"THAT'S JUST WHAT FAMILIES
DO!"
Written and preached by David P. Nolte
2 CORINTHIANS 8:1-15
Two brothers lived right next door to one another on adjacent farms.
Each lived on his portion of what was inherited from their father. Each
worked his respective plot. One brother was married and had a family; the
other brother was a bachelor. These two fellows were brothers in every,
true sense. They were close not only geographically, but were close spiritually,
socially and they lived in a real unity. One day the married brother got
to thinking about his bachelor brother. He became concerned. He thought,
"My brother lives alone and I have so much what with my wife and children
and all, and I want to do something to help him this year." At about the
same time, the bachelor brother got to thinking about his married brother.
He became concerned. He thought, "My brother has a fine family to care
for while I have only one mouth to feed. I get along just fine, but he
has a lot to provide for. I want to do something to lighten his load this
year." That's a good example of brotherly concern. What a model of Christian
love. What a challenge to each of us to care about one another. But that's
just what families do. It's the sort of thing they ought to do, anyway.
It is the same kind of concern the Macedonian Christian demonstrated. They
live in what is now Northern Greece and had heard about the needy folk
in Judea. Never met them, but knew they were in need and cared. I want
to use these brothers and the Macedonian Christians as illustration of
the kind of concern each of us needs to show to others if we'd be the Church
Family that Jesus Christ wants us to be. If we want to do what families
do,
WE NEED A GODLY DESIRE TO
HELP OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS: VV4, 5:
Paul's consistent teaching is that
one brother should help another.
"And let us not lose heart in doing
good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while
we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those
who are of the household of the faith." Galatians
6:9-10.
"Instruct those who are rich in this
present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty
of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.
Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and
ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation
for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed. 1
Timothy 6:17-19.
"And since we have gifts that differ
according to the grace given to us, let each exercise them accordingly:
if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his
serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his
exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence;
he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness." Romans
12:6-8.
The right thing to do is to want to
help others. The wrong thing to do is to focus on, "Me first, the best
for me, somebody do for me." To eliminate that, what needs to happen is
that we develop an "others-centered" perspective as described by Paul:
"Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind
let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not
merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests
of others." Philippians
2:3-4.
It all begins with a willing heart
and an attitude of cheerfulness in giving to others as Paul taught: "Let
each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under
compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver." 2
Corinthians 9:7.
Look at verses
3-5:
"For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability
they gave of their own accord, begging us with much entreaty for the favor
of participation in the support of the saints, and this, not as we had
expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will
of God." 2 Corinthians
8:3-5.
They begged for the favor of helping. That's real desire to help! But that's
just what families do!
The two brothers, unbeknownst to one
another, wanted to be helpful. Neither brother sat around wishing that
someone would help them. Neither brother wanted someone to do something
for their benefit. Both brothers wanted to help. As it happened, each brother
barely had enough seed to plant his own field. The married brother said,
"I know what I'll do! I'll take some of my grain and secretly sow it in
my brother's field." The single brother said, "I know what I'll do. I'll
take some of my grain and secretly sow it in my brother's field." Each
formulated a plan. So, that night, each brother sneaked into the other
fellow's field and sowed seed! Their desire to help was more than wishful
thinking or kind thoughts. So it was with the Macedonians: "according to
their ability, and beyond their ability they gave of their own accord,"
And So Paul urged the Corinthians to finish the work they had desired to
do. It is good to have a desire to help, but it must not stop there:
WE NEED TO CARRY OUT OUR DESIRE TO HELP: VV11, 12:
"Finish doing it!" "So there may be also the completion of it by your ability."
It is said that the road to hell is
paved with good intentions. May we go far beyond good intentions. To be
of real benefit, we must carry out the desire to help.
Find a need and meet it.
Find a hurt and heal it.
Find a load and lift it.
Find a grief and comfort it.
Find a tear and dry it.
None of us can help everybody. We
receive demands all the time for which there is not enough time, ability
or resource. But to be consistent with Christ, all of us must help somebody
when we can. That's just what families do! "I am not everybody, but I am
somebody; I can't do everything, but I can do something; and what I can
do, I must do, and what I must do, by God's grace, I will do."
Let's put wings to our wishes, let's
put "do" to our "desire."
"Do not withhold good from those to
whom it is due, When it is in your power to do it. Do not say to your neighbor,
'Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it,' When you have it with
you." Proverbs 3:27-28.
"Whatever your hand finds to do, verily,
do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge
or wisdom in Sheol where you are going." Ecclesiastes
9:10.
Each brother had a desire to help
the other; each formed a plan to help and each actually did help. Each
sowed some seed in the other's field. Nobody else knew about this until
the crops began to grow and it was evident what had happened. Each brother
expected that his field would have some blank spots but neither field had
any empty spot; both fields were lush. Each had blessed the other, and
both were blessed. Each gave, each received. Each shared, each profited.
These brothers, like the Macedonian Christian, exemplified a great truth:
WHEN WE CARRY OUT OUR DESIRE TO HELP, ALL ARE BLESSED: VV12-15:
Paul said the intent was not that
anyone be deprived by helping but that there be equity, The Living Bible
puts it like this: "Of course, I don't mean that those who receive your
gifts should have an easy time of it at your expense, but you should divide
with them. Right now you have plenty and can help them; then at some other
time they can share with you when you need it. In this way, each will have
as much as he needs." 2
Corinthians 8:13-14
(Living).
Some think, "I can't afford to share
with others. If I do, my already meager supply will even be more meager!"
I guess it depends on how much you believe God and trust God and are willing
to obey Him.
Paul said, "God is able to make it
up to you by giving you everything you need and more so that there will
not only be enough for your own needs but plenty left over to give joyfully
to others. It is as the Scriptures say: 'The godly man gives generously
to the poor. His good deeds will be an honor to him forever.' For God,
who gives seed to the farmer to plant, and later on good crops to harvest
and eat, will give you more and more seed to plant and will make it grow
so that you can give away more and more fruit from your harvest. Yes, God
will give you much so that you can give away much, and when we take your
gifts to those who need them they will break out into thanksgiving and
praise to God for your help." 2
Corinthians 9:8-11
(Living).
What are some of the benefits and
blessings?
Others are helped.
God is glorified.
We are given a sense of satisfaction.
There is a sense of community to recognize
and appreciate and preserve.
When one member suffers, we share
that suffering.
When one rejoices, we are all in a
state of joy.
If one member fails to function, all
members are effected.
If one member does his work well,
the entire body is healthier.
It is like a king who gave a banquet
and requested that each guest bring a flask of wine. As the guests arrived,
they poured the contents of their flasks into a larger bowl. When dinner
was served and the wine was poured, it was all water! Each guest reasoned
that if all the other guests brought wine, he could bring water and nobody
would know. Each failed to give and none was blessed.
We have the paramount example of living out the sermon in Jesus Christ.
He knew how to give in order to bless others. He still gives: grace to
the fallen, restoration to the alienated, peace to the restless, forgiveness
to the guilty. Today I ask you: "What will you give of time, treasure,
talent to the betterment of this congregation and even to those outside
this congregation? What need will you allow the Lord to fulfill through
you? How will you be a benefit to someone this week? Perhaps you will help
with the youth, or with a Sunday School class, or with the music, or some
other thing around the building. Perhaps you will help with the Rescue
Mission or in some other way in the community. It all begins with a life
that is consecrated fully, unconditionally, willingly to Jesus Christ.
To the degree you consecrate your life to Him, it will be lived to His
glory and for the good of those you touch. Who will take that step this
morning? Who will take no half-way measure in serving Jesus Christ? The
moment to decide is here. As we sing we invite you to confess your faith
in Christ, perhaps for the first time. We invite you to lay your life on
the line for Him in dedication. We invite you to fellowship in this congregation
by confession of faith. We invite you to bring your burdens in prayer.
Will you come, then, as we stand together to sing our hymn? Will you consecrate
your life to Jesus for His use and the benefit of others?