Do you remember as a child being forced to say "I'm sorry" to your sibling, and not meaning it at all? I do! Saying "I'm sorry" through clenched teeth, with squinty eyes is (hello!) not genuine, is it? We know that, because of our personal experience and also because of dealing with children, if you have had that experience. Usually, the misbehavior that prompted the "I'm sorry" soon recurs. Why does this happen? It happens because the repentance was not genuine!
We are moving on to 2 Cor. 8, giving just a love pat to the rest of chapter 7. The remainder of that chapter dealt with a mysterious, lost letter that Paul wrote to the Corinthians. I've mentioned it in previous blog posts. All we know about it comes from Paul's references to it in 2 Corinthians. The letter was very strong in its corrective language and intended to deal with a particular situation in that local church. I reckon God did not intend for us to be privy to it. The letter was hand-delivered by Titus, who worked with that local church to not only deliver its contents, but to exhort the Corinthians to repentance and restoration. Paul rejoices in 7:8-16 that all of this was accomplished.
For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
2 Cor. 7:10 (NKJV)
The Corinthians had "godly sorrow", which is true regret for their individual and corporate sins; and then, they repented. Paul points out that godly sorrow always leads to repentance, a change of heart and behavior. Without both, there is no salvation. Just praying a little prayer and walking the aisle....unh-uh. No. There has to be a genuine desire from the heart for Christ, a true belief in Him. Only then does He save.
In chapter 8, where we are digging in this morning, Paul goes on to say that Titus had another assignment for his visit to the Corinthians. It was to teach them about the grace of giving. Look at 8:1-9.
Now we make known to you, brothers and sisters, the grace of God given to the churches of Macedonia, 2 that during a severe ordeal of suffering, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in the wealth of their generosity. 3 For I testify, they gave according to their means and beyond their means. They did so voluntarily, 4 begging us with great earnestness for the blessing and fellowship of helping the saints. 5 And they did this not just as we had hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and to us by the will of God. 6 Thus we urged Titus that, just as he had previously begun this work, so also he should complete this act of kindness for you. 7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, and in all eagerness and in the love from us that is in you—make sure that you excel in this act of kindness too. 8 I am not saying this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love by comparison with the eagerness of others.9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although he was rich, he became poor for your sakes, so that you by his poverty could become rich.
(NET)
There's a reason Paul segues into giving here. Giving flows from joy, and joy is the result of repentance, confession, restoration. Have you ever thought of Christian "charity" (giving) as a grace? The Bible declares that it is! It is a grace much disparaged and maligned. Satan uses greed as one of his best offensive weapons in the Church. Greed creeps in and soils the beauty of genuine Christian giving.
When I was on mission in Peru recently, I heard our pastor ask the leader of a local Peruvian ministry if he had taught his people about the grace of giving. I was sort of shocked by that, at the time. Of all the things I expected him to emphasize teaching, giving would have been on down that list a ways, not at the top. Yet, his admonition followed the New Testament model Paul builds here. Let's break it down:
- In verse 5 we see that the grace of giving overflows from a heart devoted to the Lord and to the carrying out of His will.
- Paul cites as an example of this heart attitude the churches of Macedonia who, in spite of their suffering and poverty had also overflowed with generosity and acts of kindness. (vs. 1-5)
- More than that, Paul references the ultimate Giver, Jesus Christ (vs. 9), whose grace compelled Him to leave Heaven's glory, wrap Himself in flesh and ultimately pour His physical, human life out for us so that we might receive salvation, with all its riches and benefits.
We can parse and debate and argue about how much to give to the Lord, but why? I believe that the Old Testament model of 10% is a good start. But, I don't think we should be restricted to that. After all, we are no longer under law, but are under grace! (Romans 6:14) If the Lord's Spirit prompts us to give more, we should. We should be known as people who give generously.
Now, I know that you think this is talking about your money, and in this context of 2 Cor. 8, it is. But, God does not only want our money; it all belongs to Him anyway. More than that, He wants our hearts. Truly, if He has our hearts, he will have our money too. This is why Jesus said,
"Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." But, wait, look at that larger passage, Luke 12:32-34 - - -
32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.33 Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Beautiful, isn't it? And, oh so true. We already have in our possession, Christian, all of the spiritual possessions of God's kingdom! Our true treasure is in Heaven, not here on earth. All of our earthly possessions are designed to further the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ - - - nothing more, nothing less. When we really "get" this, it transforms our lives and the lives of others. It's pretty radical living, honestly.
Lord God, King of the Universe, Creator and Giver of all good things, teach us the grace of giving. May we be known as people who give as generously as Christ gave. It is in His name I pray, amen.
