OVERFLOW || Faith and Finances
2 Corinthians 8:1-9 NLT
1 “Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. 2 They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity. 3 For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. 4 They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. 5 They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do. 6 So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving. 7 Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving. 8 I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches. 9 You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.
East Gate, we must LIVE and GIVE like it’s His!
The Lord wants to:
Move us from Timidity to Zeal
From Laziness to Purpose
From Pride to Honor
What do we mean by faith and finances?
Faith
The idea of belief, trust, seeing in the supernatural.
The biblical words also mean faithfulness, trustworthiness
Not just belief but reliable character—being consistent, especially under pressure or over time.
This is essential for thinking about how we show faith in our finances.
Faith pleases the LORD.
At the end of our lives, will He say He’s pleased with the work we gave Him and how we used our finances?
Did we have faith?
If God pulled up a sheet with how you spent, gave, and budgeted your money this past month, how would He feel? Would you feel?
How you spend your income is a picture of who your God is, who you love, and your future.
Stewardship: Live and Give like it’s His
Steward = oikonomos (Strong’s G3623): a household manager, not the owner.
“Who then is the faithful and wise manager (oikonomos) whom his master will set over his household?” Luke 12:42 (ESV)
GENEROSITY | IT'S NOT OURS ANYWAY
We recognize that every resource we've been given comes from our generous Father. We choose to be just like Dad, and give as He leads
Stewards are:
Zealous - There is a tenacity in their work.
Purposed - focused on the kingdom of God and eternity.
Honoring - they seek to please the one who sent them.
Some Historical Context
Believers in Jerusalem
Mostly Jewish believers experiencing severe poverty.
Overpopulation during feasts like Pentecost, when many new believers stayed (Acts 2:41–47).
Persecution: by becoming Christians, they likely faced discrimination and loss of livelihoods.
Famine: A historical famine that made matters worse
There was a great need and an opportunity to love God’s people.
The Macedonian believers - poor but generous
2 Corinthians 8:1–5 ESV We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.
For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.
The Corinthian church - were wealthy and stingy.
Ps 15: 1-5 Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Those who … honor the faithful followers of the Lord, and keep their promises even when it hurts. Such people will stand firm forever.
Current Cultural Moment
In 2024, $917 billion was spent on advertising. This is the world. That number represents the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. All that money to train us to believe we lack something.
Reality is 78% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck.
Enslaved to our desires, living in debt.
Always trying to appear richer than we are, meanwhile we’re poor.
The American way of life is broken.
The Good News!
9 You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.
This is the good news of Jesus.
Grace: the unmerited favor or love of God. We never could earn what He gave us.
Jesus is rich.
There’s nothing He needs. He knows no lack.
For your sakes He became poor.
Our sin keeps us from God. He is holy and perfect. And our sin was a great debt that we could never repay. and the penalty of our sin needed to be paid.
He was in Heaven and saw you in your darkest moments. And out of radical love for you He did this:
Philippians 2:6-11 NLT
“Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.”
By His poverty He could make you rich.
Listen, He paid that debt we could never repay with His own costly blood.
But He didn’t just clear our record. If you have Jesus you have the Treasure of Heaven. You’re already been made rich, by receiving God Himself into your hearts -
Giving
Why do we give?
Remember, He’s rich. We don’t give because God is in need, or is greedy, or is insecure.
But because we’re responding to His love.
Tithe is not giving away 10% to God, God’s letting us steward 90%”. If you belong to Jesus, 100% is his.
He wants us to live like Him - rich, yet completely invested.
Practical Advice || 5 Ways to begin TODAY
MEET WITH HIM IN THE SECRET PLACE
Make sure your finances please Him.
CREATE A BUDGET
Plan with the LORD for the next month,
Review with spouse or friend weekly.
Did we spend what we said we would?
OPERATE IN FAITH
Dream with Him for the next year, the next ten.
You need faith in Jesus in your finances, not 10 steps to become a millionaire.
CHOOSE ACCOUNTABILITY.
If cracks and damage were found on a pillar, the last thing you would do is cover it up with a nice curtain. Get help! Get it fixed!
CHOOSE YOUR INFLUENCES.
Listen to people that are doing it or have done it. Those who have pleased the LORD by the faith in their finances, that overcome debt, that lived on way less to radically give.
