John Stott, 10 Principles of Christian Giving, 많이 뿌린 자가 많이 거둔다

http://www.castlechurch.org.uk/downloads/Stott%2010%20Principles.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3h6vjPqqfggwf31Vib2dWfAKIIrPTU4hthSrbzgJGFP-jnHrZ22lY1c2o

Romans 15, 1 Corinthians 16, and 2 Corinthians 8-9

Paul did not see it as a mundane matter. On the contrary, he saw it as relating to the grace of God, the cross of Christ and the unity of the Spirit.

1. Christian giving is an expression of the grace of God - 2 Corinthians 8:1-6

You will notice that the apostle Paul does not begin by referring to the generosity of the churches of Macedonia in Northern Greece. He refers instead to the generosity of God, to ‘the grace which God has given to the Macedonian churches’ (v.1)... More remarkable still is the fact that three tributaries contributed to the river of Macedonian generosity, namely (v.2) their severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty. In consequence, the Macedonians gave even beyond their ability (v.3). 

2. Christian giving can be a charisma, a gift of the Spirit - 2 Corinthians 8:7

all Christians are called to exercise pastoral care for others, but some are called to be pastors. Just so, all Christians are called to be generous, but some are given the particular ‘gift of giving’. Because they have been entrusted with significant financial resources, they have a special responsibility to be good stewards for the common good.

3. Christian giving is inspired by the cross of Christ - 2 Corinthians 8:8, 9

Because of our poverty Christ renounced his riches, so that through his poverty we might become rich.

4. Christian giving is proportionate giving - 2 Corinthians 8:10-12

And this must be according to their means (v11). Thus Christian giving is proportionate giving. The eager willingness comes first. So long as that is there, the gift is acceptable according to what the giver has, not according to what he has not (v.12).

5. Christian giving contributes to equality - 2 Corinthians 8:13-15

Paul illustrates the principle from the supply of manna in the desert. God provided enough for everybody. Larger families gathered a lot, but not too much, for nothing was leftover. Smaller families gathered little, but not too little, for they had no lack (v.15). 

In other words, if we are embarrassed either to visit other people in their home, or to invite them into ours, because of the disparity of our economic lifestyles, - something is wrong. The inequality is too great. It has broken the fellowship. There needs to be a measure of equalisation in one or other direction or in both. And Christian giving contributes to this equality.

6. Christian giving must be carefully supervised - 2 Corinthians 8:16-24

‘we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men’ (v.21). That is, he was determined not only to do right, but also to be seen to do right.

First, he did not handle the financial arrangement himself, but put Titus in charge of them (vv.16, 17) and expressed his full confidence in him (v.23). Secondly, Paul added that he was sending along with Titus another brother, who was ‘praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel’ (v.18). Thirdly, this second brother had been ‘chosen by the churches to accompany’ Paul and carry the gift (v.19; cf. 1 Cor. 16:3). Thus the people who carried the offering to Jerusalem had been elected by the churches because they had confidence in them.

7. Christian giving can be stimulated by a little friendly competition – 2 Corinthians 9:1-5

First Paul has boasted of southern generosity, so that the northerners will give generously. Now he urges the southerners to give generously, so that the northerners will not be disappointed in them.

He boasts of each to the other, in order to stimulate the generosity of both.

8. Christian giving resembles a harvest - 2 Corinthians 9:6-11a

First, we reap what we sow. Whoever sows sparingly reaps sparingly, and whoever sows generously reaps generously (v.6). Each donor should give ‘what he has decided in his heart to give’. Neither reluctantly, nor under compulsion, nor for that matter calculating what he will receive in return (Luke 6:34, 35), but rather ungrudgingly, because ‘God loves a cheerful giver’ (v.7). 

The second harvest principle is that what we reap has a double purpose. It is both for eating and for further sowing. For the God of the harvest is concerned not only to alleviate our present hunger, but also to make provision for the future. 

9. Christian giving has symbolic significance - 2 Corinthians 9:11b-15

The significance of his collection was not just geographical (from Greece to Judea), nor just economical (from the rich to the poor), but in particular theological (from Gentile Christians to Jewish Christians). His collection was a deliberate, self-conscious symbol of Jewish-Gentile solidarity in the body of Christ.

In similar ways, our Christian giving can express our theology, because our gift symbolises our support of the cause to which we are giving.

10. Christian giving promotes thanksgiving to God - 2 Corinthians 9:11b-15 again

Here is a crucial test as to whether our giving is authentically Christian or not. Truly Christian giving leads people not only to thank us the donors, but to thank God, and to see our gift in the light of his – the indescribable gift of his Son.