2 Corinthians 9:1-15
Q.1. Why had Paul taken steps to gather a gift from the Corinthian church? What principles did he share about giving to God’s work? – (2 Cor.9:1-7)
The Macedonian churches had given sacrificially to support Paul’s mission (2 Cor.8:1-5). Paul had boasted that the Corinthian church would do likewise. To ensure that there would be no embarrassment to him and them, Paul had taken steps to send brethren to organise the previously promised gift (2 Cor.9:1-5). He laid down some principles in giving to God’s work – 6 Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor.9:6-7):(i) God’s provision for us is directly related to how generously we give (2 Cor.9:6).(ii) We should do whatever we determined, and not change our minds.(iii) we should give – not grudgingly or under compulsion (2 Cor.9:7).(iv) we should be happy about giving, and about how much we give – for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor.9:7).God’s generosity to us is best defined by His giving – You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich (2 Cor.8:9).
Q.2. What happens when we give cheerfully? What kind of harvest can we expect from our giving? To whom will these rewards be attractive? – (2 Cor.9:7-15)
Generous giving gladdens the heart of God and reflects His heart for lost sinners. Giving is not to be understood in terms of a magic formula or a ‘prosperity doctrine’. However, we are promised that – God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed (2 Cor.9:8). Paul referred to the example of the righteous man in Psalm 112:9, who is generous to the poor and is blessed in return (2 Cor.9:9 c.f. Ps.112:1-9). Paul suggested that it is hard to compute how much God blesses the giving of His people. The bottom line is that we will have enough for ourselves, while at the same time spreading gladness around (2 Cor.9:10-11). Giving supplies the needs of the saints and furnishes convincing proof of the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (2 Cor.9:12-13). Paul also wrote that such gifts bring about unity in the churches and a yearning for fellowship (2 Cor.9:14). Paul summed up – Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift (2 Cor.9:15). God is our example in giving, and the desire to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ, is to be our motivation for our giving.