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
[1]
You can read some stories at https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/shoebox-stories-index/,
and to get involved, go to https://www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/
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