AFTER OFFERING WILLINGLY

Park Jung Il
(Preacher, Covenant B-P Church, Korea)

“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God” (2 Cor 9:6–11).

Many churches have been established because of Paul’s evangelism. At that time, Jerusalem was in a famine and the church went through severe persecution. The believers in Jerusalem asked Paul to help the church and Paul willingly did so (Gal 2:10). Besides the gospel, Paul preached the importance of helping those who were in need.

Macedonia was the northern region of Greece where the church of Thessalonica, the church of Philippi, and the church of Berea were located. According to 2 Corinthians 8:1–5, the churches of Macedonia willingly helped the church in Jerusalem. Even though they themselves were in a great trial of affliction and deep poverty, they collected for the Jerusalem church beyond their power.

Achaia was the southern region of Greece where the major city of Corinth was located. In 2 Corinthians 9:1–5, Paul shared how he boasted to Macedonia that Achaia was already a year ago ready to give. But the Corinthian church did not seem to have made any preparations to give. Paul worried about it. In 2 Corinthians 9:4, Paul said to the Corinthians, “Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.”

Paul continuously taught the blessings of collecting for the poor and needy Christians (2 Cor 6:15). What blessings are waiting for those who willingly help others? Today, we are going to learn and be blessed.

You Realise God’s Love

“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully” (2 Cor 9:6). The word “sparingly” means not using or giving a lot of something. This word can be used in a relative sense. Although the rich offer much money, it can be sparingly before God. On the other hand, a little money that the poor offer can be bountiful to God.

The word “bountifully” (eulogia) can mean “blessings”. So those who sow bountifully reap the blessings of God. God will receive the heart of a cheerful giver with pleasure. God will bless his soul with spiritual blessings such as peace, thanksgiving, and grace. He is sure of God’s love and can feel God’s blessings pouring into his soul.

Therefore, we do not give reluctantly in response to pressure. God loves a person who gives cheerfully.

You Experience God’s Grace

“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” (2 Cor 9:8). In this verse, “all” and “every” come from the same Greek word. It is for emphasis. God provides for all that we need so that we can continue to do good things.

Firstly, God provides for us bread (v10). God knows our need and our situation. God knows our faith towards Him. He gives and rewards us. God helps us in our life and we reap bountifully. In 1 Kings 17, Elijah asked a widow for a piece of bread. The widow replied that she only had a little oil and an handful of meal. Elijah said to her, “Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth” (1 Kings 17:13–14). When the widow was obedient to Elijah, the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail.

Secondly, God will remember our righteousness. God will not only bless our life with His provision but also bless what we offer. Somebody is in need. What I give can be useful. He or she can continue to work for God. This is a good work. This is righteousness and this righteousness will remain forever. God works through the godly. God wanted the Corinthian church to help the Jerusalem church. God used the Corinthian church, God helped the Jerusalem church. This is righteousness. God will remember this righteousness forever. This is double blessing.

Lastly, God will multiply the fruits. Givers can see fruits of their gifts someday. God is a good farmer. Using seeds of sacrifices of the saints, God will increase fruits. If a church helps another church, God will surely make a profit and people can see the fruits that God will multiply.

God will help our life. God provides all things that we need in our life. God remembers our righteousness. God will help us see the harvest that He increases with the seeds that we have sown. So we offer more and willingly and God blesses much more. It is a good repayment.

You Glorify God’s Will

“Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;” (2 Cor 9:13). The Jerusalem church and Gentile church had a few obstacles. In Acts 11:3, Peter was attacked because he went into the house of Cornelius and ate with him and his relatives and preached the gospel to them. Peter explained what happened to the church of Jerusalem. In Acts 11:17–18 he said, “Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.”

When Peter was in the city of Antioch, he ate with Gentile Christians. But when Christians from Jerusalem who were sent by James came, he withdrew and separated from the Gentile Christians. For this Peter was scolded by Paul (Gal 2:14).

Some Jewish Christians insisted that Gentile Christians had to be circumcised. They thought that the Gentiles must be circumcised as a token of becoming God’s people. This was one great obstacle, and there was a sharp dispute in Jerusalem. The decision was this: “Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood” (Acts 15:19–20).

The Gentile Christians by giving and helping the Jerusalem Church would show that both Jews and Gentiles are united in Christ in the bond of love, and there is no difference. This is to the praise and glory of God.

My Testimony

I write to express my gratitude to True Life B-P Church. I received your collection for my church, which is named Covenant B-P Church. As you know, my church is a baby church and the only B-P Church in Korea. Some advised me to go to Korean seminary for upgrading to a degree and have a human network for my ministry in Korea. It seems to be helpful to me. But I rejected their warm-hearted suggestions. Because of this, I had to leave the church that I served for 20 years. While I served a small church as an assistant preacher, I was attacked for my premillennial view. So I had to start my church. Still I am going through suffering but I do not regret my decision.

When I started my church, there were two big worries in my mind. First was the identity of my church. Biblically speaking, it is ideal for a church to start another church. I am very happy for True Life Church to collect for my church. It is not because I was supported but because my church is from True Life Church in Singapore. Now I can proudly say that the root of my church is True Life B-P Church.

Second was my qualification. I was scared if someone asked me about my qualification as a preacher. God also helped me about this worry. I was invited to the church camp and was given the honour to preach before the congregation of True Life. My worry was relieved. If True Life Church admitted me as a preacher, I will never be scared of anyone who doubts my qualification.

I do not have anything to express my gratitude except only my message, which I preached. Like my preaching, I pray that God may bless the congregation of True Life Church with every spiritual blessing. I pray also that God bless the church and the church members financially. My last prayer item is that True Life Church can see its fruit of their righteousness through my church. I am expressing my gratitude for True Life’s loving gift.