Missions Paul

“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. ⁹ As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” ¹⁰ Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. ¹¹ You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” (2 Corinthians 9 v 8-11)

God has it all covered. Don’t worry. That need you see and you feel burdened about, He knows. The desire within you to make a contribution to the Church missions project, He knows. How will you be able to give? He knows how.

Paul speaks not of a kingdom principle only found in the New Testament but again he takes us back to the Old. This was in the heart of God from the beginning. Paul quotes Psalm 112:9 using the imagery of a farmer sowing seed freely across his field. The impact is huge and the reward is eternal. It is a beautiful verse.

When God sees us using what He has given to us for His kingdom work He then increases and multiplies our capacity for further generosity. “Enriched in every way so that we can be generous on every occasion.” Blessed so we can bless. All resulting in a thanksgiving worship to God.

1. So we open our hands and keep them open. What He gives (without financial recklessness) we release.
2. Every blessing, increase of income, every provision should lead to a question, ‘How can I use this for the glory of God?’
3. On ‘every occasion’ means eyes and ears that are open, a spiritual awareness and a practical readiness of heart to be involved in needs that emerge.

How is this possible?

God is able.

God is able to give exceedingly more.

God is able to give so that you overflow.

God is able to give so that you have more than enough.

This is about abundance.

Not through guilt.

Not through manipulation.

Not through obligation. 

“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭7‬

1. Heart. Giving because the decision to do so has come from the heart which has received direction from God, there’s no comparison, it’s your decision only/
2. Freely. For it’s only when we do that we experience the joy of generosity through an act of worship. 
3. Cheerfulness. I use this word more than joy because it really reveals a happy mood and it really does translate hilarious. 

We know that Paul was encouraging the Corinthian church to give for the struggling church in Jerusalem.

This next sentence calls for us to remember how a farmer’s harvest is based upon how many seeds were sown.

“Remember this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭6‬ ‭

Are you generous or stingy?

Do you live your life from fear that you may not be noticed and appreciated? This fear causes you to be so self-centred you don’t see a need of investing in others or honouring them above yourself. You must win every argument. You must have the final say. You hold onto the baton tightly because you don’t want anyone to take it. Your heart is stingy. 

Do you live your life from the position that it’s not all about you? You desire others to be credited over you. You want the best and see the best in others and want to give to them that they may go further than you. 

Those who sow sparingly see a successful life from what they accumulate. 

Those who sow generously see a successful life from what they invest and cultivate in other people. 

Those who sow sparingly want bigger platforms for themselves.

Those who sow generously build platforms for others to stand on.

Those who sow sparingly have friends, colleagues or employees who tread on egg shells near them.

Those who sow generously create a culture where it is okay to make mistakes and it is safe to take risks. 

Those who sow sparingly can look generous on the outside but inside they are impoverished.

Those who sow generously have large and loud hearts towards people and their relationships. 

Today we all have an opportunity to sow generously, to love and be kind, to give hope and a future to those who need it. Let’s take that opportunity. 

In aligning our lives with that of Christ we need to continually choose different courses of actions and words. Paul did.

“There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the Lord’s people. For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be. For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we – not to say anything about you – would be ashamed of having been so confident. So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭

He could have said, “You didn’t follow through on your promise.” But he chose to see them through eyes of faith not disappointment, “for I know your eagerness to help.”

What about us? How do we speak of people? 

When we know how Christ sees us despite our failings and weaknesses then the response is we step into the space given to us to grow.

He could have said, “I’m sending my team to make you comply.” But he chose softness. He would rather have their heart than their hand. “I am sending the brothers … that you may be ready, as I said you would be.”

What about us? If you are a leader, do you manipulate or even forcefully demand obedience? It’s not the heart of our Father. He could demand and enforce. He rather sends His Spirit to work in our hearts through transformation.

He could have said, “if these Macedonians, who began to give because of your commitment to give, find out you haven’t yet given, I will have egg on my face.” But actually he was equally concerned and more about them than himself. Their reputation, credibility and testimony was under threat and he desired to keep their honour intact. Christ made himself nothing for us. Christ was criticised, slandered, attacked and crucified, for us. It was never about His reputation but His life was about us. 

I’m staying with this same passage we read yesterday. The apostle Paul faced the task of managing finances, overseeing projects and being responsible for other people’s investments. 

It was a fund-raiser for the struggling Christians in Jerusalem.

What we see are timeless principles to live by, whether we are leaders or not. But if you want to be a leader then these are essential principles.

“Thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative. And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel. What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honour the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help. We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man. In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you. As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brothers, they are representatives of the churches and an honour to Christ. Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭8‬:‭16‬-‭24‬ ‭

1. Transparency. Not when problems arise and not when there’s an enquiry but from day one throughout life to the last day. Let people see your life. “We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift.”
2. Community. Keep choosing people to walk with you. There may be exits but always recruit. Build constantly the community around you who align with your values. “Titus ….the brother … our brother.”
3. Rationale. Explain it. Especially if people are going to be impacted by the decisions you make. “we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man.”
4. Scrutiny. Plan for it. Your life will be rightly examined, for how can anything be proven if it’s not been put in the refiners fire? “For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man.” 
5. Honour. Give it. Especially to those who help you, who are around you and part of your team of life. “As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brothers, they are representatives of the churches and an honour to Christ. Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you.”

We can be thankful for Paul’s handling of the money and his approach to his leadership giving us powerful principles for our own lives. 

Paul knew that financial accountability was so important for his own credibility as a church leader. Today it is no different. There can be nothing worse for the testimony of a Pastor or leader than financial irregularity, profiting from the church unfairly, all of which falls under the commandment of Do Not Steal. 

“Thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative. And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel. What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honour the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help. We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man. In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you. As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brothers, they are representatives of the churches and an honour to Christ. Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭8‬:‭16-24‬ 

Paul did his best to distance himself from the money. This is the inspiration, if we needed it, for the Pastor not to be treasurer. Many years ago, as a Pastor of a small church, I remember being the only person available to take the offering to deposit in the bank. The treasurer had done all the accounting, all I had to do was hand the bag over. Whilst I was standing in the queue, I had a thought, I wonder who writes cheques for the church. The Holy Spirit there and then advised me not to look. I looked. I couldn’t believe it. I found a cheque from a prominent member whose cheque was for £25.99. I kept saying to myself “£25.99! Why did he write it for the 0.99 pence? Why not make it £26?! I began to have all kinds of thoughts and by the time I got to the counter to pay in the £25.99 along with the other cheques I was quite frustrated! As I left the bank, the Holy Spirit said, “I told you not to look.” I never did look again for all the years that came as a Pastor. Distance from the church money is crucial for a Pastor’s happiness.

Paul was at pains to make sure everyone knew though he was the promoter of the collection he wasn’t personally handling it.

He was sending three people:-

Titus – everyone knew him as a leader and fellow worker with Paul

A ‘brother’ – praised by all the churches for his gospel work. Chosen by the churches to accompany not only Paul, but the money.

Another ‘brother’ – The Message speaks of this man using the words dependable for zealous. Paul is communicating that in this man there is a trustworthiness and a heart for God not just integrity over the money. 

Staying with the Message there is a lovely line which says, “We don’t want anyone suspecting us of taking one penny of this money for ourselves.” 

This whole section is a powerful leadership lesson for all who are responsible for our churches. 

1. Protect the leader from suspicion. Put distance between the leader and money given as an offering to God. 
2. Protect the leader from isolation. Place people around them that can hold them and their responsibility accountable.
3. Protect the leader from separation from God. There are many temptations. The people around the leader must carry all the kingdom characteristics that keep a healthy culture, not only for the church but for the leader also.

The Church in Jerusalem was experiencing hardship and its counterpart in Corinth had the financial resource to help them.

What would Paul the leader do?

Would he simply command the church in Corinth to give to solve the problem? 

Commanding or forcing doesn’t necessarily produce the willingness of heart. It was this that Paul was seeking.

“Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, as it is written: ‘The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.’” 2 Corinthians‬ 8‬:‭13‬-‭15‬ ‭

Paul doesn’t want the Corinthians to be struggling as Jerusalem is relieved of their struggles. That’s not the kind of giving Paul is focused on. Solving problems by creating new ones isn’t solving problems. 

Paul wants equality. The Message says he wanted God’s people to stand, “shoulder to shoulder.” There are times for plenty and times for need. Paul is building a network of people who have both experiences of contribution and receiving from each other. Leaders who can build this into their churches and organisations are creating healthy cultures for everyone. Those cultures are filled with relationships that are beneficial for all and not just for a few. We live in a world where it seems the rich get richer, the strong get stronger, the poor get poorer and the weak get weaker. In the healthy Church this does not exist. 

Paul uses the story in Exodus 16 of God providing the Manna. His point is that when God did this everyone had enough. The point is not that a few had enough but the whole community flourished as they all had enough.

How do you measure success in this life? Is it your own achievement? Or is there another measure you use? Is it how everyone in your life are also flourishing and achieving? Is it based on how much you have been able to help but also how much you gratefully received from the same people you previously had invested in? This equality is the success Paul was seeking and what should be at the heart of every Christian and Church. 

One of the most important things to a happy life is to not compare yourself with others but to live your own life with authenticity. 

“And here is my judgment about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭8‬:‭10‬-‭12‬

What needs finishing? What have you started? Maybe you were the first to show the initiative but after a sprint to begin with, you then slowed down and now you’ve stopped altogether. In my travels around the world I have seen many houses, churches and all kinds of buildings half-built, just standing there on the side of the road, unfinished. 

The Corinthians had begun to give towards the need last year and Paul encourages them to complete it. 

Finish the task. That’s the call for all of us and not just towards giving. To run our lane is to keep focused on our calling, vocation, our rhythm of life and our contribution to this world. 

There’s one other thing that I’m meditating on. It is what Paul says in v12. He tells them to focus on what they have not what they don’t have. To run my lane is to acknowledge what’s in my hand, my gifting, abilities, the grace God has given me. You don’t need to look across the lanes to see what others have. You have all you need to run your lane and finish the race. 

To be authentic and run your lane is to focus  on finishing well and to focus on who you are and what is in your hand. 

Paul wants the Corinthian church to give but he is not coercing them. He gives two examples. The first has been the poor and struggling Macedonians. Here comes the second, the rich (like they were), the Lord Jesus Christ.

Though Paul is not telling them anything they don’t know, “for you know”, what he does say has to be one of the most beautiful things he wrote, especially if you read it alongside Philippians 2.

“I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭8‬:‭8‬-‭9‬z

The Lord Jesus Christ was rich, meaning He was existing before His birth in Bethlehem. He was rich because in His pre-existent state He possessed everything, for He is God.

He became poor, meaning He became human, He dwelt amongst us and He died on the cross and rose again.

Paul reminds us that as we live our life through His life we begin to experience the richness of God.

Our salvation experience is declared within this text. Thankful for His salvation of our lives through His work on the cross and resurrection.

But (and this is Paul’s application) our giving should imitate the way Christ gave Himself. Our spirit of generosity mirrors Christ’s. That’s why we give.