[Note: developed in part from materials in the Sweet series on stewardship]

Introduction
Subject is giving, but want to begin elsewhere and see if we can together travel a somewhat circuitous route to arrive at some valid conclusions concerning God's desire, plan, will, and way for our generous sharing of the blessings we have received.
So....begin here. What impresses you? What surprises you? What catches your attention? I was surprised this week, challenged, encouraged, wondering. In fact, contemplatively, I share three surprises.

• First, from a book by Foster, a description of "steps into worship." Knew all along that just doing the action did not guarantee worship? How can we describe the process more accurately? How can we help others understand? Little later, avenues into worship. He writes, "Singing, praying, and praising may lead to worship, but worship is more than any of them. Worship is spirits being ignited by the divine fire." My question is, if these lead to worship, is the communion real worship, real spirit touching spirit? Is the giving real worship? Spirit touching spirit back? How shall I understand worship? How shall I understand giving?
  Then he continues, "Our lives are to be punctuated with praise, thanksgiving, and adoration. Because our service flows out of our worship. Service as a substitute for worship is idolatry. Activity is the enemy of adoration. His call is to be still and know God. To escape the flurry of activity around us." Now my question is this, Is giving the service that grows out of worship, so that as worship concludes, I am prepared to respond to the God whom I adore? How does it fit in?
  We have come a long way from the beginnings. Forgotten as much as we've learned, learned more than mere Scripture. As Jack Reese recently reminded us at the OVC lectureship, the early church did it differently. Reading Scripture for as long as time allows, hearing God, remembering the story, asking anew about how God intersects our lives, listening to the story of God, remember that the same God is active in his world, and in our own lives. From this foundation, perhaps in some chanted song, or homily/sermon, the truth of God. Then and only then, response. God acts on behalf of his people. God blesses and rewards his children when they obey his word, punishes disobedience.
• A second surprise. Have you ever been surprised by the truth of Jesus' words, It is more blessed to give than to receive? Have you ever known this first hand? I learned the lesson in reverse: necessity of receiving so others can be blessed. But is same lesson. The way I grew up, it is hard to receive. I don't need that, not a gracious recipient. Christmas, people trying to be nice and good. Scrooge on the receiving end. Great lesson. Blessing comes to the generous giver. Blessing, in part, because nothing we can do makes us more like God than giving.
• A third surprise, giving feels good. Giving is selfish, giving is self-centered. Philanthropists will tell you of the thrill. Making a difference, something that matters, sharing, helping, encouraging--these feed the human spirit. Giving making us like God certainly is a part of spirit touching spirit.
  Lesson learned in college. Some lesson, speaker, priorities, how much spend on self, dates, this, that. Can't you give some % of that? Sure. So I did.
  If giving feels good, and if our world is interested in feeling good, should be an appeal in this lesson. Think with me.

This is a Bible study--2 Cor. 9:6-15. I encourage you to have your Bibles open as we study. Then in a reversal of sorts, I share the conclusion before we begin. Conclusion: There are several different kinds of giving based on the motivations for that giving.

I. Guilt--Have to giving, 2 Cor. 9:7. Paul encourages cheerful giving, hilarious. Such is the opposite of forced to giving, not reluctantly nor of compulsion. Guilt is not the proper motivation for giving--but it's used a lot. Guilt about stinginess, the budget, the sick, the needy, all kinds of things that may enter into have to giving.
And it often works: guilt can be effective in bringing in a lot of money. But, unfortunately, it's unbiblical. No joy, doesn't help us away from materialism but may actually entrench us deeper in our love for things. Opposite response to the Israelites when they were building the Tabernacle and had to be asked to quit giving.

II. Duty, responsibility--Ought to giving, 2 Cor. 8:7, excel in giving, as in faith, speech, etc. Certainly we have a responsibility concerning giving, is biblical truth. Congregational giving studies indicate that the 80/20 rules applies: 80% of the giving is done by 20% of the church. Further, 30% of the members give 20%, and approximately 50% give nothing at all.
This motivation for giving works--giving money for ministry and needs, feels better than guilt, and we can also note that people learn responsibility, a healthy character trait. But despite this brief positive, this kind of giving limits the joy, and the amount, considerably. Asks about getting by. What is the minimum amount I ought to give? When can I say, I've done my part. Works oriented, I will give enough so I deserve whatever good I receive from God.

III. Benevolence--Get to giving, the appeal was for the poor. Appeal to my compassion, my heart, I get to give, but my motivation is the needs of others, 2 Cor. 8:13-15. Further we go, more dangerous the ground, for this is beginning to sound pretty right. Important to let church know about financial concerns, isn't it? Good to give church opportunities for giving, isn't it? Missions contributions, benevolence, Honduras roof..... Yes! Knowing a need often kindles a desire to provide the resources. And we would want someone to share with us if we were the person in need, so we can kick in the Golden Rule.
Giving to satisfy feels good. Brings a certain cheerfulness, escapes compulsion of guilt or duty. Gets rid of some reluctance. Touches our heart strings, encourages us to learn the discipline of sacrificial giving. Can raise larger sums of money, increase involvement, more people will give to needs. But if overemphasize, learn also that some people give only when they see a need. And what if the person can't see the need, or doesn't approve of the need? Some can ignore the request even if there is a need. World is filled with needs. Further, the church helps in ways that do not tug at heartstrings, is involved in humdrum, menial, obscure things. This appeals to our desire to choose where we serve.

IV. Gratitude--Want to giving. Paul says it is good for church to supply the needs of God's people, but doesn't stop at this motivation. Giving is a way of thanking and praising God for what he has done. This stirs the recipients to thank God also.
Tell you, that giving out of thanksgiving feels very good. This giving points our hearts to God and gives tangible ways of showing our gratitude. Models unselfishness, encourages others to consider God's actions in their lives.
Limited by our perception of gratitude. What if we are not thankful when we should be? If we are not aware of our blessings, tend not to be thankful. Some miss the joy of how God has blessed them because they are not paying attention.

V. Adoration, worship--Going to giving, decisive, determined, responsive. 2 Cor. 8:5, Macedonia Christians are examples to church in Corinth, unique quality to their giving, first gave themselves. Financial decisions grew out of relationship, first out of relationship to God. When it's your nature to worship God, to give to God, giving because an act of worship, Rom. 12:1-2, even to giving self. When you see to be like God, you give.
Giving is a confession of the gospel, 2 Cor. 9:13, giving is an act of trust, 1 Tim. 6:17-19, giving is an offering to God, Phil 4:18. Only strengths accompany this highest form of giving. Worship is the highest possible motivator. Creates true commitment, please God, allows the kingdom of advance, feels good. Protects us from Satan, who cannot steal our joy when this is our motivation, nor stop our work.

Conclusion
In the month ahead, we hope to grow. We will find surprises--I hope we can feel the surprise. Important not to settle for anything less than God's best motivations for our giving. Will bless us, sustain us. As we grow upward in this motivational game plan, joy will source, efforts in the kingdom expand dramatically.