II Corinthians 8:10-9:5

The Grace of Giving - Part 2 "Finishing What We Started"

God calls His followers to be willing and cheerful givers and servants! Pastor Lloyd emphasizes that God values a willing heart to give more than a sense of obligation. Our hearts reveal where our true treasures lie, and too often, money becomes the greatest competitor for our hearts of worship. In this message, discover how giving with a joyful and willing spirit honors God, strengthens your faith, and aligns your heart with Christ?s selfless love.

  1. And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.
  2. Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.
  3. For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
  4. For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:
  5. But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:
  6. As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.
  7. But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.
  8. For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.
  9. And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;
  10. And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind:
  11. Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:
  12. Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
  13. And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you.
  14. Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.
  15. Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.
  1. For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:
  2. For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.
  3. Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready:
  4. Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.
  5. Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.