The Ministry of Helping
Book of 2 Corinthians Chapter 8
This chapter deals with the need to help other believers and other human beings who were being threatened with starvation and death and were spiritually poor.
Many of them did not know Jesus Christ as their Savior.
The need for church missions is a never-ending call.
We know we live in a sin-sick world and things are never going to get any better than they are now, at least until the return of Jesus Christ.
2Ti_3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
The desperate needs of the world will always confront the Church.
The challenge for the church is to help whenever possible.
What is stewardship? Believers also are described as stewards of God’s gifts and graces, to dispense the benefits of them to the world.
While we are watching for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are to remain busy in the work of the Lord.
1Pe 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
1Pe 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
1Pe 4:9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
1Pe 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
1Pe 4:11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
The ministry of helping is being a good steward of the manifold grace of God!
*****2Co 8:1 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
We sometimes forget as Americans that much of the world lives in poverty.
Even in our own nation, people are dying of starvation, and there is no excuse for this.
Paul encouraged every church to become good stewards of God's "Grace".
1Co 16:1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
1Co 16:2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
1Co 16:3 And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.
At this time, the church in Jerusalem was suffering because every Christian had been excommunicated from Judaism, their jobs taken away from them, and no Jew would help them.
The thing about humans and money is that everybody wants as much as they can get and then tries to hoard what they have.
It is quite human of us to prosper and then forget those who have needs.
Here is another place in the Scriptures where the church meets on Sunday before anyone set a decree.
The plate was passed on the first day of the week, which was Sunday on the Jewish calendar.
The challenge to the Church is clear! Give all you can to reach and help the desperate who live in our world.
What we see today while our own costs for food skyrocket, people are dying of hunger while tons of food are destroyed to create an artificial demand and to keep the prices high.
I have never seen a time when so much food is being recalled and destroyed, and we should wonder why.
Every day, there is some recall of food or people getting sick because of eating tainted food.
Thousands of animals are destroyed every year without proving they needed to be destroyed.
There must be reasons this is taking place.
The churches in Macedonia had accepted this challenge to help the church in Jerusalem and were giving because of the Grace and favor of God.
The churches of Macedonia included Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea.
These were not wealthy churches in monetary terms; they were rich in grace and mercy.
These places had been ravaged by war, and Rome had stripped them of their wealth.
There should be no one upon this earth who defends the Rome of those years.
We see this happening in Iran today, even though the rulers of Iran are to blame.
It does not stop the fact that the Christians and the poor people in Iran need help.
The poor people of Ukraine need help.
There are still poor people in Israel who need help.
There are poor people in America who need help.
Food is not the greatest need of the poor because most of them are also poor in the Spirit of God, but starving people will not respond to the Gospel.
There are always people who need help, and the church cannot feed them all, or can it?
What do we know about giving?
Paul does not speak about the percentage of income one should give. Everyone knows that the Old Testament norm was ten percent of the income.
In the New Testament it is not about the amount but about the motive, the mind and the way of giving.
*****2Co 8:2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
The self-sufficiency of some places of worship convinced them they no longer needed to depend on God; they were blind to their desperate poverty in the eyes of the Lord.
The Lord Jesus Christ speaks of this in the Book of Revelation.
To protect the Church from the deception of worldly riches, Paul was pointing out that all the riches and treasures that have eternal value are found in Christ.
I like to say that the real riches we need are all the things that money cannot buy.
Biblical stewardship is living in the reality that everything we have belongs to God. We are managers, not owners.
Wealth is a gift to be used wisely, held loosely, and shared generously.
God does not want us to live in poverty.
God prefers we do not live in riches because we will become dependent on our riches rather than upon Him.
What does all this have to do with giving?
The question isn't whether God will bless us with resources. The question is whether those resources will draw us closer to Christ or cause us to live as though we no longer need Him.
This is the main reason why the teaching of a prosperity gospel is a lie.
Wealth is a gift — not a god. It can meet certain needs but not the most important ones. Everything we own belongs to the Lord, and every blessing should draw us closer to Him, not farther away.
Biblical giving is the practice of generously and willingly sharing resources, time, or talents in accordance with God’s principles, motivated by love, gratitude, and faith.
There are 10 Principles of Christian Giving:
1. The Lord Jesus expects and requires us to give. Jesus said to His disciples, "when you give," not "if you give"!
Mat 6:2 “Therefore when thou doest thine alms”, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Christian giving is not optional, but rather essential. We often hear folks say: "In the Old Testament they had to give, but not in the New - now we only give if we want to." This is clearly not Jesus' teaching. He expected all His followers to be givers. Christians will give. Are you giving?
2. The Lord Jesus wants us to give for the right reasons. Jesus warned His disciples not to give for the sake of being admired by men.
"Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them,"
Jesus said: Mat 6:1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
When we give, we must be careful to examine our motives. We ought to give for the glory of God and the good of His people. We must desire His approval of our giving, rather than the praise and admiration of people. Are you giving for God's praise or men?
3. The Lord Jesus wants us to practice benevolent or charitable giving. Jesus said, "When you give to the poor . . .
(Matthew 6:2-3). Jesus is specifically teaching about "alms" in this passage: alms are, aid, charity, or benevolent offerings for the needy.
Do you give enough to the Church that she can be generous in benevolent giving?
4 The Lord Jesus reminds us that our giving is ultimately to the all-seeing heavenly Father. Jesus said, "When you give:
Mat 6:3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
Mat 6:4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
When we give, we are not simply adding to the Church budget; we are giving up a thank-you offering to the Father Himself.
Thus, we must all give "as unto the Lord." Our ultimate goal in giving is to please Him. Are you conscious of the fact that your giving is to the Lord and seen by the Lord?
5. The Bible teaches that Christian giving is an act of worship. In connection with the previous point, we see this truth stressed in another way in Paul's words
"On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save" :
1Co 16:2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
Paul here teaches the Corinthians that their taking up of the collection is an act of worship which is to be a part of their regular Lord's Day worship.
When we put our money in the plate, we are worshiping Almighty God in accordance with His Word.
Note well, Paul is speaking here of a "collection for the saints" - this is giving by the Church to the Church for the Church.
Did you realize that giving is a part of worship?
Is your worship in this area abundant or inhibited?
Is giving to the Church a priority with you?
6. The Bible teaches that Christian giving should be done in light of the incarnation. Many Christians argue about whether the tithe (10% of our income) is still the standard for our giving to the Church (disputants usually want to show that less than 10% is fine). Paul scuttles the whole debate in one verse.
Paul says: 2Co 8:8 I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.
2Co 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich"
Christ's self-giving is now the standard for our giving! We begin from the base of the tithe and aim for emulation of His self-sacrifice.
Our giving is to be inspired and instructed by Christ's inexpressible gift. In light of such a challenge, who could satisfy himself with asking "how little a percentage is acceptable for me to give
Do you try to get by giving as little as possible to the Lord, or do you give in view of the Lord's costly sacrifice?
7. The Bible teaches that Christian giving should be done in accordance with our means. Paul is quite clear on this: "For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.
2 Co 8:12 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.
Put another way, Paul is saying that you should give in proportion to what God has given you.
He said it this way in 1 Corinthians 16:2: each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper." This means at least two things:
(A) Since we are all supposed to give proportionately, those who have more money are expected to give more [those who are particularly blessed materially must remember this],
(B) The Lord never asks us to give what we do not have or contribute beyond our means.
Are you really giving in proportion to the material blessings that the Lord has given you?
8. The Bible teaches that the liberality of God's blessings to us is connected to the liberality of our Christian giving.
Though it may seem strange, both Jesus and Paul emphasize that there is a relation between our giving to the Lord and the Lord's giving to us.
As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 9:6: But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
9. The Bible teaches that Christian giving must be willing giving, free giving.
2Co 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
But doesn't this contradict what we learned under the first principle, that Christian giving is not optional? The answer is no.
True Christian giving is both mandatory and voluntary. It is required by God, but always willingly given by the believer.
Is your giving to the Church something you do wholeheartedly, or indifferently, or grudgingly?
10. The Bible teaches that Christian giving ought to be cheerful giving. As Paul says "God loves a cheerful giver."
Paul assures us here that the Lord takes a special delight in those who are joyful, energetic, merry givers.
Is there joy in your heart as you give? Can you truly be characterized as a "cheerful giver"?
Giving to the work of the Lord is rooted in Scripture, reflects our stewardship of God’s resources, and yields both spiritual and practical benefits.
What is the Biblical foundation for helping those in need?
From the Old Testament, Israel was commanded to bring tithes and offerings to support the Levites, priests, and the temple work.
In the New Testament, the early church shared resources freely.
The principle is that all we have comes from God, so we are stewards, not owners, of our resources.
It honors and reveres God – Giving is an act of worship, acknowledging God as the source of all we have
It aligns with God’s pattern – Biblical examples show godly people consistently giving a portion of their resources.
It brings God’s wisdom and order to finances – Prioritizing God’s work helps guard against materialism.
It is a practical reminder that God owns everything.
It opens the way for God’s blessings.
It supports ministry and outreach – Giving sustains pastors, missionaries, and church projects.
It yields eternal rewards – Faithful giving is recorded in heaven and linked to spiritual growth and eternal treasure.
Heb 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
1Ti 6:18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
1Ti 6:19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
It reflects God’s love through service – Giving time, talents, and spiritual gifts is part of the work of the Lord.
Spiritual and personal benefits
Joy and gratitude – Giving cultivates a heart of thankfulness and trust in God’s provision
Spiritual growth – Supporting God’s work deepens faith and dependence on Him.
Eternal perspective – It shifts focus from temporary gains to lasting spiritual rewards.
Community impact – It strengthens the body of Christ and enables outreach to the needy.
*****2Co 8:3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
2Co 8:4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
The number one priority of the Church is to gather to worship the Almighty Living God.
Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
The number two priority of the Church is bringing souls to the Lord Jesus for salvation, and this will never change.
The third priority of the Church is to make disciples.
As far as giving to the Church, giving to God can never be measured by the amount.
God doesn’t measure the gift by the amount. God measures the gift by the cost to the giver.
You see, if you’re making a million dollars a year and you give God a hundred thousand dollars tithe, you’re not really giving very much.
Doesn’t really cost you much. Look at all you’ve got left to live on.
Now if you make only ten thousand dollars and you give a thousand dollars, still a tithe, that is giving a lot because it does not give you that much to live on.
So, we see that according to the Lord Jesus, a tithe is not always enough in the modern church.
To the poor a tithe may be looked on as enough, but to the rich a tithe may not be near enough in the eyes of God.
Even the Lord Jesus gave something to the poor!
Joh 13:29 For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.
Biblical foundation:
From the Old Testament, Israel was commanded to bring tithes and offerings to support the Levites, priests, and the temple work.
Mal 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
In the New Testament, the early church shared resources freely.
Paul taught that “God loves a cheerful giver”.
The principle is that all we have comes from God, so we are stewards, not owners, of our resources.
Psa 24:1 The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
Psa 24:2 For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
The area of Macedonia had been in three civil wars, and Rome had stripped this area of its riches.
These new converts to the church still gave more than they had to give.
What did Jesus actually say? Luk 11:41 But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.
1Jn 3:17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
The Church in Corinth was filled with people who were not poor like the Macedonians.
Corinth was a rich city.
Corinth was Grecian city, on the isthmus which joins the Peloponnesus to the mainland of Greece. It is about 48 miles west of Athens. The ancient city was destroyed by the Romans (146 B.C.), and that mentioned in the New Testament was quite a new city, having been rebuilt about a century afterwards and peopled by a colony of freedmen from Rome. It became under the Romans the seat of government for Southern Greece or Achaia. It was noted for its wealth, and for the luxurious, immoral, and vicious habits of the people.
What is the most important thing we can do as the church founded by Jesus Christ?
*****2Co 8:5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
2Co 8:6 Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.
2Co 8:7 Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.
Those who have given themselves to the Lord are more apt to be generous in their giving.
Remember the Lord Jesus gave all He had for our salvation, including His life.
It always seems that those who are poor give more to others who are poor because they know how it feels to be poor.
Those with a pocket full of money are just too stingy to share any of it, but that is not the way of God.
God does not expect all Christians to be poor. This would set the wrong example of Christianity.
God wants us to help those around us when a need arises.
First, those who are in need in the church, and second, those in the community.
Then there are ministries to support.
There are missionaries to support.
A pastor deserves our support.
The maintenance of the church must be supported.
Part of the mission of Titus was to collect the offerings they had laid aside for Jerusalem.
Nothing was going to Paul or the other preachers.
There was no manipulation or exploitation.
If not for the first Christian church in Jerusalem, there might not be Christianity today.
Giving keeps the Church moving in the right direction if done properly.
My church is independent, and we have total control over where church money is spent as we try to answer the call of God.
As we study the Book of 2 Corinthians, we can see that this church had been obedient to the things Paul had written in the Book of 1 Corinthians.
We should always love those who brought us to the Lord!
They cared enough for us to try to keep us out of Hell.
The Pastor who preaches the truth of God without watering it down or twisting God’s words into something false is also someone who loves us.
God sent us His love letter from Heaven, so we know He loves us.
Love is the key to keeping a functioning church in the modern world, but not some carnal love, love in the Spirit of the Word of God.
*****2Co 8:8 I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.
2Co 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
Every true man of God does not issue commands to his church; he is just a messenger to deliver the Word of God.
Every message must come by the Holy Spirit.
What's wrong with the modern church? The Holy Spirit is not allowed to do His work because the Word of God is rejected.
We say all the time that we want to be more like Jesus Christ, that He is our example to live by.
We know the Lord Jesus Christ was rich, yet for our sake He became poor.
Yes, He has a great inheritance, but He has chosen to share His inheritance with us.
That inheritance is in Heaven; we only need enough in this world to get us through it until the Lord returns to take us home or we go home by the way of the grave.
The Lord Jesus Christ proved His great love for us with the things He did for us, especially His dying for us.
Sometimes we just don't see that the God who made us came down to this earth in the form of a man and then died for us that we might live an eternal life.
Stewardship is trying to be like Jesus Christ.
*****2Co 8:10 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.
God expects us all to give to His work upon this earth, and He has special instructions for the rich.
1Ti 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
1Ti 6:18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
1Ti 6:19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
These same guidelines work for us all!
All gifts that are given are God's to begin with!
So, it is the "Giver" that is important.
Jas 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
Giving is sharing.
Giving is the ability and willingness to share our material goods with others.
Rom 12:8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
Rom 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
Rom 12:13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
Giving with liberality refers to open-handed and open-hearted giving out of compassion and singleness of purpose, but not from ambition.
The Philippians helped Paul the Missionary when no one else would.
Php 4:18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
Where would the Church be without the Apostle Paul today? But remember the "Giver" resides in Heaven and He wants all of us to be a part of giving to the Church.
Only you know how much you can give without it seriously affecting your family, which means most of us could give more, but God does not expect us to live in borderline poverty.
There is no such thing as a prosperity Gospel! We are to build up a treasure in Heaven, not here on Earth.
*****2Co 8:11 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.
2Co 8:12 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.
A year earlier, these Corinthians began to do something for the poor; it stopped when the church was going through sin that made its way inside the church.
They wholeheartedly had a great desire to help the Church of Jerusalem. They needed to finish what they had started.
Great intentions are not a help to anyone!
Willingness to give is not actual giving!
As we make plans for giving, we need to follow through with that plan consistently!
There must first be a willing mind!
We give from what we have and not from what we do not have!
We must put great emphasis on supporting the missions of the Church and those men and women who give all their lives to these ministries.
Some things that Jesus said:
Mat 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
Mat 19:24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Mat 19:28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Mat 19:29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
The truth is: Luk 11:41 But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.
The truth is, we are to give as we have, and we will be blessed for it.
God has never asked us to do more than our very best!
Amen
