“And never was heard a discouraging word…” Wouldn’t it simply be wonderful to live in a world that was discouragement free? But alas we do not live in Camelot where it only rains after sunset. The reality is that discouragement is a reality in our lives, and unfortunately there is much each day that can easily discourage us. When it comes to our personal financial situation, we are easily overcome by discouragement because all too often at the end of the month there are far more bills than there is money. It seems that the more we try to get out from under it all, the deeper we get in under it all! And it becomes a never-ending wheel in a hamster cage.

This morning I want to give you a word of encouragement. To me it is quite sad that so many think that God is a vindictive judge who delights in dealing with our shortcomings. But when you come to Him you discover not a vindictive God, but a God of grace who desires nothing more than to be in relationship with you, to bless and prosper you, and to provide for you your every need. How many of you parents want your kids to fail, to struggle, to go through hard and difficult times and to succumb to all manner of evil and vices? Not a one of you. Don’t you want your kids to prosper in all that that word means? Sure you do and so does our God want His children, you and me, to prosper and be blessed.

If you look for the word ‘encouragement’ in your Bible’s concordance, you will find many references to a variety of kinds of encouragement for a plethora of situations and circumstances.

In a portion of his 2nd letter to the early Christians living in the city of Corinth in Greece, Paul is encouraging them to be generous. Near and dear to Paul’s heart was the Church at Jerusalem, the mother Church of Christianity who had birthed all the other churches of the ancient world. The Church at Jerusalem was going through hard and difficult times and quite frankly they were poor, barely able to keep their financial noses above the water. Needless to say the Church at Jerusalem was struggling severely and was in dire straits.

In this correspondence Paul references the churches in Macedonia and lifts them as a wonderful example of God’s grace and provision and their attitude. Look at verse 2, “Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.” These churches in Macedonia themselves were going through difficult and hard times, “extreme poverty and severe trials.” Notice with me some specific issues about these Macedonian churches and their generosity.

I. They gave as much as they were able. Time and again God called on His people to give an offering of what they were able to give. Some are able to give little and some are able to give more. It is not so important how much you give, but rather how much you have left over after you give. Remember Jesus told the disciples that the poor widow’s 2 cents were more than the rich folks $1,000.00 checks. Several years ago a young man in our church had accepted Christ and began tithing. Being self-employed he hit upon a period of hard times financially. He was thoroughly embarrassed when he confessed to me that he hadn’t given any money in the offering for two straight Sundays because he hadn’t made any money at all for those 2 weeks. I asked him how much money he had earned those 2 weeks and he told me “nothing.” I then asked him, “How much is 10% of zero?” He answered, “Zero.” I responded, “Then that is the amount you give back to God. Your job is to tithe what God gives you and God’s job is to give it to you so that you can tithe.” Even in their poverty, Paul says that these churches gave what they were able and then adds this caveat, “and even beyond their ability.” (verse 3) Don’t miss that important piece of information.

II. In verse 9 Paul uses the example of Jesus. Listen to this powerful verse, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, for your sakes became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.” Paul understood Jesus’ sacrifice, not beginning on the cross, but beginning even before His birth. It began when he laid aside His glory and took on the nature of man. So Paul is saying that if Jesus could give that kind of sacrifice, how can we hold back? Take note that this wasn’t new to these early Christians because Paul said, “For you know….” They had already known by experience God’s great grace in Jesus for themselves.

III. Paul also cites their own giving record in the past. He commends them for their being the first not only to give but the first to have the desire to give. Paul is basically encouraging them to finish the task, to complete what they had already begun. There is a big difference between desiring to do something and actually do it. Every January many of us experience that very thing and we will do it again in January 2008. We will desire to make needed changes, but we won’t follow-through and complete the task. As someone said a long time ago, “The path to hell is paved with good intentions.” Faith leads to works, which in turn prove the faith. A stirred heart is a good thing but what good is a stirred heart without obedience? Not much more than a ‘feel good’ moment. What makes a difference is not good intentions, but actually doing it and taking it to completion.

IV. In verse 13 Paul reminds them of a great truth that Jesus spoke in the Sermon on the Mount (Luke 6:39f), “Give and it will be given you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap, For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” The bottom line is that sometimes we are on the receiving end and sometimes we are on the giving end. Some years ago, I heard of a church that passed the offering plates during worship. Prior to the offering each week the pastor would say, “If you have money to give, then give it joyfully. If you need money, then take it gratefully.” And people did…. sometimes giving and sometimes taking! They were free to give and free to receive.

The Macedonian Christians had the desire to give financially to help the Church at Jerusalem, even in their poverty. Notice the depth of their desire in verse 3-4, as Paul writes, “Entirely on their own, they pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.” Now the saints in the New Testament times were simply other Christians, not highly special, holy people. In my entire pastoral life, I have never had anyone plead with me so that they could give their money—rich, poor, or otherwise. It is always me pleading, cajoling, encouraging, teaching, modeling, and exhorting followers of Jesus to give. To top it all off, these Macedonian Christians were poor and were going through difficult circumstances! Go figure!

Paul tells us why. The answer to this amazing desire is found in verse 5, “…they gave themselves first to the Lord.” That is the key to the marvelous mystery of these Macedonian Christians. They didn’t give out of their plenty, but out of nothing and gave what they could and even more because they first gave themselves to Jesus.

Personal giving and personal sacrificial giving is the highest kind of giving. That is why King David said (2 Samuel 24:24), “I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”

Paul was encouraging the Church at Corinth to follow the lead of the Macedonian churches. He is also encouraging the Church at Sicklerville to do the same.

Thank You for Taking The Time to Read This Message.
May God Use These Words to Help You and Strengthen You.