THE GRACE OF GIVING

THE GRACE OF GIVING

By Rev. Samuel Arimoro

Main Text: 2 Corinthians 8:1-7

Key Verse: 2 Corinthians 8:7
“Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.”

Supporting Texts: Proverbs 11:24-25; Malachi 3:10; Luke 6:38; Acts 20:35; Philippians 4:15-19

Description: The grace of giving enables believers to give willingly, sacrificially, generously, and joyfully as an expression of love for God and His work.

INTRODUCTION

Giving is an important expression of Christian faith and love. In 2 Corinthians 8, Paul presents the churches of Macedonia as an example of believers who received the grace of giving even in the midst of severe trials and deep poverty. Their circumstances did not prevent them from becoming generous.

The remarkable thing about the Macedonian believers was not merely the amount they gave, but the spirit in which they gave. They gave willingly, joyfully, sacrificially, and beyond what seemed naturally possible. Their generosity flowed from their devotion to God rather than from material abundance.

Paul therefore encouraged the Corinthians, who were already rich in faith, speech, knowledge, diligence, and love, to abound also in the grace of giving. Giving is not simply a financial activity; it is a spiritual grace that reflects our understanding of God's generosity towards us.

1. THE GRACE OF GIVING COMES FROM GOD

Paul described generosity as a grace. This means that the ability and willingness to give are gifts that God develops within the believer.

a. God Is the Source of Every Good Gift (James 1:17) — Everything we possess ultimately comes from God, and recognising Him as the source produces gratitude.

b. God Gives Grace for Every Assignment (2 Corinthians 9:8) — God is able to provide sufficient grace so that His people can abound in every good work.

c. God Changes the Heart to Become Generous (2 Corinthians 8:1) — The Macedonians' generosity was evidence of God's grace working in them.

d. God Expects Us to Use His Gifts Faithfully (1 Peter 4:10) — What God places in our hands should become a blessing to others.

Biblical Example: Barnabas demonstrated the grace of giving when he sold a possession and brought the proceeds to the apostles for the work of God (Acts 4:36-37).

2. THE GRACE OF GIVING WORKS EVEN IN DIFFICULT TIMES

The Macedonian churches gave despite “a great trial of affliction” and “deep poverty”. Their generosity was not dependent on comfortable circumstances.

a. Difficult Circumstances Do Not Cancel Generosity (2 Corinthians 8:2) — The Macedonians refused to allow affliction to become an excuse for withholding what they could give.

b. Poverty Does Not Prevent Spiritual Richness (2 Corinthians 8:2) — They were materially poor but spiritually rich in generosity.

c. Faith Can Rise Above Financial Limitations (Philippians 4:11-13) — Contentment and confidence in God enable believers to remain faithful regardless of circumstances.

d. God Measures the Heart Behind the Gift (Mark 12:43-44) — Jesus showed that sacrificial giving can be more significant than large giving from abundance.

Biblical Example: The widow who gave two small coins demonstrated that the value of a gift is not determined merely by its monetary size (Mark 12:41-44).

3. THE GRACE OF GIVING PRODUCES JOY

The Macedonians' “abundance of their joy” accompanied their generosity. Their giving was not presented as a miserable obligation but as an expression of joyful devotion.

a. Giving Can Be an Act of Worship (Philippians 4:18) — Paul described the Philippians' gift as an acceptable sacrifice pleasing to God.

b. Generosity Brings Spiritual Joy (Acts 20:35) — Jesus taught that there is greater blessing in giving than in receiving.

c. Joyful Giving Reflects a Grateful Heart (Psalm 116:12) — Gratitude for God's goodness motivates us to respond generously.

d. Giving Should Not Be Forced (2 Corinthians 9:7) — God loves the cheerful giver because genuine generosity comes willingly from the heart.

Biblical Example: The people of Israel gave willingly towards the building of the tabernacle until Moses had to instruct them to stop bringing offerings (Exodus 35:21-29; 36:5-7).

4. THE GRACE OF GIVING INVOLVES SACRIFICE

Paul testified that the Macedonians gave “to their power” and even “beyond their power”. Their giving involved genuine sacrifice.

a. Sacrificial Giving Costs Something (2 Samuel 24:24) — David refused to offer God something that cost him nothing.

b. Sacrifice Demonstrates the Depth of Love (John 3:16) — God's giving of His Son demonstrates the relationship between love and sacrifice.

c. Faithful Giving Requires Trust in God (Proverbs 3:9-10) — Honouring God with our possessions requires confidence in His provision.

d. God Sees Sacrificial Giving (Mark 12:44) — God takes notice when people give sacrificially from limited resources.

Biblical Example: The widow of Zarephath gave Elijah from the little food she had left, trusting God's word concerning her provision (1 Kings 17:8-16).

5. THE GRACE OF GIVING BEGINS WITH SURRENDER TO GOD

The Macedonians first “gave their own selves to the Lord”. Their financial generosity flowed from complete devotion to God.

a. Give Yourself to God First (Romans 12:1) — True Christian giving begins with presenting our lives to God.

b. Surrender Produces Stewardship (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) — When we understand that we belong to God, we recognise that our possessions also come under His lordship.

c. Love for God Motivates Generosity (2 Corinthians 8:5) — The Macedonians' giving was rooted in their dedication to the Lord.

d. Wholehearted Devotion Produces Faithful Service (Matthew 6:33) — When God's kingdom becomes our priority, our resources follow our devotion.

Biblical Example: Zacchaeus demonstrated the transformation of his heart by willingly giving to the poor and making restitution after encountering Jesus (Luke 19:1-10).

6. THE GRACE OF GIVING FLOWS FROM LOVE

Christian giving is not merely about money; it is an expression of love towards God and people.

a. Love Makes Giving Meaningful (1 Corinthians 13:3) — Even great generosity loses its spiritual value when it is separated from love.

b. Love Responds to Human Need (1 John 3:17-18) — Genuine love does not ignore the needs of others when we have the ability to help.

c. Love Gives Without Selfishness (1 Corinthians 10:24) — Christian generosity considers the welfare of others.

d. Love Reflects Christ (Ephesians 5:2) — Christ's sacrificial love provides the supreme example of giving.

Biblical Example: The Good Samaritan demonstrated practical love by spending his own resources to care for a wounded stranger (Luke 10:30-37).

7. THE GRACE OF GIVING CAN EXCEED EXPECTATIONS

The Macedonians gave “beyond their power” and did so willingly. Their generosity exceeded what might have been expected from their circumstances.

a. Generosity Goes Beyond Convenience (2 Corinthians 8:3) — True generosity sometimes requires us to give beyond what is comfortable.

b. Faith Gives Room for God's Provision (Luke 6:38) — Jesus taught that generous giving is connected with God's gracious response.

c. Generosity Creates Blessing for Others (Proverbs 11:25) — The generous person becomes a source of refreshment to others.

d. God Can Multiply What Is Given (2 Corinthians 9:10-11) — God supplies seed to the sower and increases the harvest of righteousness.

Biblical Example: The boy who gave his five loaves and two fishes placed his limited resources in Jesus' hands, and Christ used them to feed a multitude (John 6:8-13).

8. THE GRACE OF GIVING SHOULD GROW WITH OUR OTHER SPIRITUAL GRACES

Paul challenged the Corinthians to abound in giving just as they abounded in faith, speech, knowledge, diligence, and love.

a. Grow in Faith and Generosity Together (2 Corinthians 8:7) — Spiritual maturity should affect how we handle our resources.

b. Grow in Love and Giving Together (2 Corinthians 8:7) — Genuine love expresses itself through practical generosity.

c. Grow in Diligence and Stewardship Together (2 Corinthians 8:7) — We must manage what God gives us responsibly and use it for His purposes.

d. Let Your Giving Reflect Your Spiritual Growth (2 Corinthians 8:7) — As we grow in Christ, generosity should increasingly become part of our character.

Biblical Example: The early believers demonstrated spiritual maturity by sharing their possessions and caring for one another according to need (Acts 2:44-45).

CONCLUSION

The Macedonian churches teach us that the grace of giving is not determined by how much we possess but by how completely our hearts belong to God. They gave in affliction, out of deep poverty, with abundant joy, willingly and sacrificially. Their example challenges us to see giving not as a burden but as a grace through which we participate in God's work and bless others.

Let us therefore ask God to develop the grace of giving in us. Let us give ourselves first to the Lord, give with love, give willingly, give sacrificially, and give according to the ability God has given us. May our lives become channels through which God's generosity reaches His Church, His servants, and people in need.

PRAYER POINTS

1. Father, give me the grace to become a generous giver, in Jesus name.

2. Lord, deliver me from selfishness and greed, in Jesus name.

3. Father, help me to give myself completely to You, in Jesus name.

4. Lord, give me faith to give even in difficult seasons, in Jesus name.

5. Father, let my giving always flow from love and gratitude, in Jesus name.

6. Lord, teach me to use my resources wisely for Your kingdom, in Jesus name.

7. Father, make me a blessing to the needy and to Your work, in Jesus name.

8. Lord, give me the grace to give willingly and joyfully, in Jesus name.

9. Father, increase my capacity to give and support Your kingdom, in Jesus name.

10. Lord, let my life and resources bring glory to Your name, in Jesus name.

PROPHETIC DECLARATIONS

1. You shall receive abundant grace to give generously and joyfully, in Jesus name.

2. You shall not become a slave to greed, selfishness, or materialism, in Jesus name.

3. Your heart shall remain surrendered to the Lord and sensitive to the needs of others, in Jesus name.

4. You shall have grace to give even when circumstances are difficult, in Jesus name.

5. Your resources shall become instruments of blessing to many people, in Jesus name.

6. You shall abound in the grace of giving as you abound in faith, love, and spiritual growth, in Jesus name.

7. The Lord shall increase your capacity and ability to support His kingdom, in Jesus name.

8. You shall experience God's faithfulness as you honour Him with your resources, in Jesus name.

9. Your generosity shall produce lasting spiritual fruit and bring glory to God, in Jesus name.

10. You shall become a channel of divine provision, blessing, and encouragement to others, in Jesus name.