FORGET NONE OF HIS BENEFITS, volume 7, number 46, November 13, 2008

. . .he who sows bountifully shall reap bountifully, II Corinthians 9:6.

Hilarious Giving

John Wesley, the 18th century Anglican pastor and founder of the Methodist movement in England, was a prolific writer, publishing a plethora of books on a number of subjects. His books also sold very well, bringing him an annual income in today’s U.S. dollars amounting to $2.8 million. He lived on $60,000, giving the rest away to charity each year. When the British government tried to tax him on silver it supposed he was hiding from taxation, he responded by saying, “I have only two silver spoons, one in Bristol and one in London, and I shall have no more silver as long as so many remain hungry.” Wesley was a cheerful giver (the Greek text uses a word from which we get hilarious). His money held little allure for him.

Are you a cheerful giver? Perhaps you have read the statistics about evangelicals and their giving patterns. We give less than 4 % of our income to gospel work while the prophet Malachi says that those who do not give one tenth of their income to the Lord’s work are robbing Him. Paul, in II Corinthians 8, 9 is already assuming the people are tithing (tithing was a firmly established principle within the covenant community, Leviticus 27:30, Numbers 18:21-24) and he is asking the mainly Gentile believers in Achaia to give according to their ability and beyond their ability to meet a specific need in Jerusalem where Jewish believers were suffering famine. Paul’s hope was practically to break down the middle wall of partition between Jewish and Gentile believers by urging the Gentile brethren to help relieve the suffering of the Jewish brethren. Paul reminds the Corinthians that Christ, who was rich became poor for their sakes, that they in turn may become rich. He then lays down a biblical principle, the character of that principle, and the promise connected with that principle. This, dear people, almost seems too good to be true.

Perhaps it seems odd to you that I would spend time urging you to give hilariously to the Lord’s work when the economic future is so uncertain. After all, you may say, “I must care for my own family.” Paul’s principle is not shortchanged by the economy. He simply states an obvious principle- he who sows sparingly shall reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully shall reap bountifully. A farmer, student, and business man all understand this principle. A farmer who has 1000 acres of land but only sows seed in 100 acres, can only expect a paltry return on his investment. A student who refuses to prepare for the big mid-term exam, should not be surprised by a poor grade. And a businessman who talks of investing capital in a particular venture, but who never does so, cannot expect a bountiful return. This is a universal principle which evokes your serious response- do you believe this principle? If you sow (give) very little money to the Lord’s work, then you will reap very little; and if you sow a great deal, then you can expect a large return.

But what is the character of hilarious giving? Paul first says that we must believe the principle of sowing and reaping. Next he says that we must apply that principle, doing what each of us has purposed to do in our hearts. Words are not enough. Action, giving the money we promised to give, is the proof of our belief in the principle of sowing and reaping. But hilarious giving also means we are not to give grudgingly or under compulsion. You give grudgingly when you start asking, “What if I still had that money I have given to missionaries and churches over the last twenty years? I would be a rich man by now?” And when you begin thinking that way you are not far from grief and remorse. The thought of parting with your money seems impossible, perhaps even foolish or ill advised. But you also are not to give under compulsion, through guilt. Some say, “I better give to the Lord’s work because disobedience here could bring His displeasure on me. Perhaps I will lose my job, have a brain tumor, or lose my children in an automobile accident.” Giving through guilt manipulation, either by what you think God may do or through fearing the frown of the preacher is short lived and nonproductive. No one likes to feel intimidated or manipulated. Instead you are to give with hilarity, believing the promise that God will meet your every need every time. The hilarious giver knows all that he has is from God, and he thus holds his possessions loosely. He is willing to give money he had set aside for a vacation or a new car in order to help fund the world missions program at his church. Instead of a two week European vacation he may choose five days at Panama City, FL. Instead of hoarding his money for retirement he begins to loosen the purse strings and give larger portions of it away. And the amazing thing is that he thoroughly enjoys doing it. It gives him an opportunity to see God work in ways he has not seen for many years. He trusts God that his five year old car will run well for another year or two. He trusts that part of the money he was saving for a home addition can be better used to advance the Great Commission.

Paul goes on to make a remarkable promise to those who give hilariously. He says that God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed. Notice how Paul mentions five times the abundance flowing from hilarious giving. The grace Paul has in mind is not only your eternal salvation, justification, sanctification, redemption, and glorification but also innumerable physical blessings, an abundance far exceeding your basic needs of food, shelter, and clothing. You will have this abundance in order that you may perform good deeds for those around you.

Are you generous with your money? Do you give one tenth of your income to your church? Do you hold your possessions loosely, giving joyfully and liberally to Christian organizations or other worthy causes? Do you really believe the principle of sowing and reaping? You may say, at this point, “I cannot give like you are suggesting. I have too many other obligations.” But God promises to meet your every need every time. I did not say that He will always meet your wants and desires, but He will meet your basic needs for food, shelter, and clothing. You really need nothing more than this. Your failure to give hilariously speaks volumes about your heart. It says that you love your stuff more than you do God and His kingdom. Do you not owe your very soul to the Lord Jesus who died for you? How can you not give Him His due? Is this not the height of greed, selfishness, and materialism? What should you do? Get a fresh glimpse of the glory of Christ who became poor for you that you may become rich. How can we not give Him all He desires for He desires all you are and have!

FORGET NONE OF HIS BENEFITS is a weekly devotional by Reverend Al Baker, pastor of Christ Community Presbyterian Church in West Hartford, Connecticut.

If you would like to add your, or someone else’s, name to the list to receive this weekly devotional (or be removed from it), please contact us at admin@christcpc.org. This and archived back-issues may also be found on our website, www.ChristCPC.org