2 Corinthians chapter 9

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Protect your zeal for financial giving. Give generously and joyfully and freely. Ways we benefit from our own financial giving.

 


 

PROTECT YOUR ZEAL FOR FINANCIAL GIVING

SUMMARY: The believers in Corinth had lots of zeal for financial giving. However, Paul saw that was important to protect their zeal. He devised a safeguard. It was specific. We can do the same in our own lives.

 

VERSE 1. It is indeed unnecessary for me to write to you concerning the service to the saints,

 

VERSE 2. for I know your readiness, of which I boast on your behalf to those of Macedonia, that Achaia has been prepared for the past year. Your zeal has stirred up very many of them.

I know your readiness. The believers in Corinth were zealous about financial giving.

Your zeal has stirred up very many of them. Their zeal for financial giving had inspired other believers.

 

VERSE 3. But I have sent the brothers that our boasting on your behalf may not be in vain in this respect, that, just as I said, you may be prepared,

I have sent the brothers. Paul enacted a safeguard. It was a way to protect their zeal for financial giving. Paul made them accountable.

In our own lives, how can we protect our own zeal for financial giving? What sort of safeguard(s) might we enact?

One safeguard that comes to mind is to set up automatic recurring payments. That way, the transaction will occur each month even if we forget about it or have an off-moment where our zeal is less.

 

VERSE 4. lest by any means, if anyone from Macedonia comes there with me and finds you unprepared, we (to say nothing of you) would be disappointed in this confident boasting.

 

VERSE 5. I thought it necessary therefore to entreat the brothers that they would go before to you and arrange ahead of time the generous gift that you promised before, that the same might be ready as a matter of generosity, and not of greediness.

Regarding the safeguard that Paul set up to protect their zeal for financial giving, it involved planning. It was very specific.

If we devise a safeguard to protect our own zeal for financial giving, it should likewise be very specific.

 

GIVE GENEROUSLY AND JOYFULLY AND FREELY

SUMMARY: Our financial giving needs to be generous. Our motive needs to be our own joy. And we can be assured that God will take care of us. We can scatter our giving across many entities as well as the poor.

 

VERSE 6. Remember this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly. He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

KJV translation: But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from Second Corinthians.

This verse embodies “The Principle of Sowing and Reaping.”

he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly. If your financial giving is scant, you will probably experience only a scant amount of blessings in return.

He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. If your giving is generous, you will probably reap all sorts of generous blessings.

It is not that our financial giving “earns” God’s favor. Rather, God responds to the faith we manifest.

Sirach 35:10. Give to the Most High according as he has given; And as your hand has found, give with a good eye.

The Bible calls us to support the people who teach us in the faith. Read more »

 

VERSE 7. Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion. for God loves a cheerful giver.

KJV translation: Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from Second Corinthians.

This verse embodies “The Principle of Joy.”

People should not contribute out of obligation. Rather, God loves a cheerful giver. Read more »

The Bible calls us to support the people who teach us in the faith. Read more »

not grudgingly, or under compulsion. We are not to give out of an obligation-mindset. Nor are we to give if it makes us sad.

God loves a cheerful giver. Joy is the motive that pleases God.

cheerful. The Greek word is ἱλαρὸν (“hilaron”). It means joyous, cheerful. We’re to give with hilarity.

Sirach 35:9. In every gift show a cheerful countenance, And dedicate your tithe with gladness.

 

VERSE 8. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that you, always having all sufficiency in everything, may abound to every good work.

NIV translation: And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from Second Corinthians.

This verse embodies “The Principle of Reassurance.”

If we give financially, will we shortchange ourselves?

always having all sufficiency in everything. St. Paul says that God is able to make all grace abound to us, so that we will have what we need.

may abound to every good work. God’s generosity will provide for us abundantly.

The Bible calls us to support the people who teach us in the faith. Read more »

 

VERSE 9. As it is written, “He has scattered abroad. He has given to the poor. His righteousness remains forever.”

scattered abroad. It is wise to scatter one’s financial giving across several different entities.

he has given to the poor. Some believers say we should only give to churches. However, our financial giving must include the poor as well.

 

WAYS WE BENEFIT FROM OUR OWN FINANCIAL GIVING

SUMMARY: We give away money because God calls us to do it, and because it is the right thing to do. However, there are many benefits that come back to us.

 

VERSE 10. Now may he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, supply and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness,

If we give away our money, won’t we will have less? Maybe. Or maybe not.

supply … your seed for sowing. When we give away some of our money, God will supply us with even more.

multiply … your seed for sowing. We will end up with more money than if we had kept everything to ourselves.

increase the fruits of your righteousness. When we are engaged in generous financial giving, some of our internal blockages can be cleared and our own spiritual life can flourish in new ways.

 

VERSE 11. you being enriched in everything to all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us.

enriched in everything to all generosity. When we are engaged in generous financial giving, God will enrich us so that we can be generous on every occasion. That is the reverse of what we might imagine.

produces thanksgiving to God through us. People will be thankful to God for our generous giving.

The Bible calls us to support the people who teach us in the faith. Read more »

 

VERSE 12. For this service of giving that you perform not only makes up for lack among the saints, but abounds also through much giving of thanks to God,

makes up for lack among the saints. This is the obvious effect of our financial giving. It helps people with their financial shortcomings. However, this is not the only effect:

abounds also through many givings of thanks to God. The other benefit is that people will overflow with lots of expressions of thanks to God.

 

VERSE 13. seeing that through the proof given by this service, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the Good News of Christ and for the generosity of your contribution to them and to all,

seeing that through the proof given by this service. When we give money away, it attests to our faith in Christ. It is a kind of witnessing. It proves to others the reality of faith in Christ.

they glorify God. When we give money away, people will praise God for our actively living out our faith in Christ.

and for the liberality of your contribution. People will thank God for our generosity in sharing with them and with others.

 

VERSE 14. while they themselves also, with supplication on your behalf, yearn for you by reason of the exceeding grace of God in you.

with supplication on your behalf. When they pray for us.

yearn for you. Their hearts will go out to you.

by reason of the exceeding grace of God in you. They have beheld the surpassing grace that God has given you.

In other words, you now have a prayer-partner! The people who benefit from your financial giving will be praying for you.

 

VERSE 15. Now thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift!

These are remarkable benefits.

 


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2 CORINTHIANS

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