Living beyond Our Means

2 Corinthians 8:1

Jim Davis

The Port Charlotte Church of Christ sent out a letter after Hurricane Charlie thanking all who helped in the relief effort. They wrote:

“Two days after Hurricane Charlie, we opened our fellowship hall to the community and served soup that had been cooked on a gas burner to 270 people. Word spread about the hot meals, and the number of visitors increased daily. With volunteers from other congregations and generous financial donations, we were able to expand our one-dish meals to complete dinners including two or three choices of entrees, vegetables, desserts, and a selection of beverages. By the end of the first week, we were feeding between fifteen hundred and two thousand people a day in a room meant to seat about eighty.

Who would have thought our congregation of 120 could distribute more than $600,000 of free groceries? Who would have thought we could provide more than 16,000 hot meals in a two-week period? Who would have thought we could help neighbors get their homes as well as their lives back together? When we say, “I can’t,” Philippians 4:13 tells us “we can do all things through Christ.”

Have you ever looked back at phenomenal things you have done and wondered how you ever pulled them off? Looking back you realize that somehow you reached beyond your ability in certain accomplishments. Reaching beyond ourselves is where real living begins. It is where dedication and commitment begin.

The importance of faith in times like these may be overestimated. This kind of living requires more than faith. Often it is dire necessity that becomes the compelling force in our lives. Difficult times force us to reach beyond ourselves—they force us to look beyond our abilities to discover something beyond our own ingenuity. Often we are forced to look beyond what our faith can’t yet comprehend.

2 Corinthians 8:1-7
8:1 And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.   5 And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will. 6 So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. 7 But just as you excel in everything-in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us-see that you also excel in this grace of giving. NIV

The Macedonians went beyond what they were able--get this-- beyond their ability. Paul writes, “For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.” The Macedonians lived beyond themselves. The Macedonians motivation went beyond faith and dire necessity; it went beyond grace. 

Grateful for Precious Little We Have

Just what was it that motivated them to give beyond their means? Too often we tend to measure our ability with our checkbook. To live beyond our means requires looking beyond our resources. Ultimately, as Christians we must live beyond our means, for we must focus on God’s resources. 

You may be thinking I am asking too much to ask people to live beyond their means. People live beyond their means everyday. Look at the national credit card debt. Yet that is not what I am asking you to do. I am asking you to reach beyond your means as you reach for God’s plan to salvage your life. 

Reaching beyond ourselves begins with being grateful for the precious little we have. Many reached out after the ferocious hurricanes this year because they began to be thankful for what they had. Those who didn’t loose their possessions during the hurricane helped those who did. They helped because they were thankful for what they didn’t loose. They felt blessed and sought to bless the less fortunate.

One lady told me that while driving through her neighborhood she noticed electrical extension cords running out of neighbor’s windows and running into the next-door neighbor’s window. Everyone was trying to help someone. Those who had electricity were sharing it with those who had none. The lady said she didn’t know people in her neighborhood would be so friendly and helpful. They were motivated because they were grateful they had something left to share with others. 

The Port Charlotte church of Christ didn’t know they could do so much with so little. I saw it with my own eyes; they began feeding 270 people on a gas burner stove. They ended up serving 16,000 meals over a two-week period. With just a little help from several surrounding congregations they were able to reach beyond themselves. 

It sort of reminds us of Jesus multiplying the loaves and fish. Life s really is about the loaves and fish? 

Mark 6:35-44
35 By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. "This is a remote place," they said, "and it's already very late. 36 Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat." 

37 But he answered, "You give them something to eat." 

They said to him, "That would take eight months of a man's wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?" 

38 "How many loaves do you have?" he asked. "Go and see." 

When they found out, they said, "Five-and two fish." 

39 Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. 41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. 42 They all ate and were satisfied, 43 and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. 44 The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand. NIV

Jesus made them take inventory of what they already had—then he multiplied their resources as they put them to use. They found a little boy with five loaves and two fish. That’s all the Lord needed. God multiplies our resources as we begin to gratefully use what we have for his cause. 

We look around at the much that others have and pine away because we have so little. When we begin to appreciate the little it will multiply into much. 

Christians motivated by gratefulness should expect God’s blessing. Being grateful is your first blessing. Gratefulness does not mourn over what it doesn’t have—even though much is lacking. Gratefulness does not mourn over the abilities of others while overlooking its own resources. Gratefulness is motivated to use its own resources to become a source of encouragement for others. 

The king of Egypt was eventually compelled to obey God out of fear. 

Exodus 3:18-20
18 "The elders of Israel will listen to you. Then you and the elders are to go to the king of Egypt and say to him, 'The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Let us take a three-day journey into the desert to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God.' 19 But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand compels him. 20 So I will stretch out my hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders that I will perform among them. After that, he will let you go. NIV

The fear of God is just as real today. We can look back and behold all the works of God’s mighty hand. We know it is a fearful thing to fall into the hand of the living God for judgment.

However, the compelling force in our lives is the love of Christ. If you are afraid to make an investment in the kingdom of God remember “perfect love drives out fear. . .” (1 John 4:18 NIV). It is Christ’s love that’s perfect.

2 Corinthians 5:11-15
11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. 12 We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. 13 If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. NIV

The love of Christ compelled Paul even though he had inadequate resources. Gratefulness for Christ’s sacrifice compels us to rely on his love. 

1 John 4:16
6 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. NIV

Knowing we can rely on God is enough to move us to gratitude.

Empowering Aspect of Gratefulness

Gratitude comes from recognizing what God has already done for us. Goliath taunted Israel for forty days. Israel became weaker while her enemies became stronger. Whatever you are running from in life you are empowering. You need to stop and take stock of the resources you already have and be grateful. 

You need to remind yourself occasionally that Christ has already won the victory for you. Be grateful and respond in gratefulness—it’s your greatest resource.

Do you know how David faced Goliath?  He began by being grateful for the victories God had already given him. He remembered the victory God had given him over the lion and the bear, while he was shepherding his father’s sheep. He saw God in his work-a-day world. That was the basis of his gratitude, and it empowered him. Gratitude reminds us that our strength comes from God. With God on your side you can’t lose.

Gratitude enables us to fight with the same intensity as our enemies. It enables us to learn from our enemies and then apply it to their weakness. David knew the giant was too clumsy to dodge the swiftness of his sling. So David fought him with the only resources he had at his disposal—a sling and a handful of rocks. It was deadly. At first he tried on Saul’s armor. But he was smart enough to rely on the resources God had given him while herding sheep.

The prophets were always reminding Israel of what God had done for them. They did this to bring them back to God in difficult times.

Nehemiah 9:19-25
19 "Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the desert. By day the pillar of cloud did not cease to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take. 20 You gave your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst. 21 For forty years you sustained them in the desert; they lacked nothing, their clothes did not wear out nor did their feet become swollen. 

22 "You gave them kingdoms and nations, allotting to them even the remotest frontiers. They took over the country of Sihon king of Heshbon and the country of Og king of Bashan. 23 You made their sons as numerous as the stars in the sky, and you brought them into the land that you told their fathers to enter and possess. 24 Their sons went in and took possession of the land. You subdued before them the Canaanites, who lived in the land; you handed the Canaanites over to them, along with their kings and the peoples of the land, to deal with them as they pleased. 25 They captured fortified cities and fertile land; they took possession of houses filled with all kinds of good things, wells already dug, vineyards, olive groves and fruit trees in abundance. They ate to the full and were well-nourished; they reveled in your great goodness. NIV

They weren’t preaching the modern day gospel of health, wealth and prosperity. They were reminded of God’s mercy to instill gratitude for what God had already done for them. These passages we have just read came during Israel’s difficult time of Babylonian captivity. Do you know why they were in captivity? They had been ungrateful. God took away their blessings.

Your real investment can only begin when you become grateful for what little you have. As my children get older I appreciate their gratefulness more than anything. Their gratefulness has the power to motivate me to happily do anything they ask of me. Do you think God is any different? 

Gratefulness is Contagious

Does a tyrannical boss motivate you to work harder or to just do your duty? How do you work for a boss you are grateful for? Which one gets the most work out of you?

Gratefulness has a contagious drawing power. When a boss sees your gratitude it is usually reciprocated. It affects attitudes. It becomes contagious to fellow employees. It is like yeast spreading throughout the lump of dough. Bosses who supervise in a way to make his workers grateful draw the best out of their employees. Their actions are contagious and people are drawn to them. 

The world needs to see that it is our gratefulness for what God has done for us that motivates our labor. Our gratitude will make evangelism a breeze. This is the drawing power of God. 

Good motivates are always contagious. What Jesus did for his disciples was contagious. The world took note that they had been with Jesus. They saw their gratefulness through the price they were willing to pay to preach Jesus. They turned the world upside down. 

We put a lot of energy into just doing what Jesus taught. Have you ever noticed how easy a task becomes when it becomes a labor of love—a labor motivated by gratitude? Gratitude makes it much easier to lose sight of self. Notice in the following verses how Paul’s gratitude—thankfulness led him to live beyond himself.

2 Corinthians 6:3-13
3 We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. 

11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. 12 We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. 13 As a fair exchange-I speak as to my children-open wide your hearts also. NIV

There is no way I can live this kind of compelling life without touching the lives of others. Evangelism begins with being grateful for whatever resources you have. The only way you can demonstrate your gratitude is by using those resources to glorify God. When you use them to glorify God you will reach beyond yourself into a dimension beyond anything you can image that is only limited by the sovereignty of God.

Conclusion: 

Gratitude must motivate you to give your life to God. This sermon is not designed to be inspirational. Inspiration is a fleeting emotion. This sermon is designed to empower you to reach beyond your means.

In baptism God asks us to reach beyond ourselves to experience a new life in Christ. This life can only be realized through the resources Christ provided in his death. Baptism represents your desire to reach beyond yourself—beyond your life to experience the eternal resources of God through Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. It is the place where you step into the resources of God. Forgiveness is the first resource at your disposal. It is the one thing above all else for which you must be grateful. It cost Christ his life.