2 Corinthians 9:1-15 - God’s Indescribable Gift

2 Corinthians 9:1-15 

Administering the Gift

1 Now concerning the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you; 2 for I know your willingness, about which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal has stirred up the majority. 3 Yet I have sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this respect, that, as I said, you may be ready; 4 lest if some Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we (not to mention you!) should be ashamed of this confident boasting. 5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation.

The Cheerful Giver

6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 9 As it is written:

“He has dispersed abroad,
He has given to the poor;
His righteousness endures forever.”

10 Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, 11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. 12 For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, 13 while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men, 14 and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

God’s indescribable gift of grace in salvation is what drives giving to meet urgent needs!  As Paul reminded the church in Corinth, their zeal and willingness to help stirred up many more  to do the same for others.  Giving for the right reason is contagious.  They gave because Christ first gave Himself and loved them just as He does for us; do we then give with such abandon in excitement and without having to be talked into it?  These givers were so driven by the love of Christ in thankfulness that they were the apostle’s boast to others as an example of how we ought to live and give (Matthew 10:8, Romans 8:32).  May we be so grateful that our willingness and generosity are also well known to God and to others for and example and not for a reward of our own boasting.  This is why Paul sent Titus and the others ahead of him to take up the offering on his way to meet the needs in Jerusalem, to give them ample time to consider and plan that the gift may be in hand to take with him without delay to meet the urgency of the need.  Today we imitate this with special campaigns in our assemblies to be able to give a greater gift all at once instead of trickling the gifts when the need of great and cannot wait.  Either way, the giving is always to be a free offering of generous giving and not a grudging obligation as it is written here.  A truly cheerful giver sows in abundance to reap great rewards in heaven through those ministered to here on earth.  God desires and loves such cheerful givers and not those who check a box or feel they have to give to keep up appearances or earn points with God and others in the church.  When we generously give from our hearts we find God’s grace more than meeting our own needs as a consequence and not a payment for our giving, just as He gives to we poor sinners and then equips us with the seed of His word to sow (Isaiah 55:10-11, Luke 8:11) in the world.  This seed meets the need of the soul as our monetary gifts sow sustenance of the body and is even more critical to thankful giving and receiving God’s grace.  He gives us more to give more that many needs are met if we remain faithful to join Him in this work and yields fruits of righteousness in us and them.  We meet the needs of the saints (all believers) that thanks may abound to God through Christ in our labors as we respond to the life changing gospel in each of us which drives our zeal to share liberally with others.  This meeting of needs also drive our prayers of thanksgiving for the grace of God in the work of Jesus Christ who makes us accepted and acceptable in Himself and His work.  Yes, we echo the praise here that says, “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” as we meet the needs of others as He does ours.