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CHAPTER 9 (ESV)
6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written,
“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.”
10 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. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!
REFLECTION:
- God gave His Son because he “so loved the world”. There is no higher motive for Christian giving than the example God set for us when he gave His only Son. Can we give like He did – freely and sacrificially, even delightfully? Yes, in fact, Corinthian church is one fine example. It was to that church that Paul wrote of the highest motive for giving. Our money is an extension of ourselves, he argued. If the money we give isn’t delightfully given, it’s because we aren’t delightful givers. The only way we’re going to give delightfully is to give out of LOVE. Any other motive leaves one joyless. In the long run, joyless giving does little good for Christ’s kingdom – and nothing for us (see 1 Cor 13:3)
- Paul reminded the Corinthians and us of the blessings that make Christians giving such a joy. (1) Giving benefits us materially and spiritually. (vv8, 10) (2) Giving permits us to bless others.(vv11,12) (3) Giving stimulates others to pray for us.(vv13, 14)
- Do I give compulsively or with careful planning? Am I a joyful giver, or a reluctant one? Have I received the blessings Paul talked about? In all the causes that I donate, is there a need for adjustment?
PRAYER:
Stay with God for a little longer. Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me. Then write down any thought and/or prayer.
