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God Loves Cheerful Giving - 2 Corinthians 9: 1 - 15

Tuesday, August 4 –

We are in 2 Corinthians as we are continuing our reading thru the New Testament in a year.  Today’s reading is from 9:1 – 15.  After you’ve read the passage, please come back.

 

Yesterday we made note that the two chapters, 8 & 9, are connected.  Paul had appealed to the Corinthians to finish the collection of money for the poor in Jerusalem.  He continues to point out that reminding them was “superfluous” (ESV).  Why did he say that?  “For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action” ( 9:2).
The Roman world was not known for its generosity, except among families.  If a commitment was made in public, but not followed through with, the name of the person and their indiscretion was made public. Is Paul putting pressure on them?  I don’t believe so.

Paul speaks of both privileges of giving and the responsibilities connected with it – “...I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be.  Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—for being so confident.  So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction” ( 9:3-5).  He is confident of their giving, but wants to make sure it’s collected before he gets there – otherwise, it would look like he was forcing them to give.  He is gentle but real – get it done before I arrive.

This now opens up prose on the nature of giving and lays our a godly pattern for how giving should take place  – “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (9:6-7).  What does giving look like when done in the right way, with the right motives?  “Each one” means we do it as an individual initiative without comparison to others.  “Each one” reminds us that we should participate in giving regardless of what others do – i.e., it’s intentional, not haphazard, or once in a while.  We participate as we are able, but we do so ungrudgingly – that is, not reluctantly.  Those ending words, “God loves a cheerful giver.” - the Greek word is “hilaros.”  Paul says God loves hilarious giving.  I cannot help but think of the African man dancing down the aisle to the offering plates!

Giving is a response to God.  Think about that.  Do we believe we can out-give God? Giving is a grace action – from God to others.  God’s sufficiency isn’t in question; our faith is.  “He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.  You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God” ( 9:10-11).  Does our giving produce thanksgiving? Paul says, “For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God” (9:12).    If we think of giving as worship, and a privilege to participate in God’s ministry, it should.  Giving generously, willingly, lovingly, “will glorify God” (9:13).  Giving is like the Gospel, an act of grace being given and grace being received. 

I cannot help but think of our annual commitment as a church to participate in “Operation Christmas Child.”  Every year, as a church, we fill up shoeboxes with toys, games, dolls, teddy bears, coloring books, markers and crayons, and any other age-appropriate Christmas gifts to give to kids.  We don’t know the kids, and most likely, never will.  Yet the testimonies that return always make my emotions rise within.  Kids who had never received gifts in their lives receive these shoeboxes with a great deal of joy.  All of the shoeboxes contain a gospel tract, and many of the children give their lives to Christ as a result.  I have read those stories many times, and they remind me that generosity isn’t just a nice thing or a duty we “should” do; instead, this kind of generosity is gospel-giving, and it feels so good to do.[1]

2nd Corinthians 8 & 9 are two practical gospel practicing chapters.  While many Christians do practice giving, it’s sad to see the statistics that many do not.  When we consider what God has given us, his Son, how can we not want to give also?  “...because of the surpassing grace of God upon you.  Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!” (9:14-15).  Don’t give until it hurts; give until it reminds you of Jesus.

 

Peace


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