A Call to Generous Giving (Part 2)

2 Corinthians 8:10-15 NLT
A Call to Generous Giving (Part 2)
The Patterns of Giving
¹⁰ Here is my advice: It would be good for you to finish what you started a year ago. Last year you were the first who wanted to give, and you were the first to begin doing it. ¹¹ Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving. Give in proportion to what you have. ¹² Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have. ¹³ Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality. ¹⁴ Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal. ¹⁵ As the Scriptures say,
“Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over,
and those who gathered only a little had enough.”

Examine the scriptures:

2 Corinthians 8:10-15 NLT
A Call to Generous Giving (Part 2)
The Patterns of Giving
¹⁰ Here is my advice: It would be good for you to finish what you started a year ago. Last year you were the first who wanted to give, and you were the first to begin doing it. ¹¹ Now you should finish what you started.

1 Corinthians 16:2 NLT
² On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned. Don’t wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once.

The Corinthian church most likely stopped the process because they were influenced by false teachers.

2 Corinthians 2:17 NLT
¹⁷ You see, we are not like the many hucksters who preach for personal profit. …

Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving.

• Good intentions and eagerness are no substitute for good deeds.

James 2:15-16 NLT
¹⁵ Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, ¹⁶ and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?

 1 John 3:18 NLT
¹⁸ Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. 

Give in proportion to what you have. 

1 Corinthians 16:2 NLT
² On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned. Don’t wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once.

• The New Testament never mentions set amounts or percentages for giving.

• Give in proportion to what you have. 

¹² Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. 

2 Corinthians 9:7
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.” 

And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have.  

Don’t go into debt to give.

• God loves a person who gives cheerfully. 

¹³ Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality. 

The word equality used here could be translated “balance” or “equilibrium”.

Help other believers meet their basic needs.

• Scripture does not promote a welfare mentality.

2 Thessalonians 3:6-10 NLT
An Exhortation to Proper Living
⁶ And now, dear brothers and sisters, we give you this command in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: Stay away from all believers who live idle lives and don’t follow the tradition they received from us. ⁷ For you know that you ought to imitate us. We were not idle when we were with you. ⁸ We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked hard day and night so we would not be a burden to any of you. ⁹ We certainly had the right to ask you to feed us, but we wanted to give you an example to follow. ¹⁰ Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.” 

¹⁴ Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal.  

• Balance: When you have plenty, help those who are in need. Later, when they will have plenty, they can share with you when you need it.

1 Timothy 6:17-19 NLT
¹⁷ Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. ¹⁸ Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. ¹⁹ By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life. 

• Be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. 

¹⁵ As the Scriptures say,
“Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over,
and those who gathered only a little had enough.”

Exodus 16:16-18 NLT (Divine pattern)
¹⁶ These are the Lord’s instructions: Each household should gather as much as it needs. Pick up two quarts for each person in your tent.”
¹⁷ So the people of Israel did as they were told. Some gathered a lot, some only a little. ¹⁸ But when they measured it out, everyone had just enough. Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough. Each family had just what it needed.

Final thoughts:

Philippians 4:19 NLT
¹⁹ And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

Proverbs 30:7-9 NLT
⁷ O God, I beg two favors from you;
let me have them before I die.
⁸ First, help me never to tell a lie.
Second, give me neither poverty nor riches!
Give me just enough to satisfy my needs.
⁹ For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?”
And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name.

Luke 6:38 NLT
³⁸ Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”