The Ministry of Giving

As I was thinking about what we should talk about today, I asked the Lord for a scripture.
Because it was dropped in my spirit that in these times that perhaps we can do some more reading of the Word of God.

If we are honest, we don’t get to read the Bible as often as we should.

So I opened the Bible on my phone and the Holy Spirit led me to 2 Corinthians chapter 9.

When I read it, I was like no God I don’t want to talk about money or giving right now. We have been going through a phase where I’ve been asking for contributions towards the computer fund and you have been giving, and so today I was determined not to say anything else about it. I promise you. I said that.

To provide a veiled financial report, we are 60% of the way towards meeting our goal. If you want to know the target, send me a message. I won’t say it publicly here. So I said let me give it a few days or as soon as I get that cheque I’m waiting on, I will go ahead and put the balance.

So I started to prepare for today’s programme and was having a chat with my Father. God please direct me to a scripture.

He led me straight to 2 Corinthians chapter 9. Because I was hearing, it wasn’t story time, so no Ruth or any of those books. And it wasn’t about the Psalms or The Gospels at this time.

I heard 2 Corinthians‬ 9 and to be honest, I read it and started looking for another scripture. But I was forced in my spirit right back to it, in obedience.

So let’s hear what it says and please let’s chime in and share. Because I also want to bring it home and speak to us as a Family here at ZJoyVI, if I may.

I read from the NLT‬‬.

“I really don’t need to write to you about this ministry of giving for the believers in Jerusalem. For I know how eager you are to help, and I have been boasting to the churches in Macedonia that you in Greece were ready to send an offering a year ago. In fact, it was your enthusiasm that stirred up many of the Macedonian believers to begin giving. But I am sending these brothers to be sure you really are ready, as I have been telling them, and that your money is all collected. I don’t want to be wrong in my boasting about you. We would be embarrassed—not to mention your own embarrassment—if some Macedonian believers came with me and found that you weren’t ready after all I had told them! So I thought I should send these brothers ahead of me to make sure the gift you promised is ready. But I want it to be a willing gift, not one given grudgingly. Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say, “They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.” For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God. As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you. Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!”
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We are still with the teachings of the Apostle Paul today. This is part of his second letter to the Corinthians, addressing the topic of generosity. He was here trying to organise a collection for the poor Christians in Jerusalem.

1. Encouragement for Generosity (Verses 1-5):
- Paul begins by affirming the Corinthians' eagerness to participate in this collection. He mentions that their zeal has inspired other churches in Macedonia. Paul is sending some brothers ahead to ensure that the Corinthians’ promised gift will be ready, not as something forced, but as a willing gift. The emphasis here is on the readiness and willingness to give, avoiding any embarrassment if they are unprepared.

2. Principle of Sowing and Reaping (Verses 6-7):
- Paul introduces a principle: "Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully." This is a metaphor farmers would more understand, but everyone can. It underscores the idea that generosity leads to abundant blessings. He encourages each person to give what they have decided in their heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, because "God loves a cheerful giver."
3. God’s Provision and Purpose in Giving (Verses 8-11):

- Paul reassures the Corinthians that God will provide for their needs so that they can be generous. He speaks of God's ability to "make all grace abound" so that they will always have enough to be generous on every occasion. The purpose of this generosity is not just to meet the needs of others but also to produce thanksgiving to God.

4. Results of Generosity (Verses 12-15):
- Paul concludes by emphasizing the impact of their generosity. The collection not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows in many expressions of thanks to God. This act of giving will lead others to glorify God because of the Corinthians' obedience and generosity. Paul ends with a note of gratitude to God for His indescribable gift, which could be seen as a reference to Christ, the ultimate gift.

I found this teaching by Paul was interesting in light of the fact that we have a community of givers here at ZJoyVI. I started out this ministry supporting it financially on my own, and then circumstances of life, I was unemployed for 4 years, and the Family decided to support the ministry with regular gifts since then.

In 2 Corinthians 9 the Apostle Paul was encouraging the Corinthians to follow through on their commitment to give generously to the collection for the Jerusalem church. He emphasizes that their giving should be willing and cheerful, rooted in the understanding that God is the ultimate provider and that their generosity will lead to abundant blessings and thanksgiving to God.

I cannot liken ZJoyVI to the situation in Jerusalem back then, but we can all consider ourselves in the position where we have been called on to give, or where we have benefitted from gifts.

What does the Bible say about giving?

1. Generosity and Cheerful Giving. 2 Corinthians 9:7: “You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.””
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2. Giving as a Blessing. Acts
20:35: “And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’””

3. Supporting Those in Need. Proverbs 19:17: “If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord— and he will repay you!”

4. Tithing and Offerings. Malachi 3:10: “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!”
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5. Sacrificial Giving. Mark 12:41-44: “Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins. Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.””

6. Giving and Trusting God. Luke 6:38: “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.””

7. Love and Giving. 1 John 3:17: “If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?”
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Family, we can agree here that giving is an expression of faith, love, and trust in God. As believers, we are encouraged to give generously, cheerfully, and sacrificially.

And just to be clear, giving does not only include money. And I’ll get a little personal here:

1. Giving includes Sister Philippa messaging me out of the blue with a word of encouragement, even when she is going through herself
2. Giving includes Evangelist Esther putting in the chatroom every time she is present, how the worship was great today, thank you Angela.
3. Giving includes, yes, the monthly and weekly financial donors to this ministry, that helps to pay for the internet, chatroom, audio stream, equipment maintenance and repair, etc
4. Giving includes the selfless service of our Destiny workers, prayer team members and devotion leaders
5. Giving includes you and you and you, praying for this ministry and showing your support by watching, liking, sharing, commenting
6. Giving includes the folk who speak into my spirit when I begin to get weary
7. Giving includes the encouraging words I hear when I speak to my 89 year old big Sister in Mount Poconos, my 86 year old big Sister in the UK, the silent listeners who reach out behind the scenes, my Montserratian sisters who come by to worship the Lord with me, the sharing that takes place in the WhatsApp chat that remains open with those Family members who came to the Virgin Islands from around the world for our 10th anniversary celebrations.

Giving is a ministry, Family.

So essentially, I would like us today to call and speak about being in need and being provided for. I want us to talk about seeing a need and providing.

Perhaps we can also talk about those times when we saw a need and couldn’t or didn’t help, for whatever reason. And then there are times when we are just being neighborly and Christian and don’t even realize the impact we are having on people by just being nice and then they tell you.

Then of course we know that giving is a blessing and so we can share testimonies of how when we have given, especially out of our little means, how God has blessed us even more.

Is that ok for today?

aub - 22Aug24

www.zjoyvi.com