Dear Christian friends:

Today our PONY EXPRESS RUN BEGINS. That means that each member of our church will have the opportunity to write his or her estimate of giving for 1983 during this week and next week. I'm sure that all of us have been thinking about our estimates and asking ourselves how much we should plan to give for the Lord's work in 1983. So this morning I wish to preach about that topic to help us make a good decision, one that will satisfy ourselves and also please God.

To guide us, I have chosen a part of St. Paul's second letter to the church at Corinth, chapter 8:1-14. There are many chapters and verses in the Bible that instruct about Christian giving, but this one is my favorite chapter. I wish to share it with you today.


First, St. Paul teaches us that Christians give for the Lord's work with joy.

Paul is writing this letter to the Christians who lived in Corinth, but he tells them about another Christian church in Greece, which gave with great joy. Paul uses this church in Greece as a good example of how Christians give for the Lord's work.

Paul says that "their joy was so great that they were extremely generous in their giving, even though they were very poor.” (verse 2) Why did they have so much joy? Because they had experienced God's grace in Christ Jesus. (verse 1) Paul says God's grace made them become eager, happy and generous givers. What is God's grace? God's grace is His love and mercy which He shows to sinners in His Son Jesus. God shows us grace when He doesn't punish us as we deserve, but forgives our sins in Jesus' name who suffered for us on the cross. The Christians in Greece believed Paul's preaching of Jesus and that is why they had such great joy and were eager and generous in supporting the Lord's work.

The Christians in Greece were a good example of giving for the Lord's work. Paul wrote to the neighboring church at Corinth, "Therefore we want you to be generous also." (verse 7b) Christians should not be cheap or stingy givers, but "generous." Christians give with heart! The Christians of Greece are a good example also for Christians today.

Paul challenged the church at Corinth to prove its love for Jesus by giving much with joy. He writes to them, "I am trying to find out how real your own love is. Because you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: rich as He was, He made Himself poor for your sake, in order to make you rich by His poverty. (verse 8-9) If we really believe in Jesus and really love Jesus, then we will prove it by our eager joy in taking up His work and supporting it. We love Jesus, because He first loved us and died for us so that we poor sinners can become the rich children of God.

Paul challenged the Christians at Corinth to prove their love by eager and generous support of the Lord's work. So today, I challenge you, the members of Pilgrim Lutheran Church to prove your love also. Many of you have proved your love many times in the past. Now you have another opportunity, another year of grace, to prove your love for Jesus. I challenge you! Give with love and joy; don't give because you feel duty or forced.

So we have seen that Christians give gladly, with joy; they also give as God has blessed them.

In our text Paul writes to the Christians at Corinth: "If you are eager to give, God will accept your gift on the basis of what you have to give, not on what you don't have.” (verse 12) If you have nothing then you can give nothing. But if you have much, then you can give much. If you have in-between, medium, then you can give a medium amount. Paul advised each Christian at Corinth to give "in proportion to what he has earned." (1 Corinthians 16:2) Each member gladly gives a certain percent of his income for the Lord's work. The charts that we have mailed to each of you can help you decide to give a certain percent of your income regularly. In the Old Testament the believers gave the tithe, 10% of their income. For us Christians of the New Testament the tithe is not a law, but a guide. Some on Social Security or S.S.I. perhaps can't give the tithe. But others with better incomes perhaps can. Give as God has blessed you! Give as you are able!

A Christian should not compare himself with others when he decides how much he will give for the Lord's work. Often church members do that. In one church where I served many years ago one member stood up in the voters meeting and suggested that each member give $2.00 a week. He wanted each member to give the same amount. So I had to stand up and tell him and the voters that his idea was wrong, and does not agree with the Bible. The Bible teaches that we not all give same amount, but some who have more can give more, and those who have less can give less. That man who suggested $2.00 a week for everyone was rich and had good income. He could perhaps give $5.00 or $10.00 a week, but the poor widow perhaps could not give $2.00 a week; maybe only $1.00. So when you decide how much you will give, don't look at other members; don't compare with others, but consider your situation, how God has blessed you. On that basis make your decision.

I hope my sermon this morning will help each of you make your estimate of giving for 1983. When the Pony Express saddlebag is brought to your door accept it with joy and make your estimate for 1983. Write it with joy, heart, and make the amount on the basis of what God has given to you! That is the Christian way of giving for the Lord's work.

Amen.