He Gave Himself

The Greatest Gift

God never ask anything of the unbeliever who does not belong to Him.

The unbeliever is said to be "dead in trespasses and sins" (Eph. 21:1),

and a dead person cannot give anything to anyone. But God in His grace

wants to GIVE YOU the priceless gift of salvation. It cost Jesus Christ

everything; but it is free to you simply for the believing.

Who his own self  bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being

dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed

[reconciled] (1 Peter 2:24.

 Believe on the lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved (Act.16:31)

Read more of R.B.Thieme Jr.'s book go to:

R.B.Theme, Jr.Bible Ministries

5139 West Alabama, Houston, Texas 77056 

Love --Response

Furthermore

And it cannot be stressed too often --you cannot give in this age

under any concept of tithing. Spiritual giving in Old Testament 

is described as "offering." Offerings were for believers only. Tithes

were for both believers and unbelievers. The principle remains the 

same today, regardless of dispensation: giving is always an expression

of the believer's love-response to God.

"The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand."
Psalm 121: 5

We thank You, Father, for loving us so much that You bring answers in all
areas of our lives.
In Christ name I pray

Not Commanded

Whatever is taught about giving, it should not be forced upon people.

"I speak not according to the commandment" means that you are not to

give on the norm or standard of a command. Some activities ARE 

commanded in the Word, such as the assembling of  ourselves together,

giving a hearing to the Word, praying one for another, and loving one another

the Agape love, or relaxed mental attitude. But we are NOT commanded

 to give,  because this must be the result of taking in the Word, the filling

of the Spirit, and divine viewpoint in the right lobe. No pressure should

ever exist---no approbation lust---no public display.

"There is no difference between the Jew and the Greek:

for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him."

Romans 10:12

Lord, lead me to someone who needs a friend. May I not be too

busy to recognize Your leading.

In Christ name I pray

Love Giving--NOT-- Law Giving

A Test Of Love

I am not speaking according to the commandment, but through

the diligent application of others [the Macedonians], testing

the genuineness of your love (2 Cor.8:8).

The sixth principle of giving which Paul now emphasizes is

that giving is a test of the genuineness of your love of Jesus 

Christ, as well as your love of God the Father and of God the

Holy Spirit. In effect, Christian giving is love giving-- not

law giving. Christian giving proves the reality of your love

- the genuineness of grace motivation rather then the keeping

of the Mosaic Law.

"My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:19

Dear Father, I'm thankful that all my needs don't begin to exhaust Your resources.

In Christ name I pray

Let Us Superabound

An Extension 

Moreover, just as in everything you superabound, in the sphere of faith,

in the sphere of doctrine, in the sphere of knowledge, in the sphere of

all diligence of application, in the sphere of a relaxed mental attitude,

from you to us, with the result that you also in the sphere of this grace

[giving] superabound (2 Cor. 8:7).

"The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations."

2 Peter 2:9

Dear God, help me to withstand the temptation of self-righteousness, 

and all other temptations that keep me from knowing Your will.

In Christ name I pray

Recorded For Us

Material Poverty

Although in material poverty, the Macedonians had such great

spiritual riches that God provided the means for them to give

sacrificially as an extension of their spiritual life. Now  the

Corinthians are hit with the same challenge. The prepositional

phase, "insomuch that "-- literally, "with the result that"-- is used

to make the transition from Macedonian giving to Corinthian giving.

Why is this prepositional phrase recorded for us? To remind us that 

as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ we have the same responsibility

to give; but that responsibility must include the concept that giving is

an extension of the spiritual life.

"In the day of my trouble I will call upon Thee: for thou wilt answer me." 

Psalm 86:7

Help me, Lord, to act with Your love in the seemingly impossible

situation of life.

In Christ name I pray

Reversionism

When Titus Departed

The offering was discontinued, and the Corinthians fell into

reversionism.  Now Titus is returning, and the offering can

be continued on the same spiritual basis as before. To make

sure the Corinthians do not have any illusions or misconceptions

or do not give because of emotion, Paul did not tell them of the poor

starving children or of the hungry people standing in line for food in

Jerusalem; he simply gave them the illustration of the Macedonians.

"For the eyes of the Lord are over the rightous, and His ears are open unto

their praryers."

1 Peter 3:12

Lord, help me to put away my selfish pride and show my Christian wittness

by being friendly to others.

In Christ name I pray

Recovered

The Trouble Shooter

Titus was hard and tough, and the Corinthians fell right into line.

They had recovered from their failure described in the first epistle, 

and now it was necessary for them to demonstrate their grace orientation.

With the spiritual advance under Titus, the Corinthians began an offering for

the Jews in Jerusalem.

"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake:

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Matthew 5:10

Our Father, help us to lift our eyes aboue the disquieting things 

around us. Help us to center our thoughts and affections on You.

In Christ name I pray

To Sweet

The Corinthians

Paul sees no reason why they cannot give on exactly the same basis. that the Macedonian do.

They had failed in their giving when Timothy went to Corinth. The Corinthians were too

tough for him. Timothy had too much "sweetness and light", and he flopped. They drove

him right out of town. So Paul sent his trouble shooter -- Titus.

"The meek will He guide in judgment: and the meek will He teach His way."

Psalm 25:9

Dear Heavenly Father, when I have failed through my own lack of wisdom,

help me to rely on Your unfaltering love and power.

In Christ name I pray

No Gimmicks

Macedonia Versus Corinth

They were not broke, but they had much to learn about giving.

With the result that we requested Titus that even as he had begun

on previous occasion, so also he would complete toward you this 

favor [grace] also (2 Cor. 8:6).

The Macedonian giving fulfilled every principle of grace, every

principle of the extension of Bible doctrine. It fulfilled every true

concept of giving. The word "favor" or "grace" indicates that giving

must always  be on the basis of grace, as in verse 4- without strings

or gimmick!

I am  studying from R.B.Thieme Jr book

"Giving Gimmick or Grace"

"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Matthew 5:3

Keep me humble, dear Lord, when I am faced with undeserved problems.

Also keep me meek, so that the love of Christ will shine through me to others.

In Christ name I pray

Sharing Doctrine

The Jews

Were the original custodians of the Word of God; God had selected

Jewish prophets to receive and write the Scriptures; the greatest 

communicators of doctrine were Jews; Christ Himself was a Jew.

The Macedonians acknowledged their great debt to this unique people,

in spite of the revisionism and evil then rampant in Jerusalem (Rom.

15:27). The gentiles had benefited from the Jews through doctrine; and

now these Greeks, from the doctrine in their souls, wanted to reciprocate 

by sharing their money with destitute Jewish believers.

 

"If any man serve Me, him will My Father honor."

John 12:26

Dear Lord, make me aware of the many opportunities about me 

to serve Christ and my fellowman.

 

In Christ name I pray

Generosity

Personal Love

is reserved for special individuals  Jesus Christ, right man

or right woman, family, friends. Many Jewish believers in
 Jerusalem were reversionists and legalists; soon they would
 convince even Paul to forget grace (Acts21:18--26). They
certainly were not deserving of generosity! But the Macedonians
fulfilled the command to impersonal love, and further,they recognized
the principle of Reciprocity.

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you, let not your heart
be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
John 14:27

Lord, let me find the peace of mind promised in Your Word.
In Christ name I pray

Impersonal Love

RECIPROCITY

The Macedonians were gentiles, but they "decided with pleasure

[to give]" (Rom. 15:27) to Jews who lived in a distant city, most 

of whom they would never meet. Why were these northern Greeks

so generous to almost total strangers? Their generosity expressed

Impersonal love. Impersonal love emphasizes the character of the

giver, not that of the recipient, whereas personal love focuses on the

attractiveness and virtues of the object of love. Impersonal love is

commanded toward all believers (John 13:35); personal love is 

reserved for special individuals. 

"He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him."
Psalm 126:6

Father, help me not to give up too quickly on those I seek to influence toward the Christian way.
In Christ name I pray

No Revolt of the Soul

Giving

6. Giving originates in the soul. First there is soul activity,

then the overt act of giving.

7. Giving reflects grace and love in the soul. Giving in grace 

does not make an issue of the amount of the gift.

8. Giving from an emotional revolt of the soul reduces it to a

bribe for love or good behavior and results in such phrases

as, "After all I've done for you!" " I've given enough money

 to have some  say around here!" That  is giving with strings.

There is no place in the function of the royal priesthood for

this type of giving.

" Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may

obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

Hebrews 4:16

Dear Heavenly Father, what a joy it is to begin the day talking with

Thee, opening heart and mind to Thee. Keep me in the center of Thy will. 

In Christ name pray

Grace

Giving

3. In recognition of and orientation to God's grace, the believer

must give on the basis of his own character--from doctrine in 

his right lobe.

4. Giving of self is the capacity for love and the capacity for 

grace based on doctrine.

5.Giving is both an extension and a manifestation of what is

in the soul.

"Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise

pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."

Matthew 5:18

I'm glad You are never too busy to remember Your promises, Lord

In Christ name I pray

A Design

Giving

Eight Points Concerning the principle of giving:

1. While giving is a part of the design, the plan and the purpose

of God, there is a definite sequence in giving.

2. Giving is a commemoration of grace. Christ gave Himself on

the Cross, but His character was involved -- His divine character

and His human character. Therefore, He gave of Himself -- His

character and His soul. God gives in grace because of His character

of essence because of who and what He is.

"Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy."

Matthew 5:7

Father, help me be as gentle and kind to others as I 

want You to be to me.

In Christ name I pray

What Is Our Motivation

2-Soul Activity

Doctrine in the right lobe of the soul is the basis for all true

giving the true motivation for giving. Giving on the basis of 

doctrine in the soul is giving without mental attitude sins, such

as approbation lust or human good motivation or emotion.

"He knoweth the way that I take: when He has tried me, 

I shall come forth as gold."

Job 23:10

Dear Lord, I desire today that You will use my life as a channel of Your love.

In Christ name I pray

 

What Is The Condition Of Our Soul

A Soul Activity

And not even as we expected [anticipated], but they gave

themselves, and only themselves, first to the Lord and then

to us, by the plan [purpose, design] of God (2 Cor. 8:5).

Although the Macedonian believers were destitute, they far

exceeded Paul's expectation in the matter of the offering. Why?

Because they gave of themselves from their own grace mental

attitude. "First" emphasizes the person rather then the gift. When

a person simply gives his money, he is doing what any unbeliever

can do. Because they are under condemnation from God, unbelievers

cannot give of themselves to the Lord; they cannot give of their souls.

The Macedonians gave of themselves---their souls! That soul activity

actually extends to the overt activity of giving. But the money or 

the amount is not important; it is the condition of the soul that counts.

 "A faithful man abound with blessings."

Proverbs 28:20

Lord, help me to remember that there are many ways to 

rejoice in any kind of day You make for us.

We Are Priest

A Grace Privilege

With much imploring, begging us the favor and the partnership

in the ministry [the priestly function of giving] to the saints

(2 Cor. 8:4).

This : ministry' of giving-- a privilege and function of the royal

priesthood -- is derived from two Greek nouns in this passage:

CHARIS, meaning "grace", and DIAKONIA, from which we get

 the word "deacon." The primary meaning of DIAKONIA is in

connection with the administrative function of the local church;

but here it refers to the priestly function of giving. Giving to the

Lord is a privilege of believers only!

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."

Psalm 46:1

Lord, some days I feel weighted down by the routine. Help me

now to rejoice in Your presence.

In Christ name I pray

Our Ability

Freewill Giving

That according to the standard of their ability, I testify, and

beyond their ability [willingly and voluntarily] of their own

free will (2 Cor. 8:3).

The royal priesthood of the individual believer must operate

from free will and privacy. These are the basic ingredients 

under the principles of divine establishment. Giving should 

be accomplished in privacy as unto the Lord and as a

 commemoration of God the Father's grace.

R.B. Thieme,Jr

 "Whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall 

lose his life for My sake and the gospel's shall save it."

Mark 8:35

Lord God, I expect great things of You; please help me to attempt

and accomplish great things for You.

In Christ name I pray