First, God wants there to be fairness. 2 Corinthians 8:14 - "your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness." He doesn’t want one person to give and the other to only receive. He wants reciprocity. He wants both to work and meet the needs of others. Ephesians 4:28 - "Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need."

Hardships come, and when they do, then the church must step up. We are saints who love each other: our religion isn’t just talk. Christ’s love compels us to do good unto others. His commands form a new testament law. 1 John 3:16 - "By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers."

We give to support poor saints who’ve hit hard times, and we support the preaching of Christ. God gives stringent qualifications for widows, because the church support is not for the lazy and disobedient [1 Tim 5:3-16].

The church is not only a place to be served; it is a place to serve. Let us change our attitude, seeking not our own but the good of many.

Secondly, God puts it into our heart to care for others. 2 Corinthians 8:16 - "But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you." This is a gift of God’s grace; it is redemption in Christ.

Therefore, if I don’t have this generosity and service, then let me ask. Rather than stirring it up, which is impossible, and faking it in hypocrisy, let us come to God as greedy and selfish sinners who need his touch. He will forgive and cleanse. He’ll heal us through prayer. (This is the greatness of the gospel: we come to Christ in our time of need, and he helps us. He doesn’t condemn our lack, but he provides, so that we serve him truly.)

Grace, therefore, is glorified in our goodness. Let us never look upon our good deeds as if we are better than others. (“Oh, look at me, I serve. I’m zealous. Look at these lesser Christians. Let me think ill of them.”) Let us credit grace, so that our humility grows, rather than pride, self righteousness, and fodder for a fall. It is off putting to see holy men who’ve lost the sense of their sinfulness, as if they are better than Samson, Lot, or David. We are not better than Solomon! If we are generous, then thank God. If we have fallen, then thank God for restoring grace and get back up.

Thirdly, when grace works, then we are willing. 2 Corinthians 8:17 - "For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going to you of his own accord." Giving and service are not forced. They aren’t done by peer pressure. These are things that we want to do.

I don’t say, “If you don’t want to serve, then don’t.” I say, “Go get grace from the Fountain of Mercy, so you can do what is right.” Don’t be stingy, selfish, and say, “This is just how I am.” No, you must be born again and renewed daily. You and I must be changed, washed, and cleansed. We can’t stay how we are, and say, “The giants are too big for us.” No, not when we have Christ.

God is angry at unbelief, and the consequence for not entering the Promised Land is roaming in the wilderness in bitterness. We must obtain the promise of new life and take more territory. Like Caleb, we must take our mountain. Like his in law, we must get streams of water too. Joshua 15:19 - "She said to him, "Give me a blessing. Since you have given me the land of the Negeb, give me also springs of water." And he gave her the upper springs and the lower springs." Let none of us say, “I don’t have grace, so I will not seek it, and I will not give.”

Yet, when grace comes, there is a desire. There’s an earnestness: it is not for show. This is what the Master means by doing good works without compulsion and never to be seen by men; it arises in the heart. The healing touch of the Holy Spirit sanctifies the gift and the giver. It is not compulsory service to do away with guilt: we have Christ's blood for that; it is generosity, love, and faith in action. 1 Timothy 1:5 - "The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith." Paul says the end result of the gospel is love from a pure heart, and this is how we serve.