The Grace of The Grace of givinggiving

2CORINTHIANS 8-92CORINTHIANS 8-9

Participating in GraceParticipating in Grace

4 begging us with much urging for

the favor of participation in the

support of the saints...

2 Corinthians 8:4

Participating in GraceParticipating in Grace

29 For to you it has been granted for

Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His

sake, Philippians 1:29

““a great ordeal of a great ordeal of affliction”affliction”

Participating in GraceParticipating in Grace

6 You also became imitators of us and of

the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with

the joy of the Holy Spirit, 1 Thessalonians

1:6

““a great ordeal of a great ordeal of affliction”affliction”

Participating in GraceParticipating in Grace

14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for

you also endured the same sufferings at the

hands of your own countrymen, even as they

did from the Jews, 1 Thessalonians 2:14

““a great ordeal of a great ordeal of affliction”affliction”

Participating in GraceParticipating in Grace

These Brethren were an These Brethren were an impoverished peopleimpoverished peopledeep - “an extreme deep - “an extreme degree”degree”(Mounce)(Mounce)

poverty - “beggary” poverty - “beggary” (Strong’s) (Strong’s)

Participating in GraceParticipating in Grace

They gave of their “own They gave of their “own accord”accord”literally “self literally “self

chosen”chosen”

They “first gave themselves They “first gave themselves to the Lord”to the Lord”

They “hungered and They “hungered and thirsted” thirsted” for righteousnessfor righteousness

Abounding in this Abounding in this gracious workgracious work

Paul places this “grace” Paul places this “grace” on par with:on par with:

Their spiritual Their spiritual giftsgiftsThe earnestness The earnestness that led to that led to repentancerepentanceThe Love which The Love which was within themwas within them

Abounding in this Abounding in this gracious workgracious work

Our attitude in Our attitude in giving is to be giving is to be shaped by the shaped by the

attitude of Christ attitude of Christ in His humiliationin His humiliation

Abounding in this Abounding in this gracious workgracious work

God views our God views our giving in light of giving in light of

our attitudeour attitudeGod views our God views our

giving in light of giving in light of what we havewhat we have

God’s view allows God’s view allows for true equalityfor true equality

The Grace of PreparationThe Grace of Preparation

Giving is the most Giving is the most private of mattersprivate of mattersThere is honor in There is honor in

prepared giving and prepared giving and dishonor to the dishonor to the

unpreparedunpreparedAre we preparing as Are we preparing as

we ought?we ought?

the liberality of gracethe liberality of grace

Liberality is:Liberality is:““bountiful” rather bountiful” rather than “sparing”than “sparing”

““cheerful” rather cheerful” rather than “grudging”than “grudging”not merely not merely “sufficient” but “sufficient” but “abundant”“abundant”

the liberality of gracethe liberality of grace

Refusing to give Refusing to give liberally disdains liberally disdains the grace of Godthe grace of God

Our giving reflects Our giving reflects our attitude toward our attitude toward the grace saves usthe grace saves us