The Fellowship Of His Giving

Chapter Five

Below are maps of the missionary journeys of Paul and those who traveled with him. They will help to visualize the many churches he founded, nurtured and supported. I also want us to be reminded of the great distances these churches were away from their Global Training Center, Jerusalem.

Romans 15:25-28

25 But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.

26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.

27 It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.

28 When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain.

The saints at Macedonia are tremendous examples of the character of the giver who pleases the Lord. Having been told of the poverty of the saints in Jerusalem, they were moved in the hearts to be a blessing to them. But more than that they had comprehended the mind of God in their giving.

INDEBTED TO THOSE WHO DISTRIBUTE THE GOSPEL

Jerusalem was the original headquarters for the Christian faith before the inner circle moved to Antioch 60 miles away. They were severely persecuted and lived in extreme poverty because of the Faith. Nevertheless, Peter James and John, leaders of the Jewish reformation continued to send letters to the saints scattered abroad in Asia and other parts of the world. They also bore the expense of sending forth ministers as ambassadors of the Faith as in the example below:

Acts 13:1-3

1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

Here Paul continues to express the heart and mind of the Father concerning their giving. He rehearses the fact that the Macedonians had received of the spiritual things the ministry in Jerusalem had to offer. Therefore, it was their duty to minister to them of their carnal things. This is simply the way of the Lord. This is the character of giving that pleases God.

Galatians 6:6-10

6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.

7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Let us look even further into this matter to discover the depths of their giving. In Paul’s second letter to the Corinthian church he uses the example of the heart and mind of the Macedonians as an inspiration to motivate them in their giving.

II Corinthians 8:1-4

1 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;

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.

3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;

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 saints at Macedonia suffered great trials of affliction yet they were joyful in the Lord. In fact, they had an abundance of joy in the midst of affliction and deep poverty. They did not have a lot of material substance, yet they pleaded with Paul to allow them to become a part of the fellowship of the ministering to the saints in Jerusalem from whence came Paul and the other faithful ministers of the Gospel. The Macedonians not only entered the fellowship of Christ’s suffering, but they eagerly entered the fellowship of His giving.

II Corinthians 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.

This disposition of giving was not by the coercion of Paul and his troop (not as we hoped), but it was gendered from the love of the brethren that comes with salvation. They gave themselves to the Lord first and then to the disciples. Note that Paul reminds us that in giving themselves over to the needs of the disciples, they were only following the will of God.

II Corinthians 8:6

Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.

Paul says this is the reason he desired that Titus remain with them. Even as he had begun to disciple them into this same mind, he needed Titus to finish the work he had started. In other words, the church at Corinth needed to come to the place that revealed their true love and devotion to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They needed to enter into the fellowship of His giving.

II Corinthians 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.

The Corinthians had all the gifts of faith, utterance and knowledge operating in the church. But Paul instructed them to abound also in love. I remember him devoting a whole chapter to defining agape love. Now was the time for that love to be manifested. The ability to give is also grace that comes from God. It is even a road or lamp under the feet that guides us to the heart of the Father. To refrain from this fellowship is to put the light of guidance out, causing one to stumble around in the darkness of worldly wisdom, ingenuity and manipulation.

II Corinthians 8:8

I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.

I speak to you in such a manner because there are those among you that have been boisterous of their commitment to the Faith. Paul just used giving to the saints at Jerusalem as an opportunity to prove their love for the brethren. He also reminded them that Christ was the first to give.

II Corinthians 8:9-11

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.

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.

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.

Paul reminds the Corinthians that they promised a year ago to send something to Jerusalem to help with the distribution of the Gospel. It is now time for the “doing.” He admonishes them further that having “a readiness in will” is not enough if you do not give of that which you have.

This is typical of some saints today. Many express a desire to give great sums of money to the ministry, but have a real problem with just giving of the substance the Lord has provided presently.

II Corinthians 8:12-15

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.

13 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:

14 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:

15 As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.

Beloved, these are the principles of giving. But many continue to seek uniqueness in that they do not want others to be equal with them in substance. They seek to maintain a sense of superiority through the abundance of things or money. This is not the mind of Christ. It is His mind to supply the needs of others by sharing the provisions of the Father. All that we possess, the Father has provided. The desire for uniqueness destroys completely the mindset of having “all things common.” Nevertheless, it remains the mind of Christ and will always be the mind of Christ for His true Body.

God bless you,

Dr. Mary Banks

14 Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.