1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:07,080 You’re listening to a sermon from Pastor Colin Smith of Open the Bible. 2 00:00:07,080 –> 00:00:14,740 To contact us, call us at 1-877-OPEN365 or visit our website openthebible.org. 3 00:00:14,740 –> 00:00:17,639 Let’s get to the message. 4 00:00:17,639 –> 00:00:19,360 Here is Pastor Colin. 5 00:00:19,360 –> 00:00:25,360 Well I hope you have your Bible open please at Second Corinthians in Chapter 8 as we come 6 00:00:25,360 –> 00:00:28,940 to the second message in our Advent series. 7 00:00:29,040 –> 00:00:30,559 A generous life. 8 00:00:30,559 –> 00:00:35,139 I have been asked, it may not surprise you, why are we doing this now? 9 00:00:35,599 –> 00:00:37,439 Three reasons. 10 00:00:37,439 –> 00:00:42,560 Number one, it’s in the Bible and God has been speaking to me on this subject throughout 11 00:00:42,560 –> 00:00:44,900 the last year. 12 00:00:44,900 –> 00:00:50,540 Number two, it’s directly connected in scripture to Christmas. 13 00:00:50,540 –> 00:00:55,980 The coming and the self-giving of the Lord Jesus Christ is laid before us in these chapters 14 00:00:56,220 –> 00:01:03,580 as the reason for our giving and for us becoming generous people. 15 00:01:04,099 –> 00:01:10,279 And third, wherever you go right now, everybody is talking about money. 16 00:01:10,279 –> 00:01:11,500 Everybody’s talking about money. 17 00:01:11,500 –> 00:01:15,339 Has there ever been a time in your memory where people have been more concerned about 18 00:01:15,339 –> 00:01:16,339 money? 19 00:01:16,339 –> 00:01:22,900 Someone write to me in September and say, what does the Church have to say about money? 20 00:01:22,900 –> 00:01:27,760 And so it seems to be very appropriate that these Scriptures should be open before us 21 00:01:27,760 –> 00:01:30,760 at this time and at this season. 22 00:01:30,760 –> 00:01:36,620 Now I want to begin today just with a quick review of what we learned last time. 23 00:01:36,620 –> 00:01:43,660 Because we saw together last weekend that the New Testament really is one massive project 24 00:01:43,660 –> 00:01:48,379 in applying the gospel of Jesus Christ to every area of life. 25 00:01:48,879 –> 00:01:53,160 In other words, when Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came into the world at Christmas, 26 00:01:53,160 –> 00:02:00,900 died on the cross and rose again becomes your saviour and Lord, he lays claim to every sphere 27 00:02:00,900 –> 00:02:01,900 of your life. 28 00:02:01,900 –> 00:02:07,139 Nothing is beyond the reach of his saviourhood and his lordship. 29 00:02:07,139 –> 00:02:10,139 Think of what that means in relation to money. 30 00:02:10,139 –> 00:02:18,039 He comes as your saviour to set you free from the controlling power of money, that is either 31 00:02:18,059 –> 00:02:22,380 the controlling power of what you have or the controlling power of worry about what 32 00:02:22,380 –> 00:02:26,660 you do not have or even what you used to have. 33 00:02:26,660 –> 00:02:33,360 His saviourhood touches that and then he comes to you as lord, if he is the saviour and lord 34 00:02:33,360 –> 00:02:39,839 of your life to direct the use of the money that he as Lord and God has trusted into your 35 00:02:39,839 –> 00:02:46,259 hand so that it’s saved from the tyranny of it’s power, so you do not live under it, oppressed 36 00:02:46,259 –> 00:02:53,339 by it, you are able to be master over it and to use it in a way that reflects his character. 37 00:02:53,339 –> 00:02:59,199 We saw that there are three distinct ways in which a person can give money or three 38 00:02:59,199 –> 00:03:03,660 distinct ways in which an organization or church could raise money. 39 00:03:03,660 –> 00:03:06,279 One is out of guilt and we don’t want to go there. 40 00:03:06,279 –> 00:03:09,179 The other is out of pride, we don’t want to go there. 41 00:03:09,179 –> 00:03:15,440 Where we do want to go is giving and receiving of money that arises out of the gospel of 42 00:03:15,539 –> 00:03:17,199 Jesus Christ. 43 00:03:17,199 –> 00:03:22,580 And we saw that gospel giving, that is distinctively Christian giving, is marked in two ways. 44 00:03:22,580 –> 00:03:27,800 It is distinguished first by freedom and second by joy. 45 00:03:27,800 –> 00:03:33,419 And the reason that distinctively Christian giving is always marked by freedom and joy 46 00:03:33,419 –> 00:03:39,119 is that Jesus Christ came into the world freely and that Jesus Christ came into the world 47 00:03:39,119 –> 00:03:40,279 joyfully. 48 00:03:40,399 –> 00:03:46,440 And Christian giving is a reflection of the character of God being worked out in the lives 49 00:03:46,440 –> 00:03:47,460 of his own people. 50 00:03:47,460 –> 00:03:52,860 And that’s why 2 Corinthians chapter 8 and verse 9 is so central to the subject. 51 00:03:52,880 –> 00:03:56,460 You know the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, Paul says that, 52 00:04:07,860 –> 00:04:13,880 Now, if His Spirit, the Spirit of the Lord Jesus, who though He was rich, became poor 53 00:04:13,880 –> 00:04:16,339 so that we through His poverty might become rich. 54 00:04:16,339 –> 00:04:24,980 If His Spirit lives in you and in me, then our giving to him will reflect His giving 55 00:04:24,980 –> 00:04:25,980 to us. 56 00:04:25,980 –> 00:04:29,459 And that means, of course, that it will be marked by freedom and by joy. 57 00:04:29,459 –> 00:04:36,739 Now, when I say that gospel giving, Christian giving is free, it is a matter of freedom, 58 00:04:36,739 –> 00:04:40,100 I don’t mean by that that it is optional. 59 00:04:40,100 –> 00:04:45,239 Our Lord Jesus Christ made it very clear that His people, all His people would give. 60 00:04:45,640 –> 00:04:50,600 He said when you give, Matthew chapter 6 and verse 2, not if you give. 61 00:04:50,600 –> 00:04:56,760 No, Christian giving is free, not because it’s optional but rather because our Lord 62 00:04:56,760 –> 00:05:04,320 wants us to decide freely what it is that we will give and that we will do that freely 63 00:05:04,320 –> 00:05:11,000 and joyfully in light of our appreciation of all that He has done for us in Jesus Christ. 64 00:05:11,279 –> 00:05:15,859 But in other words, and this is a very important principle to grasp and many Christians never 65 00:05:15,859 –> 00:05:16,859 get it. 66 00:05:16,859 –> 00:05:21,040 Some of us have been brought up under a very different tradition. 67 00:05:21,040 –> 00:05:27,640 We give in response to grace, not in response to law. 68 00:05:27,640 –> 00:05:32,260 If you were brought up in a system of rules about Christian giving, I want to try and 69 00:05:32,260 –> 00:05:38,959 move your thinking away from that because freedom and joy are of the essence of giving 70 00:05:39,100 –> 00:05:42,019 that reflects the character of Jesus. 71 00:05:42,019 –> 00:05:45,839 No one forced him to come into the world. 72 00:05:45,839 –> 00:05:49,260 No one ever leans on the Son of God. 73 00:05:49,260 –> 00:05:52,059 Now here’s another reason why this issue is so critical. 74 00:05:52,059 –> 00:05:54,540 If you think about it. 75 00:05:54,540 –> 00:06:04,440 If giving were a matter of law, generosity would be impossible. 76 00:06:04,440 –> 00:06:06,040 Think about it. 77 00:06:06,040 –> 00:06:08,540 Think about your taxes. 78 00:06:08,540 –> 00:06:12,100 You pay them, you have to pay them. 79 00:06:12,100 –> 00:06:14,079 It’s the law. 80 00:06:14,079 –> 00:06:21,440 Now you can pay your taxes dutifully, punctually, honestly. 81 00:06:21,440 –> 00:06:27,540 But you cannot pay your taxes generously, right? 82 00:06:27,540 –> 00:06:33,839 Generosity is only possible under grace. 83 00:06:34,119 –> 00:06:41,940 People who have understood that we live under grace and not under law may give more, the 84 00:06:41,940 –> 00:06:47,980 same, or even less than people who are ruled by law. 85 00:06:47,980 –> 00:06:54,519 The critical issue here is not so much the amount, because candidly, as you grow in generosity, 86 00:06:54,519 –> 00:06:59,299 the amount that you give over your lifetime will change as you grow in your understanding 87 00:06:59,299 –> 00:07:01,980 of what it is to be generous. 88 00:07:02,059 –> 00:07:07,279 What’s really important here, and the first thing for us to grasp, is not so much related 89 00:07:07,279 –> 00:07:11,040 to amounts as related to character. 90 00:07:11,079 –> 00:07:20,700 The character that is being formed and generosity can only be formed under grace. 91 00:07:20,700 –> 00:07:26,160 Now, I know for some of us this is moving us into a new world, we’ve just not thought 92 00:07:26,160 –> 00:07:29,920 about giving in that kind of a way before. 93 00:07:30,019 –> 00:07:34,559 I was fascinated to read in Tim Keller’s new book, it’s called The Prodigal God. 94 00:07:34,559 –> 00:07:38,720 Get ahold of a copy it’s a wonderful little book that gets to the heart of the Gospel. 95 00:07:38,720 –> 00:07:43,880 And he tells a story there about a woman in his congregation who he said had been brought 96 00:07:43,880 –> 00:07:48,679 up in another church that was very legalistic, very moralistic, and so when she had come 97 00:07:48,679 –> 00:07:55,480 to Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York as a young adult, she had in her head this 98 00:07:55,760 –> 00:08:01,019 framework that was quite convinced that God accepts us because we live a moral and an 99 00:08:01,019 –> 00:08:02,019 ethical life. 100 00:08:02,019 –> 00:08:06,940 That God accepts us because we do certain things that he has told us to do. 101 00:08:06,940 –> 00:08:10,760 And she came to Redeemer and she began to learn about God’s grace in which through 102 00:08:10,760 –> 00:08:15,179 his death and resurrection, he receives us and accepts us freely, not on the basis of 103 00:08:15,179 –> 00:08:20,380 anything we do at conversion or subsequent to conversion but only through the work of 104 00:08:20,380 –> 00:08:21,380 the Lord Jesus Christ. 105 00:08:21,380 –> 00:08:28,619 And at one point, this lady came and sat down with Pastor Tim Keller and this is what she 106 00:08:28,619 –> 00:08:30,779 said. 107 00:08:30,779 –> 00:08:38,900 She said this grace thing, that’s a scary idea. 108 00:08:38,900 –> 00:08:45,440 She said, it is good scary, but it is really scary. 109 00:08:45,440 –> 00:08:50,280 Now let me quote to you what Pastor Tim Keller said to her. 110 00:08:51,020 –> 00:09:00,659 I was intrigued, he says, and I asked her what was so scary about unmerited free grace. 111 00:09:00,659 –> 00:09:07,479 And she replied something like this, if I was saved by my good works, there would be 112 00:09:07,479 –> 00:09:10,739 a limit to what God could ask of me. 113 00:09:10,739 –> 00:09:14,919 I would be like a taxpayer with rights. 114 00:09:15,000 –> 00:09:22,200 But if it really is true that I am a sinner saved by sheer grace at God’s infinite cost, 115 00:09:22,200 –> 00:09:28,159 there is nothing he can’t ask of me. 116 00:09:28,159 –> 00:09:29,159 She said, that’s scary. 117 00:09:29,159 –> 00:09:34,179 It’s good, scary, but it’s scary, scary. 118 00:09:34,179 –> 00:09:39,159 See, that’s why some of us are much more comfortable under law. 119 00:09:39,159 –> 00:09:40,460 That’s why Christians live under law. 120 00:09:40,460 –> 00:09:42,880 Just tell me what to do! 121 00:09:43,280 –> 00:09:52,880 I don’t want to live in the boundlessness of free grace by which 122 00:09:52,900 –> 00:09:58,380 I am redeemed through Christ alone, by faith alone through his death and his resurrection 123 00:09:58,380 –> 00:09:59,380 alone. 124 00:09:59,380 –> 00:10:08,960 Now, I want to help you get this whole matter of giving out of the world of law and into 125 00:10:09,020 –> 00:10:15,000 the world of grace as far as your life and your giving is concerned. 126 00:10:15,000 –> 00:10:21,119 And when this happens, and it may take a while, but when this happens in your 127 00:10:21,119 –> 00:10:25,919 life you will no longer be asking, what do I have to give? 128 00:10:25,919 –> 00:10:33,260 You will begin to discover what this little series is all about, the joy of a truly generous 129 00:10:33,260 –> 00:10:34,500 life. 130 00:10:34,500 –> 00:10:38,780 Now, that’s really where we laid the foundation last week. 131 00:10:38,780 –> 00:10:43,960 We looked as best we can in the scriptures at the generosity of God. 132 00:10:43,960 –> 00:10:50,400 Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor so that you through his poverty 133 00:10:50,400 –> 00:10:52,320 might become rich. 134 00:10:52,320 –> 00:10:56,219 That’s our God, and we want to become increasingly like him. 135 00:10:56,219 –> 00:10:59,640 He gives freely and joyfully. 136 00:10:59,640 –> 00:11:01,200 Now we’re going to take the next step today. 137 00:11:01,200 –> 00:11:02,960 We’re going to ask this question. 138 00:11:03,739 –> 00:11:12,359 What then would that look like if it was reflected in a local church? 139 00:11:12,359 –> 00:11:16,599 What would a truly generous church look like? 140 00:11:16,599 –> 00:11:20,320 And I want us to see from the passage, and I do hope you have the Bible open and that 141 00:11:20,320 –> 00:11:25,000 you will learn more of it is to be learning from the Word of God week by week. 142 00:11:25,000 –> 00:11:26,859 I want us to see two things today. 143 00:11:26,859 –> 00:11:32,260 A church that reflects the character of God will be generous in giving money, and it will 144 00:11:32,260 –> 00:11:36,520 be marked by integrity in handling money. 145 00:11:36,520 –> 00:11:39,159 These two things absolutely critically important. 146 00:11:39,159 –> 00:11:43,400 Remember, we’re saying 2 Corinthians 8 and 9, everything you ever needed to know about 147 00:11:43,400 –> 00:11:48,080 giving or about fundraising or about the handling of money. 148 00:11:48,080 –> 00:11:49,479 So these two things today. 149 00:11:49,479 –> 00:11:55,020 First, generosity in giving money, and we’re looking at the first part of 2 Corinthians 150 00:11:55,020 –> 00:11:57,059 chapter 8, verse 1. 151 00:11:57,140 –> 00:12:03,619 Now brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given to the Macedonian 152 00:12:03,619 –> 00:12:04,619 churches. 153 00:12:04,619 –> 00:12:10,479 So we’re going to learn now about what the grace of God can do in the life of Christian 154 00:12:10,479 –> 00:12:18,119 believers, and Paul has a particular example of these Macedonian Christians, and he tells 155 00:12:18,119 –> 00:12:20,380 us what God’s grace did in their lives. 156 00:12:20,380 –> 00:12:21,380 Verse 2. 157 00:12:21,380 –> 00:12:40,020 So, I want to try and build the pieces in this verse so that we understand them clearly. 158 00:12:40,020 –> 00:12:44,500 Let’s start at the end, rich generosity, the end of verse 2. 159 00:12:44,500 –> 00:12:49,580 How does God form rich generosity in a believer’s life? 160 00:12:49,580 –> 00:12:50,580 Where does it come from? 161 00:12:50,580 –> 00:12:55,739 How could you grow in becoming a more generous person? 162 00:12:55,739 –> 00:13:01,119 What kind of things would God use to make that happen in your life? 163 00:13:01,119 –> 00:13:10,099 Well, this verse gives us a fascinating insight into the way God shaped generosity and formed 164 00:13:10,099 –> 00:13:12,340 generosity in the lives of these believers. 165 00:13:12,340 –> 00:13:14,340 Look at what God used. 166 00:13:14,340 –> 00:13:17,059 Number 1, severe trial. 167 00:13:17,919 –> 00:13:25,500 Out of the most severe trial, nobody wants to go through severe trial. 168 00:13:25,500 –> 00:13:32,559 But God often uses the severe trials of our lives to soften our hearts and to make us 169 00:13:32,559 –> 00:13:37,059 more sensitive to the needs of other people. 170 00:13:37,059 –> 00:13:42,780 And when you meet generous folks look for this and you will find it’s a pattern. 171 00:13:42,840 –> 00:13:49,080 I’ve had great joy just in thinking about this in relation to folks who I know to be 172 00:13:49,080 –> 00:13:50,900 generous. 173 00:13:50,919 –> 00:13:58,099 And here’s one thing that I see, there has been some severe trial in their lives and 174 00:13:58,099 –> 00:14:06,320 God has used it to soften their hearts and make them sensitive to the needs of others. 175 00:14:06,340 –> 00:14:15,159 Severe trial has a way in God’s gracious hand of cutting the root of selfishness in our lives. 176 00:14:15,159 –> 00:14:21,960 But then notice that Paul identifies a second factor out of which this rich generosity came. 177 00:14:21,960 –> 00:14:24,419 He says, it’s overflowing joy. 178 00:14:24,419 –> 00:14:30,640 See, severe trials just on their own can make a person bitter and self-absorbed, but when 179 00:14:30,799 –> 00:14:37,820 person begins to discover the grace of God, verse 1, then you begin to find a new joy 180 00:14:37,820 –> 00:14:41,919 in Jesus Christ, all that He is for you and all that is yours in Him. 181 00:14:41,919 –> 00:14:47,039 And so generous folks are shaped in this way, often there is a severe trial that breaks 182 00:14:47,039 –> 00:14:52,840 the root of self-centeredness and softens our hearts towards others, and always there 183 00:14:52,840 –> 00:14:59,080 is a joy that is being discovered in all that is ours in Jesus Christ. 184 00:14:59,080 –> 00:15:04,500 Put these two together and you have a beginning of a generous life. 185 00:15:04,500 –> 00:15:07,679 But then Paul adds one more factor. 186 00:15:07,679 –> 00:15:17,280 Notice he says it’s out of extreme poverty that their generosity welled up. 187 00:15:17,280 –> 00:15:22,780 Now if you look at verse 3 you’ll see that evidently the financial position of these 188 00:15:23,000 –> 00:15:31,099 believers in Macedonia was so difficult, they were so poor, that Paul decided he wouldn’t 189 00:15:31,099 –> 00:15:36,239 ask them to contribute to the poor saints in Jerusalem. 190 00:15:36,239 –> 00:15:39,059 These folks have so little, I couldn’t possibly ask them. 191 00:15:39,059 –> 00:15:44,059 So what happened, verse 3, was that these believers in Macedonia, entirely on their 192 00:15:44,059 –> 00:15:49,460 own, urgently pleaded, Paul says, with us, for the privilege of sharing in this service 193 00:15:49,460 –> 00:15:50,460 to the poor. 194 00:15:50,460 –> 00:15:52,559 They said no, we want to be part of it. 195 00:15:52,760 –> 00:15:57,880 We don’t have much, but we want to be part of this. 196 00:15:57,880 –> 00:16:02,080 And Paul is not saying here that you have to be poor in order to be generous. 197 00:16:02,080 –> 00:16:05,799 Obviously there are generous people at every level of income just as there are mean and 198 00:16:05,799 –> 00:16:09,200 tight fisted people at every level of income. 199 00:16:09,200 –> 00:16:15,539 But Paul is saying that the extreme poverty of these folks made their generosity all the 200 00:16:15,539 –> 00:16:17,219 more remarkable. 201 00:16:17,219 –> 00:16:19,960 So I’m trying to put this in the way of a formula. 202 00:16:19,960 –> 00:16:22,580 What does rich generosity come out of? 203 00:16:22,580 –> 00:16:25,260 How does it well up? 204 00:16:25,260 –> 00:16:29,599 Literally what Paul is saying here is it explodes. 205 00:16:29,599 –> 00:16:34,840 It exploded for these folks out of a convergence of three factors, their severe trial, their 206 00:16:34,840 –> 00:16:39,539 overwhelming joy in Jesus Christ, and their extreme poverty which just had the effect 207 00:16:39,539 –> 00:16:45,159 of multiplying how generous they really were when you consider how little they had. 208 00:16:45,159 –> 00:16:48,479 Now that leads me to make this important observation. 209 00:16:49,479 –> 00:16:54,440 And it’s a very obvious one, but it’s worth considering. 210 00:16:54,440 –> 00:17:06,680 A person who makes $25,000 and gives 10 percent of their income is far more generous than 211 00:17:06,680 –> 00:17:13,599 a person who make $250,000 and gives 10 percent of their income. 212 00:17:13,619 –> 00:17:15,920 Because it is far harder, really. 213 00:17:15,920 –> 00:17:25,280 It’s a challenge to try and make it in this wonderful place where we live on ninety percent 214 00:17:25,280 –> 00:17:28,800 of $25,000. 215 00:17:28,800 –> 00:17:36,760 Much harder to do that than to live on 90 percent of $250,000. 216 00:17:36,760 –> 00:17:46,359 So giving 10 percent of $25,000 is much more generous than giving 10 percent of $250,000. 217 00:17:46,359 –> 00:17:56,280 So I’m thinking about someone very very wealthy who gives, multi-millionaire who gives 90 218 00:17:56,280 –> 00:17:58,239 percent of all of their income. 219 00:17:58,239 –> 00:18:05,119 Now that really is generous and he simply said, I have what I need to live and I am 220 00:18:05,180 –> 00:18:09,680 therefore gonna regard what else is given to me as a means that I can give, and much 221 00:18:09,680 –> 00:18:14,760 of it goes overseas for the relief of the most abject poverty in different parts of 222 00:18:14,760 –> 00:18:16,839 the world. 223 00:18:16,839 –> 00:18:21,839 So you see why you can’t set a rule for generosity. 224 00:18:21,839 –> 00:18:28,680 When you have less, the generosity of your giving is more. 225 00:18:28,780 –> 00:18:31,839 Now think about this application. 226 00:18:31,839 –> 00:18:39,719 That means this is a wonderful season for growing in generosity, isn’t it? 227 00:18:39,719 –> 00:18:40,880 Seriously. 228 00:18:40,880 –> 00:18:47,339 If folks who have lost 30 or 40% of their savings give what they did last year, that 229 00:18:47,339 –> 00:18:53,439 is more generous than it was last year because it came out of less. 230 00:18:53,439 –> 00:18:55,760 That means it is more costly. 231 00:18:55,760 –> 00:18:58,339 That means it is more sacrificial. 232 00:18:58,339 –> 00:19:05,459 That means it is more generous and that means it reflects more clearly the character of 233 00:19:05,459 –> 00:19:07,599 our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 234 00:19:07,599 –> 00:19:10,540 Now you see what Paul is saying. 235 00:19:10,540 –> 00:19:15,660 The Macedonian churches were a model of generosity because of three factors. 236 00:19:15,660 –> 00:19:20,020 There was a severe trial which evidently had given them very soft hearts. 237 00:19:20,020 –> 00:19:25,020 There was an overwhelming joy which indicated the life of Christ in their souls. 238 00:19:25,540 –> 00:19:31,780 They were existing in extreme poverty which just magnified the degree to which generosity 239 00:19:31,819 –> 00:19:38,219 was formed as character in their hearts. 240 00:19:38,219 –> 00:19:44,319 And the Corinthians who were much better off, weren’t there. 241 00:19:45,619 –> 00:19:47,739 Isn’t this convicting? 242 00:19:47,739 –> 00:19:53,540 The Macedonian churches in their extreme poverty and they’re so generous. 243 00:19:53,579 –> 00:20:02,520 And the Corinthians who are in this metropolis, this thriving city, and they’re reluctant 244 00:20:02,520 –> 00:20:04,239 with regards to their giving. 245 00:20:04,239 –> 00:20:08,239 Now, that then sets the frame for the real issue that is before us here. 246 00:20:08,239 –> 00:20:13,359 How is Paul going to help these reluctant givers in Corinth to become more like the 247 00:20:13,359 –> 00:20:17,140 generous givers in Macedonia. 248 00:20:17,140 –> 00:20:21,180 How is he going to help people who really live in a world of saying how much do I have 249 00:20:21,260 –> 00:20:22,760 to give? 250 00:20:22,760 –> 00:20:26,359 How much can I afford to give? 251 00:20:26,359 –> 00:20:34,640 If that’s where you are how could you move in the direction of a more generous life? 252 00:20:34,640 –> 00:20:43,839 Well, notice, will you, just as we move through this verse 5, it all begins with what happened 253 00:20:43,839 –> 00:20:45,239 with these Macedonians. 254 00:20:45,800 –> 00:20:50,199 Paul says they gave themselves first to the Lord. 255 00:20:50,199 –> 00:20:55,760 See, this whole matter of giving don’t try and treat it in a vacuum. 256 00:20:55,760 –> 00:21:04,239 It is an expression of your self-giving, your giving of yourself to the Lord Jesus Christ. 257 00:21:04,239 –> 00:21:09,640 I want to encourage us as we come to this Christmas and we think about Jesus Christ 258 00:21:09,640 –> 00:21:18,000 self-giving for us, is this not a season supremely to re-evaluate our self-giving to him? 259 00:21:18,000 –> 00:21:23,619 Lord Jesus Christ, you are my Lord and my master? 260 00:21:23,619 –> 00:21:25,300 Begin there! 261 00:21:25,300 –> 00:21:32,560 Then, what does that mean in relation to your money? 262 00:21:32,560 –> 00:21:34,800 Give proportionately. 263 00:21:34,800 –> 00:21:40,079 If we’re to reflect and move in the direction of the Macedonians, notice what Paul says 264 00:21:40,079 –> 00:21:43,119 now to the Corinthians in verses 10 to 12. 265 00:21:43,119 –> 00:21:46,880 He says, finish the work so that your willingness to do it 266 00:21:46,880 –> 00:21:53,040 may be matched by your completion of it according to your means, 267 00:21:53,040 –> 00:21:56,800 for if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, 268 00:21:56,800 –> 00:21:59,979 not according to what one does not have. 269 00:21:59,979 –> 00:22:01,880 Now here’s the principle. 270 00:22:01,880 –> 00:22:04,819 You give out of what you have. 271 00:22:04,819 –> 00:22:09,719 You give, in other words, in proportion to what the Lord has trusted into your hands, 272 00:22:09,719 –> 00:22:12,920 what He has given you, not what He has not given you 273 00:22:12,920 –> 00:22:17,880 and not what you hope one day He might give to you. 274 00:22:17,880 –> 00:22:19,400 According to what you have. 275 00:22:19,400 –> 00:22:23,599 If you hear an evangelist who says, 276 00:22:23,660 –> 00:22:24,660 Okay. 277 00:22:24,660 –> 00:22:26,359 You can give a thousand dollars. 278 00:22:26,359 –> 00:22:28,400 And even if you don’t have it, you know. 279 00:22:28,400 –> 00:22:31,099 Ten times it will be returned to you, you know, within a year. 280 00:22:31,099 –> 00:22:35,160 Switch off the television program and don’t ever watch it again. 281 00:22:35,160 –> 00:22:39,880 Because that breaks the fundamental principle of great integrity 282 00:22:39,880 –> 00:22:41,560 that the apostle lays out here. 283 00:22:41,560 –> 00:22:45,959 That our giving is to be a proportion of what we have, 284 00:22:45,959 –> 00:22:47,739 not a proportion of what we do not have 285 00:22:47,739 –> 00:22:52,680 and not a proportion of what we hope to have. 286 00:22:52,739 –> 00:22:55,800 That means that those who have more will give more. 287 00:22:55,800 –> 00:22:58,280 Those who have less will give less. 288 00:22:58,280 –> 00:23:02,660 The principle that our Lord Jesus spelled our in Luke 12. 289 00:23:02,660 –> 00:23:08,359 From the One to whom much is given, much will be expected. 290 00:23:08,359 –> 00:23:12,800 The more you have, the greater the challenge it really is 291 00:23:12,800 –> 00:23:17,140 in many ways, to be truly generous. 292 00:23:17,140 –> 00:23:18,140 Give proportionately. 293 00:23:18,920 –> 00:23:21,819 So here’s what that means. 294 00:23:21,819 –> 00:23:24,319 In this season of giving, decide on the amount 295 00:23:24,319 –> 00:23:26,180 that you will give. 296 00:23:26,180 –> 00:23:28,660 Let it be a proportion of your income 297 00:23:28,660 –> 00:23:30,719 that you think appropriately reflects 298 00:23:30,719 –> 00:23:34,699 the response of your life to our Lord and our Savior Jesus 299 00:23:34,699 –> 00:23:37,040 Christ and all that he continues to do for you 300 00:23:37,040 –> 00:23:38,260 and to give to you. 301 00:23:38,260 –> 00:23:41,780 Build that into your weekly or your monthly budget 302 00:23:41,780 –> 00:23:44,400 and give it this year. 303 00:23:44,400 –> 00:23:49,400 And then see if you can increase it next year. 304 00:23:51,060 –> 00:23:51,880 Give proportionately. 305 00:23:51,880 –> 00:23:53,520 Here’s something else very important. 306 00:23:53,520 –> 00:23:55,339 This is very practical. 307 00:23:55,339 –> 00:23:57,020 Give purposefully. 308 00:23:58,060 –> 00:24:01,939 There is so much abuse of money 309 00:24:03,000 –> 00:24:07,660 that does such desperate harm to the cause of the gospel. 310 00:24:07,660 –> 00:24:10,180 It’s important to speak about this clearly. 311 00:24:11,040 –> 00:24:13,439 Look at what Paul says in verse 13, 312 00:24:13,439 –> 00:24:16,079 our desire is not that others might be relieved 313 00:24:16,079 –> 00:24:17,739 while you are hardpressed, 314 00:24:17,739 –> 00:24:19,800 but that there might be equality. 315 00:24:21,680 –> 00:24:23,880 Now, you see, what Paul’s saying here, 316 00:24:23,880 –> 00:24:25,800 he’s saying that what’s giving for? 317 00:24:27,380 –> 00:24:30,000 Christian giving is not so that some 318 00:24:30,000 –> 00:24:33,979 who do the giving will end up hardpressed, 319 00:24:33,979 –> 00:24:37,079 while others who benefit from the giving 320 00:24:37,079 –> 00:24:39,500 end up living in the lap of luxury. 321 00:24:40,739 –> 00:24:42,099 And what I’m saying here is, 322 00:24:42,099 –> 00:24:43,800 if you see a Christian ministry 323 00:24:44,920 –> 00:24:49,920 that has ended up promoting the head of that ministry 324 00:24:51,339 –> 00:24:56,339 into a luxurious and inordinate lifestyle, 325 00:24:56,560 –> 00:24:59,119 don’t give to that ministry. 326 00:24:59,119 –> 00:24:59,939 Don’t do it. 327 00:25:01,199 –> 00:25:03,900 Because the purpose of Christian ministry 328 00:25:05,239 –> 00:25:08,739 is not to make multimillionaires out of Christian leaders. 329 00:25:09,719 –> 00:25:11,500 That’s what he’s saying right here. 330 00:25:12,900 –> 00:25:16,280 And if that has offended you I just want to say 331 00:25:16,280 –> 00:25:17,979 that would offend the apostle Paul 332 00:25:17,979 –> 00:25:19,780 and the lord Jesus Christ, 333 00:25:19,780 –> 00:25:24,760 and it will be part of what he deals with on the last day. 334 00:25:24,760 –> 00:25:28,439 What is the purpose of Christian giving? 335 00:25:28,439 –> 00:25:30,099 Not that some should give 336 00:25:30,099 –> 00:25:34,040 so that others should be living in the lap of luxury. 337 00:25:34,040 –> 00:25:36,619 What is the purpose of Christian giving? 338 00:25:36,719 –> 00:25:39,479 There are three primary purposes 339 00:25:39,479 –> 00:25:41,280 in the New Testament for Christian giving. 340 00:25:41,280 –> 00:25:43,020 Let’s have them clear in our mind. 341 00:25:43,020 –> 00:25:46,079 And I tell you, I thank God that they’re clearly reflected 342 00:25:46,079 –> 00:25:48,199 in our church use of the money 343 00:25:48,199 –> 00:25:49,839 that is trusted to this church. 344 00:25:49,839 –> 00:25:52,260 Number one, Christian giving 345 00:25:52,260 –> 00:25:56,119 should be to relieve the needs of the poor. 346 00:25:56,119 –> 00:25:58,560 That is why Paul was giving money 347 00:25:58,560 –> 00:26:01,079 and rather raising money here. 348 00:26:01,079 –> 00:26:05,239 The Christians in Jerusalem were facing grinding poverty 349 00:26:05,239 –> 00:26:08,599 and so other churches believers from other churches 350 00:26:08,599 –> 00:26:12,119 contributed to the relief of the needs of the poor. 351 00:26:12,119 –> 00:26:14,459 You find this all over the New Testament. 352 00:26:14,459 –> 00:26:16,800 Galatians chapter two and verse 10, 353 00:26:16,800 –> 00:26:18,680 you find the Apostles saying to Paul, 354 00:26:18,680 –> 00:26:20,660 you go on this mission to the Gentiles 355 00:26:20,660 –> 00:26:22,839 but don’t forget the needs of the poor. 356 00:26:22,839 –> 00:26:26,160 And Paul says, that’s exactly what I was eager to do. 357 00:26:26,160 –> 00:26:28,079 Galatians 6 in verse 10, 358 00:26:28,079 –> 00:26:31,359 whenever we have opportunity to do good to all people, 359 00:26:31,359 –> 00:26:32,680 let’s grasp at Paul says, 360 00:26:32,819 –> 00:26:36,160 especially towards those who are in the family of believers 361 00:26:36,160 –> 00:26:37,939 so there’s a priority. 362 00:26:37,939 –> 00:26:39,439 If there are brothers and sisters 363 00:26:39,439 –> 00:26:41,939 in particular physical financial need, 364 00:26:41,939 –> 00:26:44,280 we have a responsibility in that regard 365 00:26:44,280 –> 00:26:46,760 and Christians are to give towards the needs of the poor. 366 00:26:46,760 –> 00:26:50,359 Second, Christians are to give to support 367 00:26:50,359 –> 00:26:55,359 the ministries of those we send. 368 00:26:55,520 –> 00:26:58,199 See we are trusted with the gospel 369 00:26:58,199 –> 00:27:00,959 and as the Church of Jesus Christ, 370 00:27:01,020 –> 00:27:02,719 we’re one church among many 371 00:27:02,719 –> 00:27:04,640 but the churches of Jesus Christ 372 00:27:04,640 –> 00:27:07,319 are commanded to take the gospel to the ends of the earth. 373 00:27:07,319 –> 00:27:08,979 That means we must send missionaries 374 00:27:08,979 –> 00:27:12,079 and if we send missionaries around the world, 375 00:27:12,079 –> 00:27:14,819 we must support those who we send. 376 00:27:14,819 –> 00:27:16,339 First Corinthians chapter nine, 377 00:27:16,339 –> 00:27:18,959 the Apostle Paul talks about missionaries 378 00:27:18,959 –> 00:27:20,479 who are advancing the gospel 379 00:27:20,479 –> 00:27:24,640 and he says who serves as a soldier at his own expense. 380 00:27:24,640 –> 00:27:27,260 Send out a soldier it’s not at his own expense. 381 00:27:27,260 –> 00:27:29,520 Verse 14 of one Corinthians nine, 382 00:27:29,719 –> 00:27:31,439 the Lord has commanded that those 383 00:27:31,439 –> 00:27:34,260 who preach the gospel should receive 384 00:27:34,260 –> 00:27:36,040 their living from the gospel, 385 00:27:36,040 –> 00:27:38,140 he’s talking in this situation 386 00:27:38,140 –> 00:27:40,060 about missionaries who are sent 387 00:27:40,060 –> 00:27:43,599 and commissioned by the church. 388 00:27:43,599 –> 00:27:46,959 So we are to give money and we are to use money 389 00:27:46,959 –> 00:27:49,079 for the relief of the needs of the poor, 390 00:27:49,079 –> 00:27:51,800 for the support of ministries of those we send 391 00:27:51,800 –> 00:27:56,160 and thirdly, for the ministries of those we call. 392 00:27:56,160 –> 00:27:58,439 The church clearly has a responsibility there 393 00:27:58,439 –> 00:28:01,699 and you would find that in I Timothy chapter five, 394 00:28:01,699 –> 00:28:03,599 where Paul speaks about the elders 395 00:28:03,599 –> 00:28:07,239 or the pastors who serve the local church 396 00:28:07,239 –> 00:28:08,079 and he says this, 397 00:28:08,079 –> 00:28:11,699 the elders who direct the affairs of the church well 398 00:28:11,699 –> 00:28:13,959 are worthy of double honor, 399 00:28:13,959 –> 00:28:17,640 especially those whose work is preaching and teaching 400 00:28:17,640 –> 00:28:19,640 for the scripture says, 401 00:28:19,640 –> 00:28:24,560 do not muzzle the ox while it is treading the grain 402 00:28:24,579 –> 00:28:27,859 and the worker deserves his wages. 403 00:28:28,939 –> 00:28:30,260 Said my wife, 404 00:28:30,260 –> 00:28:34,020 I’m not really sure how I would feel about being described 405 00:28:34,020 –> 00:28:38,199 as the ox who treads, the grain not being muzzled, 406 00:28:38,199 –> 00:28:42,020 but the principle that Paul is laying out here 407 00:28:42,020 –> 00:28:45,739 is that alongside relief of the needs of the poor 408 00:28:45,739 –> 00:28:47,339 and the support of the ministries, 409 00:28:47,339 –> 00:28:50,180 those we send Christian giving is to be used 410 00:28:50,180 –> 00:28:54,180 for the support of the ministries of those we call. 411 00:28:54,300 –> 00:28:56,459 So, these are the three things. 412 00:28:56,459 –> 00:28:59,060 John Piper says very, very helpfully 413 00:28:59,060 –> 00:29:03,260 that our priorities in giving reflect what we love, 414 00:29:04,459 –> 00:29:08,359 and here’s the reality in this church. 415 00:29:08,359 –> 00:29:09,760 We love the poor, 416 00:29:11,079 –> 00:29:12,500 we love the lost, 417 00:29:13,939 –> 00:29:15,780 and we love the church, 418 00:29:17,479 –> 00:29:20,380 and we want to see the poor helped, 419 00:29:20,380 –> 00:29:23,160 we want to see the lost saved, 420 00:29:23,280 –> 00:29:26,560 we want to see the church built up, 421 00:29:26,560 –> 00:29:28,119 and our giving therefore is directed 422 00:29:28,119 –> 00:29:29,760 towards these purposes. 423 00:29:29,760 –> 00:29:31,260 If you look at our church budget, 424 00:29:31,260 –> 00:29:34,939 you will find that these are predominant 425 00:29:34,939 –> 00:29:37,599 and reflect Biblical priorities. 426 00:29:38,680 –> 00:29:40,260 Now, that’s most of our time on this 427 00:29:40,260 –> 00:29:42,540 first and very important theme. 428 00:29:42,540 –> 00:29:44,699 We’re talking about what a church looks like 429 00:29:44,699 –> 00:29:49,180 if it reflects the character of our Lord Jesus Christ, 430 00:29:49,180 –> 00:29:52,380 and the first distinguishing mark here 431 00:29:52,579 –> 00:29:55,680 is generosity in the giving of money. 432 00:29:56,880 –> 00:29:57,859 In these last few minutes, 433 00:29:57,859 –> 00:29:59,859 I want to draw your attention to a second thing 434 00:29:59,859 –> 00:30:01,599 that is also very important, 435 00:30:01,599 –> 00:30:04,839 and that is this whole matter of integrity 436 00:30:04,839 –> 00:30:08,300 in relation to the handling of money, 437 00:30:08,300 –> 00:30:09,819 and you know from time to time, 438 00:30:09,819 –> 00:30:11,540 it comes across our television screens 439 00:30:11,540 –> 00:30:14,020 that there is some investigation going on 440 00:30:14,020 –> 00:30:16,079 into some Christian ministry, 441 00:30:16,079 –> 00:30:17,060 or ministries, 442 00:30:17,060 –> 00:30:20,979 that are alleged to have engaged in impropriety 443 00:30:21,859 –> 00:30:24,680 in the way that money is handled. 444 00:30:24,680 –> 00:30:28,339 That does such damage to the cause of Christ. 445 00:30:30,180 –> 00:30:34,020 And so this whole matter of integrity 446 00:30:34,020 –> 00:30:37,380 in the way that money is handled 447 00:30:37,380 –> 00:30:41,119 is critical to the advance of the Gospel. 448 00:30:41,119 –> 00:30:43,780 Let me show you what the apostle Paul says here. 449 00:30:43,780 –> 00:30:45,239 Verse 20. 450 00:30:45,239 –> 00:30:47,739 We want to avoid any criticism 451 00:30:47,739 –> 00:30:52,719 of the way that we administer this liberal gift. 452 00:30:52,719 –> 00:30:53,880 He’s raising money. 453 00:30:53,880 –> 00:30:55,219 He says, 454 00:30:55,219 –> 00:30:56,660 we gotta be really careful how we handle the money. 455 00:30:57,839 –> 00:30:59,660 For we are taking pains, he says, 456 00:30:59,660 –> 00:31:01,300 verse 21, 457 00:31:01,300 –> 00:31:02,560 to do what is right, 458 00:31:02,560 –> 00:31:04,660 not only in the eyes of God, 459 00:31:04,660 –> 00:31:06,560 but also in the eyes of men. 460 00:31:06,560 –> 00:31:07,400 Very important. 461 00:31:07,400 –> 00:31:09,060 Not just enough that Paul’s conscience 462 00:31:09,060 –> 00:31:10,420 is clear before the Lord, 463 00:31:10,420 –> 00:31:11,979 that he’s done right. 464 00:31:11,979 –> 00:31:16,560 It needs to be obvious to all who are observing 465 00:31:17,560 –> 00:31:20,060 that the way that the money is handled 466 00:31:20,060 –> 00:31:22,939 is marked by integrity 467 00:31:22,939 –> 00:31:27,939 and is utterly free of any impropriety. 468 00:31:28,920 –> 00:31:31,579 And a church that reflects the character of God 469 00:31:31,579 –> 00:31:35,060 will be marked not only by generosity in giving money, 470 00:31:35,060 –> 00:31:38,199 but integrity in handling money. 471 00:31:39,819 –> 00:31:41,260 The money that is given 472 00:31:42,660 –> 00:31:44,979 to the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ 473 00:31:44,979 –> 00:31:46,260 is sacred. 474 00:31:47,719 –> 00:31:49,979 It has been given by God’s people 475 00:31:51,280 –> 00:31:53,579 and it is to be used for God’s work. 476 00:31:54,680 –> 00:31:56,859 It must be administered 477 00:31:56,859 –> 00:31:59,680 with the highest care and integrity. 478 00:31:59,680 –> 00:32:02,579 It must be used very carefully 479 00:32:02,579 –> 00:32:04,660 with wisdom and with restraint 480 00:32:04,660 –> 00:32:08,160 and always for the purpose for which it was given. 481 00:32:09,400 –> 00:32:11,900 I found writing 400 years ago. 482 00:32:11,900 –> 00:32:12,739 Now think about this. 483 00:32:12,739 –> 00:32:14,180 400 years ago 484 00:32:14,180 –> 00:32:15,439 over 400, 485 00:32:15,439 –> 00:32:17,859 John Calvin said, and I quote, 486 00:32:17,859 –> 00:32:21,099 there is nothing which is more apt 487 00:32:21,099 –> 00:32:25,000 to lay one open to sinister imputations 488 00:32:25,000 –> 00:32:28,260 than the handling of public money. 489 00:32:28,260 –> 00:32:30,739 Now Calvin said over 400 years ago, 490 00:32:30,739 –> 00:32:32,739 it’s a real sensitive issue, 491 00:32:32,739 –> 00:32:33,819 and guess what? 492 00:32:33,819 –> 00:32:35,640 It’s a real sensitive issue today 493 00:32:35,640 –> 00:32:36,859 because it is always 494 00:32:36,859 –> 00:32:40,500 and in every culture a really sensitive 495 00:32:40,500 –> 00:32:41,900 issue, 496 00:32:41,920 –> 00:32:44,339 so financial accountability 497 00:32:44,339 –> 00:32:46,739 is essential to the health 498 00:32:46,739 –> 00:32:49,540 and the testimony of the church 499 00:32:49,540 –> 00:32:51,199 of the Lord, Jesus Christ, 500 00:32:51,199 –> 00:32:52,880 I want you to notice Paul’s example 501 00:32:52,880 –> 00:32:53,979 of accountability. 502 00:32:53,979 –> 00:32:55,020 Very practical. 503 00:32:55,020 –> 00:32:58,219 Here’s accountability that honors 504 00:32:58,219 –> 00:33:00,880 Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 505 00:33:00,880 –> 00:33:01,959 Notice verse 19. 506 00:33:01,959 –> 00:33:04,079 He says that he wants this offering 507 00:33:04,079 –> 00:33:06,680 which we administer to be handled 508 00:33:06,680 –> 00:33:07,939 in a way that brings honor 509 00:33:07,939 –> 00:33:09,339 to the Lord, Jesus Christ. 510 00:33:09,380 –> 00:33:13,180 That’s big for a local church. 511 00:33:13,180 –> 00:33:14,119 How did he do it? 512 00:33:14,119 –> 00:33:16,880 Number one, Paul did not handle 513 00:33:16,880 –> 00:33:17,959 the money himself, 514 00:33:19,060 –> 00:33:21,260 since he received money from the churches 515 00:33:21,260 –> 00:33:22,819 that supported his ministry, 516 00:33:22,819 –> 00:33:25,020 it was very important that he himself 517 00:33:25,020 –> 00:33:27,839 did not handle the money 518 00:33:27,839 –> 00:33:29,819 that was trusted to others. 519 00:33:29,819 –> 00:33:31,339 I think of Dr. Billy Graham 520 00:33:31,339 –> 00:33:33,660 and what a marvelous model he is 521 00:33:33,660 –> 00:33:36,660 and oh that his marvelous model 522 00:33:36,760 –> 00:33:38,500 who’d been consistently followed 523 00:33:39,439 –> 00:33:41,979 and he began with his crusades 524 00:33:41,979 –> 00:33:45,979 refusing to take independent love offerings, 525 00:33:45,979 –> 00:33:48,660 placing himself on a salary, 526 00:33:48,660 –> 00:33:52,300 refusing directly to handle the finances 527 00:33:52,300 –> 00:33:54,300 of his own organization 528 00:33:54,300 –> 00:33:56,619 and publishing audited accounts 529 00:33:56,619 –> 00:33:58,380 after every crusade 530 00:33:58,380 –> 00:34:01,060 that the Billy Graham organization conducted. 531 00:34:01,060 –> 00:34:02,900 That is a model of integrity 532 00:34:03,859 –> 00:34:08,000 which reflects Christlike character. 533 00:34:08,000 –> 00:34:09,620 Paul did not handle the money himself. 534 00:34:09,620 –> 00:34:14,620 Second, the church elected a person to oversee the money. 535 00:34:15,020 –> 00:34:16,840 Do you notice that in verse 19? 536 00:34:16,840 –> 00:34:20,060 There was a brother chosen by the churches 537 00:34:20,060 –> 00:34:23,100 who accompanied the gift in being physically carried 538 00:34:23,100 –> 00:34:26,439 from Corinth all the way to Jerusalem 539 00:34:26,439 –> 00:34:30,800 and we can thank God for a similar arrangement 540 00:34:30,800 –> 00:34:33,120 in which the treasurer of this church 541 00:34:33,120 –> 00:34:35,780 is elected by the congregation 542 00:34:35,780 –> 00:34:40,780 so that openly and on a continuing basis 543 00:34:40,800 –> 00:34:42,080 there might be engagement 544 00:34:42,080 –> 00:34:44,120 and that there might be the building of trust. 545 00:34:44,120 –> 00:34:47,760 Number three, the money was administered 546 00:34:47,760 –> 00:34:51,600 not by any one individual but by a team. 547 00:34:51,600 –> 00:34:55,459 Notice verse 17, Paul tells them that Titus was coming 548 00:34:55,459 –> 00:34:58,580 and that Titus was someone who was already known 549 00:34:58,580 –> 00:35:00,120 by the church, because he had been there 550 00:35:00,320 –> 00:35:02,459 in Corinth before. 551 00:35:02,459 –> 00:35:05,479 Verse 18, along with Corinth, 552 00:35:05,479 –> 00:35:07,979 we are sending the brother who is praised 553 00:35:07,979 –> 00:35:09,540 in all the churches, verse 18, 554 00:35:09,540 –> 00:35:11,219 for his service to the gospel. 555 00:35:11,219 –> 00:35:14,219 So there’s two, and verse 22, in addition, 556 00:35:14,219 –> 00:35:16,280 we are sending with them the brother 557 00:35:16,280 –> 00:35:18,280 who has often proved to us in many ways 558 00:35:18,280 –> 00:35:19,179 that he is zealous. 559 00:35:19,179 –> 00:35:20,020 So there’s a team. 560 00:35:20,020 –> 00:35:21,419 There’s plurality. 561 00:35:21,419 –> 00:35:23,860 There’s a number of eyes on this 562 00:35:23,860 –> 00:35:26,199 so that not only is it right before God 563 00:35:26,199 –> 00:35:28,919 but it is quite evident and beyond reproach 564 00:35:28,919 –> 00:35:32,919 in the eyes of the people, by the way, 565 00:35:34,159 –> 00:35:39,159 this principle of plurality applies in the home 566 00:35:40,199 –> 00:35:41,959 as much as in the church. 567 00:35:43,800 –> 00:35:46,840 And I speak from some years of experience 568 00:35:46,840 –> 00:35:50,139 as a pastor having observed a number of situations. 569 00:35:50,139 –> 00:35:51,919 I would say this to you, 570 00:35:53,899 –> 00:35:57,939 that when a husband has use of money 571 00:35:57,979 –> 00:35:59,979 that is secret from the wife, 572 00:36:01,840 –> 00:36:04,520 or when a wife has use of money 573 00:36:04,520 –> 00:36:06,439 that is hidden from the husband, 574 00:36:07,860 –> 00:36:12,860 that couple is on a path that is headed nowhere good. 575 00:36:15,820 –> 00:36:19,739 And couples handle money in different ways. 576 00:36:20,939 –> 00:36:23,219 But that which is secret and that which is hidden 577 00:36:23,219 –> 00:36:25,419 and that which is only known to one person 578 00:36:26,300 –> 00:36:30,419 smells of trouble, smells of trouble. 579 00:36:32,939 –> 00:36:34,780 The money was handled by a team, 580 00:36:34,780 –> 00:36:37,459 applies in the family, applies in the church. 581 00:36:37,459 –> 00:36:39,820 Fourthly, the team were people 582 00:36:39,820 –> 00:36:42,479 of known character and integrity. 583 00:36:42,479 –> 00:36:44,020 Notice this constant emphasis. 584 00:36:44,020 –> 00:36:47,580 Verse 18, the brother who’s praised in all the churches. 585 00:36:47,580 –> 00:36:49,419 He’s respected, he’s known. 586 00:36:49,419 –> 00:36:51,000 Then this other brother, verse 19, 587 00:36:51,000 –> 00:36:52,560 who was chosen by the churches, 588 00:36:52,560 –> 00:36:54,659 so obviously they had confidence in him. 589 00:36:54,739 –> 00:36:56,560 Verse 22, the brother who has proved 590 00:36:56,560 –> 00:36:58,459 in many ways that he is zealous. 591 00:36:58,459 –> 00:37:01,000 So the handling of money is trusted 592 00:37:01,000 –> 00:37:03,360 to people who are known and have demonstrated 593 00:37:03,360 –> 00:37:07,020 over a period of time in the local church 594 00:37:07,020 –> 00:37:12,020 integrity and trustworthiness that is evident to all. 595 00:37:12,080 –> 00:37:15,719 Now I tell you, as I’ve pondered this theme 596 00:37:15,719 –> 00:37:17,959 over these last days, 597 00:37:19,939 –> 00:37:22,040 these scriptures have caused me 598 00:37:22,120 –> 00:37:25,159 and I hope they cause you also this weekend 599 00:37:26,280 –> 00:37:29,280 to thank God in a fresh way 600 00:37:29,280 –> 00:37:33,040 for the ministry of all those who serve the church, 601 00:37:33,040 –> 00:37:35,320 serve us, and serve the Lord 602 00:37:36,320 –> 00:37:38,479 by making sure that the offerings 603 00:37:38,479 –> 00:37:41,340 that are given in this place are administered 604 00:37:41,340 –> 00:37:44,860 in a way that honors Jesus Christ. 605 00:37:46,080 –> 00:37:49,020 I’m thinking of the teams, always a team, 606 00:37:49,659 –> 00:37:51,780 the teams who count money, 607 00:37:53,179 –> 00:37:55,820 those who oversee our accounts, 608 00:37:56,739 –> 00:37:59,320 those who serve on our finance committee, 609 00:38:00,300 –> 00:38:03,340 our business administrator, our financial secretary, 610 00:38:03,340 –> 00:38:05,419 our treasurer, the church board, 611 00:38:05,419 –> 00:38:08,459 our independent and external auditors 612 00:38:08,459 –> 00:38:09,879 who do a marvelous job, 613 00:38:11,699 –> 00:38:15,060 all together serving us, the congregation, 614 00:38:15,060 –> 00:38:18,919 so that the offering of God’s people 615 00:38:18,959 –> 00:38:22,679 in this place might be administered, 616 00:38:22,679 –> 00:38:27,679 that’s Paul’s word, in a way that honors the Lord. 617 00:38:28,360 –> 00:38:30,959 If you see someone involved in one of these ministries 618 00:38:30,959 –> 00:38:33,260 that are very, very rarely even spoken about, 619 00:38:34,459 –> 00:38:35,679 you thank them. 620 00:38:35,679 –> 00:38:37,860 Thank them for their ministry 621 00:38:37,860 –> 00:38:41,139 and for the trust that it brings. 622 00:38:41,139 –> 00:38:43,479 Now here’s the very last thing. 623 00:38:43,479 –> 00:38:46,520 A church that reflects the character of God 624 00:38:46,639 –> 00:38:50,919 will be marked by generosity in giving money 625 00:38:50,919 –> 00:38:53,800 and integrity in handling money. 626 00:38:54,840 –> 00:38:57,139 Generosity matters 627 00:38:57,139 –> 00:39:00,679 because it reflects the wonderful truth that God is kind, 628 00:39:01,780 –> 00:39:03,280 and integrity matters 629 00:39:03,280 –> 00:39:05,719 because it reflects the wonderful truth 630 00:39:05,719 –> 00:39:07,300 that God can be trusted. 631 00:39:08,199 –> 00:39:11,500 So a church that is marked by generosity and integrity 632 00:39:11,500 –> 00:39:13,719 truly reflects the character of God 633 00:39:13,719 –> 00:39:16,199 in ways that are critical to our witness 634 00:39:16,659 –> 00:39:18,739 into His grace in this world. 635 00:39:18,739 –> 00:39:21,080 And think about how important this is 636 00:39:21,080 –> 00:39:23,000 because we live at a time 637 00:39:23,939 –> 00:39:25,879 where there are many people 638 00:39:25,879 –> 00:39:29,860 who are utterly wrapped up in self-interest 639 00:39:29,860 –> 00:39:32,239 and there are many, many people 640 00:39:32,239 –> 00:39:35,040 who have betrayed trust. 641 00:39:35,040 –> 00:39:38,860 The sense of betrayed trust in our culture right now 642 00:39:38,860 –> 00:39:41,120 in relation to money is everywhere. 643 00:39:42,060 –> 00:39:45,800 The sense of consuming self-interest 644 00:39:45,919 –> 00:39:46,840 has been everywhere. 645 00:39:46,840 –> 00:39:51,840 It has exasperated the citizens of this country! 646 00:39:52,360 –> 00:39:55,080 And where are we to look for hope 647 00:39:55,080 –> 00:39:57,520 when the people feel oppressed 648 00:39:57,520 –> 00:40:00,219 by a culture of self-interest 649 00:40:00,219 –> 00:40:03,879 and the abuse of public trust. 650 00:40:03,879 –> 00:40:05,459 And maybe more privately, 651 00:40:05,459 –> 00:40:07,959 right here there are probably a dozen people 652 00:40:09,080 –> 00:40:11,040 who know deeply this experience. 653 00:40:11,040 –> 00:40:14,639 You thought someone cared about you 654 00:40:14,639 –> 00:40:17,120 and then you found out to your horror and your pain 655 00:40:17,120 –> 00:40:20,100 they were really only interested in themselves? 656 00:40:21,360 –> 00:40:22,959 You trusted someone 657 00:40:23,939 –> 00:40:26,000 and then you found out to your shock and your horror 658 00:40:26,000 –> 00:40:30,520 that, that trust that was so great, was smashed 659 00:40:30,520 –> 00:40:31,879 and you began to feel you could 660 00:40:31,879 –> 00:40:35,239 never, never, never trust anybody again. 661 00:40:35,239 –> 00:40:37,919 Living in a world of self-interest and betrayed 662 00:40:37,919 –> 00:40:42,919 trust makes thousands cynical, jaded, tired. 663 00:40:45,639 –> 00:40:49,020 And if that’s your story today 664 00:40:50,659 –> 00:40:54,939 I want to point you in this last moment to Jesus Christ. 665 00:40:57,139 –> 00:41:01,679 There is in this culture of self-interest, 666 00:41:01,679 –> 00:41:03,580 in this world of self-interest 667 00:41:04,500 –> 00:41:09,500 one who really, truly, wholly, 668 00:41:10,580 –> 00:41:13,159 and completely loves you. 669 00:41:14,979 –> 00:41:19,739 He who was rich for your sake became poor 670 00:41:20,959 –> 00:41:25,699 so that through his poverty you might become rich. 671 00:41:27,520 –> 00:41:29,719 And in a world of betrayed trust 672 00:41:29,719 –> 00:41:34,600 there is one who will never, never, never let you down. 673 00:41:34,600 –> 00:41:38,159 You can trust this Jesus Christ with your life, 674 00:41:38,159 –> 00:41:39,879 your death, your eternity. 675 00:41:39,879 –> 00:41:43,399 Paul says those who trust in Him 676 00:41:44,360 –> 00:41:46,540 will never be put to shame. 677 00:41:47,939 –> 00:41:49,520 If this climate in which we live 678 00:41:49,520 –> 00:41:52,300 is making you say, where can I put my trust, 679 00:41:52,300 –> 00:41:54,560 let me point you to Jesus Christ tonight. 680 00:41:57,040 –> 00:41:58,760 You know, at the end of his life, 681 00:41:58,760 –> 00:42:02,800 the apostle Paul who had embraced Christ 682 00:42:02,800 –> 00:42:05,679 as Savior and Lord of every sphere of his life 683 00:42:05,679 –> 00:42:06,679 he said this, 684 00:42:07,919 –> 00:42:10,080 I know whom I have believed 685 00:42:11,020 –> 00:42:14,219 and I’m persuaded that he is able to keep 686 00:42:14,219 –> 00:42:19,219 what I’ve entrusted to him against that day. 687 00:42:21,520 –> 00:42:25,219 When you know the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, 688 00:42:25,219 –> 00:42:29,919 when he becomes truly the Lord and Savior of your life, 689 00:42:29,919 –> 00:42:32,979 when he begins to take control of your life 690 00:42:32,979 –> 00:42:34,860 and to give it new direction, 691 00:42:34,860 –> 00:42:39,520 you will find one who truly loves you 692 00:42:40,399 –> 00:42:42,820 and one in whom you can trust 693 00:42:42,820 –> 00:42:45,399 for life and death and eternity, 694 00:42:45,399 –> 00:42:47,500 and as you walk with him, 695 00:42:48,540 –> 00:42:53,199 he will make you increasingly one who is generous, 696 00:42:54,479 –> 00:42:58,000 and he will make of you one who increasingly 697 00:42:58,000 –> 00:42:59,959 can be trusted. 698 00:43:01,840 –> 00:43:06,179 You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. 699 00:43:07,520 –> 00:43:09,179 That’s what he does. 700 00:43:09,239 –> 00:43:10,820 Let’s pray together, shall we? 701 00:43:11,659 –> 00:43:12,939 Father in heaven, 702 00:43:14,620 –> 00:43:19,179 we bow in your presence and bless you 703 00:43:19,179 –> 00:43:22,979 for the one who counted our interest greater than his own. 704 00:43:24,699 –> 00:43:27,100 The one in whom for life, death, and eternity, 705 00:43:27,100 –> 00:43:29,020 we can put our trust and know 706 00:43:29,020 –> 00:43:31,479 that we will never be put to shame. 707 00:43:32,439 –> 00:43:34,580 Make us increasingly like Him. 708 00:43:35,520 –> 00:43:39,179 Marked by generosity and integrity, 709 00:43:40,179 –> 00:43:42,000 individually and together, 710 00:43:43,479 –> 00:43:48,020 for Jesus sake, amen. 711 00:43:50,159 –> 00:43:51,300 ANNOUNCER You’ve been listening to a sermon 712 00:43:51,300 –> 00:43:53,659 with Pastor Collins Smith of Open the Bible. 713 00:43:53,659 –> 00:43:58,639 To contact us, call us at 1-877-OPEN-365 714 00:43:58,639 –> 00:44:02,620 or visit our website, OPENTHEBIBLE.ORG