Are you choosing form the list or completing the list?

2 Corinthians 8

1. The example of the Macedonians (1-5)

    When we see scriptures such as these that hold sacrificial giving up to such a high regard, we often quickly say, "but sacrificial giving is about more than our money". While that statement is very true, the specific context here is money. God does expect us to be sacrificial in our financial giving. We usually run to the statement to soften the impact on the financial end.

    You have probably heard teaching that we are to give God our time, talent, and treasure. That is good teaching, and I have used it many times myself. However, we can not afford to view it as a list to choose from, but a list to complete. In other words, some would say, "Well, I give of my time or talent", as an excuse not to give financially. God is not saying, "oh yea, I think that much time will make up for what you did not give in finances. He is saying way to go, but let's complete the list, let's be well rounded, let's give of all".

    They gave out of their deep poverty. A very short look at the world around us will help us see that none of us are living in deep poverty. Are we giving sacrificially? God never measures our giving by the amount, but he always measures it by our sacrifice. God is not so much interested in how much you give him as he is how much you keep for yourself. The amount we keep for ourselves tells him how much we have sacrificed.

2. Encouragement for them to follow through in their giving (6-24)

    Jesus is the supreme example of sacrificial giving (9). We should follow that example in all of our giving.

2 Corinthians 9

1. Accountability (1-4)

    Paul was sending someone to check up on them, so that after all the things he had said about what they attended to do in this offering, he did not end up embarrassed and embarrassing them. Accountability is a good thing and if we have agreed to do something we should expect to be held accountable. We should not be offended that someone would check up on us or ask us about our progress in something we have agreed to do, we should find joy in the opportunity to share our progress and be thankful for the motivation accountability brings.

2. A heart of generous giving (5-8)

3. God’s ability to supply (9-11)

    When we give anything for God's Kingdom we must be trusting him to supply and multiply.

4. It’s about more than giving and receiving (12-15)