Pastor, boldly teach the following principles to your people and watch God transform their lives, their giving, and your offerings!
The churches in Macedonia, the northern province of Greece, had given to a collection for poor saints in Jerusalem. In 1 Corinthians 16, and in 2 Corinthians 8 and 9, the apostle Paul used their example to inspire the believers at Corinth to give. These three texts provide some of the richest teaching on giving in the New Testament.
Ten Ways To Give That Please God:
1. God Is Pleased When You Give Even Though You Are Overwhelmed With Problems.
"Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality" (2 Cor. 8:1-2)1.
The Macedonians gave even though they were being ridiculed, robbed, beaten, and imprisoned for their faith. Application: We should give to God even when we are overwhelmed with problems.
2. God Is Pleased When You Give Even Though You Are In Abject Poverty.
"In a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality" (2 Cor. 8:2).
Even though the Macedonian Christians were in deep poverty, they gave to God's work. Application: No matter how bad our financial condition, we can still give something to God. And He expects us to.
3. God Is Pleased When You Give Beyond Your Ability.
"For I testify that according to their ability and beyond their ability they gave of their own accord" (2 Cor. 8:3).
The Macedonians gave what they could afford to give and what they could not afford to give! They gave more than seemed humanly reasonable. Application: God is pleased when we give sacrificially.
When I was pastoring I responded to people who told me they were not able to give by saying, "Great! Then you can give. If you