6/26/16 Inequality What are ways in which people start out life (and continue) without equal resources? Does it matter? What can we do about it? The central part of God s plan Doing the Manna Miracle Brown Bible: Page 1161 White Bible: Page _ Red Bible: Page _ 1
6/26/16 Where Paul is writing from The recipients of Paul s letter Location Macedonia Corinth Jerusalem People Gentiles Gentiles Jews Condition Persecuted and poor Wealthy and at peace Poor 2 Corinthians Paul (Apostle who brought the Gospel to many Gentile areas around the Mediterranean Sea) Wrote letters to many churches 2 Corinthians is probably his 3rd letter to the church in Corinth Gentiles who were wealthy in a peaceful time/place Church had decided to give money to Jerusalem A years later, and they hadn t given yet 2
6/26/16 Where Paul is writing from The recipients of Paul s letter Location Macedonia Corinth Jerusalem People Gentiles Gentiles Jews Condition Persecuted and poor Wealthy and at peace Poor 3
Macedonian churches are a model of generous giving In poverty and severe trial, they had overflowing joy and rich generosity Material poverty may disguise spiritual wealth Dedication to the Lord cannot be separated from dedication to God s people Macedonian churches are a model of generous giving Corinthian church urged to finish and excel in giving 4
Macedonian churches are a model of generous giving Corinthian church urged to finish and excel in giving Paul urges voluntary and sincere giving Macedonian churches are a model of generous giving Corinthian church urged to finish and excel in giving Paul urges voluntary and sincere giving Christ is the ideal model: His riches for our poverty Not money Rather: Glory, honor, and fellowship with God the Father 5
Macedonian churches are a model of generous giving Corinthian church urged to finish and excel in giving Paul urges voluntary and sincere giving Christ is the ideal model: His riches for our poverty So complete your intention of generous giving Macedonian churches are a model of generous giving Corinthian church urged to finish and excel in giving Paul urges voluntary and sincere giving Christ is the ideal model: His riches for our poverty So complete your intention of generous giving Principles: willingness, proportionality, sharing from your plenty, equality Plenty and need come in many forms 6
6/26/16 Manna for the People of Israel People of Israel (~2 million) lived 40 years in a desert 1440BC God provided Water Various ways & times Food Meat: birds Bread: à Exodus 16:13-20 That evening quail [birds] came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, What is it? [Hebrew: Manna] For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat. This is what the Lord has commanded: Everyone is to gather as much as they need. Take an omer [2 liters] for each person you have in your tent. The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. And when they measured it by the omer, the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little. Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed. 7
Exodus 16:13-20 Then Moses said to them, No one is to keep any of it until morning. However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them. The Manna Miracle: Even in great need, God made sure: Everyone had enough, even if some gathered more and some less No one hoarded (got large amounts of) manna In the Old Testament (nation of Israel) God did it by his own actions (miracle) In the New Testament (Christian church) God expects people to do what He did by their own enthusiastic choices The Manna Miracle: Even in great need, God made sure: Everyone had enough, even if some gathered more and some less No one hoarded (got large amounts of) manna
6/26/16 The Big Idea God has given us extra so that we can be and do like Him: eagerly and generously give to others as we have resources and they have need
Application Choose to give Money, time, heart, strength, understanding, skill, Choose to give Application Choose to give proportionately and regularly 10% is a reasonable guide More when you have extra ( plenty ) God isn t calling us to give away everything or to enter poverty 10
Choose to give Application Choose to give proportionately and regularly Eagerly find places to give, and actually give Church (give to the church and the church gives) Who has need Family Neighbors Foreigners Especially Christians (Galatians 6:-10) Choose to give Application Choose to give proportionately Eagerly find places to give, and actually give Give yourself first (serve), and then also finances Give under God By His empowering Because of His generosity Trusting His care 11
The Big Idea God has given us extra so that we can be and do like Him: eagerly and generously give to others as we have resources and they have need Reflection Questions What makes it hard to be generous? How might giving in God help overcome those challenges? What extra can you give generously to others? In other words, what do you have that is more than others have and they need? Are you regularly giving a percentage of what you get (especially money)? If not, would you consider starting to do so? Given the model of others and the generosity of Christ, where will you eagerly and generously give this week? Conversation starters: How have you experienced good by giving to others? How have you gained from others generous giving? 12