really good at this, and this is something even all parents and grandparents listening right now he doesn't want the burden or the pressure or embarrassment to be on one individual or one set of group of people. He doesn't want any of the parties that are involved here to feel as though, like we're less than the other group. So, for example, immediately, anytime you have a group of people and it's mentioned, let's say, for example, they gave $50,000. This other group only gave $15,000. Who do you think is going to get more credit or more attention? $15,000. Who do you think is going to get more credit or more attention? What you know, what kind of focus do you think is going to be on the people who gave more than the people who the other group who gave less. You know, we know that immediately it's like oh, thanks for giving $15,000, but these people gave way more than you gave, and so let's focus more on them. And that is often the case, isn't it? When people recognize people who have more power, more influence or more money, they tend to get more recognition.
Speaker 1:And so Paul, knowing probably not every single person or every church or district that gave, but knowing collectively that the Corinthians member gave out of their poverty, as a member gave out of their poverty, and a lot of them could think that we worked so hard and we were so zealous in giving, we wanted to contribute, but we wish we could give more, paul could easily said you know what you guys, you know thanks, but no thanks, because really what you guys collected is not really gonna offer a whole lot of help to the people in Jerusalem. He doesn't do that and that shows delicacy. That shows a shepherd's heart, that shows a heart of a parent who doesn't want any one of their kids to feel as though what they've contributed amounts to nothing. You know, that's one of the things I want to just touch on real quickly, if I may. We have to be careful. I want to just touch on real quickly, if I may. We have to be careful.
Speaker 1:And here in Achaia this is the Southern part of Greece, this is where Corinth was located, and so there was a lot of wealth in that area. But a lot of these people who live there were being taxed. You know in, if any one of you guys live in an area where you're being taxed a lot, you know that you may make a good living, but after all the taxes, you're not left with much. And Paul also understands that where some of these people, due to the circumstances and situations they find themselves in, out of their control, there's not much they can do about it, and so he's very, very sensitive to that. So one of the areas that we could be an example is our sensitivity as we extend acts of grace. And then he says but I'm sending the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, and then he mentions about the Macedonians will come with me and find that you are not ready. We would be humiliated.
Speaker 1:So one of the things he's urging them is making sure, because, remember, the Macedonians felt inspired to give generously because of the example of the Corinthians, remember. So one of the things he doesn't want to see happen is that, because this happens a lot, we get all excited, we overly commit and nothing comes of it. So, to avoid that from happening, because Paul's worried that the Corinthians might lose sight of that true motivation, okay, they're wanting to be generous, but sometimes behind that motivation to give could really be, you know, consumed by distraction. And so, to prevent any misunderstandings, to prevent any potential embarrassment, remember, he was sensitive to saying, hey, you guys gave what you can give and I don't want you to think like, oh, it wasn't really much, so-and-so gave 100, we only gave 10. Don't look at it that way. You give out of the abundance of your heart.
Speaker 1:Remember that's the focus. It's not ultimately the monetary giving, the actual transaction. What's the most important thing is the intentionality of giving and that's what he's focusing on. To avoid, now, here, potential embarrassment. He urges them to stay committed. So the other thing is like, guys, remember, let's just be clear on this thing we're all in this together, just as you guys were being blessed and supported, and now you have an opportunity to give back and you committed to giving back. Let's make sure that when these brothers come to avoid any sort of embarrassment, that we're not all humiliated here, that there's gonna be actually something to collect. So that's what he's urging them here in verses two through five is to stay committed to what God has called us to do. He's reminding them of the importance of their contribution in advancing the gospel. That's why when he says here in verse five so I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and to arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction. Now, this is actually pretty fascinating language that Paul uses here in verse five. And so what he's getting at here, this willing gift, this is obviously the actual collection. But notice what Paul does here, and I think this is so fascinating and I've been a part of a lot of I'm just going to speak specifically to church campaigns.
Speaker 1:We always have a number to achieve. Okay, in any campaign you look at the numbers, whatever. In this case, you know. Again, we're talking about a building and it's going to be $10 million, let's say. And a lot of times the focus is on how do you compel people to give. What does that campaign look like? Not just email lists, not just dinners and banquets and mentioning it from the pulpit in literature and collections and small groups. I mean, I've been a part of all of that in literature and collections and small groups. I mean, I've been a part of all of that. And I'll be honest, most of these times it just seems too much right and we make it sound like without this building, we're not able to, let's say, reach the next generation, and I think a lot of it is just nonsense, to be honest.
Speaker 1:And the other thing that was and this is something that I was very, very convicted in over the years is how little we actually look at the generosity of people in general. Sometimes you walk into a beautiful home of somebody's putting something together and boom, it's like this this is the standard, we were able to raise a million dollars here. And then you look at some other people who maybe they're able to put something together and it only equals a few thousand and we're like, yeah, you know, good, nice, try, and almost making people feel ashamed. And we look beyond the willing gift. What Paul mostly cared about was the willingness, was the obedience to give what you can give and oftentimes, my friends, we can lose sight of that. Or even when we do give, we're looking at the amount and if it's more than average, there's a sense of pride there. We've all been there and we have to say no, lord, what I'm able to give is because of your generosity, because of your heart, because of your blessing, and that, my friends, we cannot lose sight of.
Speaker 1:The other thing that I want to mention about this phrase that Paul uses a willing gift is that it's also translated as a bounty, so literally, it's a matter of a bounty, it's a matter of generosity. So this willing gift, this generous bounty that you are partaking or participating in, has nothing to do with covetousness, has nothing to do with pressuring you to do something against your will. The encouragement here is about the willingness and the obedience, as we mentioned before, to give out of the abundance of our heart. That is what's being not only encouraged here, but this is what's being advertised. And so I want you guys, as we consider, as Paul says, not as an exaction, meaning don't try to compete or don't try to do something or to give based on what other people are doing we have to make sure that we don't lose sight of this.
Speaker 1:I'm speaking to myself here when I'm looking at the scripture here, because the next verse we're going to learn in the next podcast and he says here, in verse six. He says the point is this whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. God will reward us based on the intentions, the beliefs and actions of our lives. And if we truly and genuinely and obediently, with open arms and open hands, say to the Lord God, what you have given me my talents, my spiritual gifts, my resources, my relationships, whatever it is it is for your honor and for your glory, and I just pray that you would open my heart to steward what you have given me and that my example will inspire others to give back in return. That, my friends, is what Paul's talking about here.
Speaker 1:So, as we conclude this episode, let me encourage you to examine the type of example you are being in the lives of others, because it matters.
Speaker 1:Your example, my friends, in your home, in your workplace, at school, with other friends around you, or even people who don't even know you. You could be in a public square going into a restaurant and your generosity is and this is what I'm going to say to you guys it should be contagious. And when people give out of the abundance of their heart again, not the amount, but the amount of generosity and grace that extends from their speech, from their body language, from the way they interact with people, my friends, that is what people need. They need you and me, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to go around and encourage people to give of themselves, to please and honor the Lord, not themselves. We're not giving to please ourselves, to get the attention on us. We're not advertising ourselves. We are promoting and honoring and glorifying the Lord. So may that be a blessing to each one of you guys, as you continue to stand strong in the word of God.