Sunday School August 20th, 2006 2nd Corinthians 9(3-15)
2nd Corinthians 9:3 Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready: 9:4 Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting. 9:5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up before hand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.
Giving to the poor
This lesson is a continuation of last week’s story. Paul is informing the Corinthian church that he is sending emissaries to the church to makes sure they have collected the gift they had pledged earlier. Paul had bragged upon these folks and he didn’t want to see them, or himself, shamed. Notice he didn’t wait till he arrived and beg for money; he wants the money already collected and ready. Begging has never been God’s way of raising money. God’s people should be willing participants in charity as we will see clearer below.
9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
The immutable law of giving and receiving
I am surprised how many people have never heard of the different laws of Scripture. I think the reason they haven’t heard of this one is because they don’t have the faith to observe it. Jesus uses a natural occurrence to illustrate a Spiritual truth. It actually is a very simple lesson. The amount of corn a farmer receives at harvest is tied to the amount of seed that he has sown in his fields. A farmer that plants a small amount of seed should expect a small harvest. A farmer who plants a large amount of seed should expect a bountiful harvest. God has promised the same principle will apply in the Spiritual realm. The principle is given also in Luke 6:38 “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” The key to receiving is giving. The only thing I caution you about is that this law is not an investment program. You get because you gave, but you cannot give so you can receive. The word translated “give” means to grant or supply someone with a benefit without cost or expectation of remuneration. If you are giving to receive; it is not a gift.
9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
Some things to remember when giving
The Bible here teaches us some important facets about giving. Let me list those included int his verse:
- Every man is to give. We cannot give the same amount, but I believe that all of us can give something. There may be times when someone is homeless or destitute that this doesn’t apply, but most of the time, we all can give something. Those whom God has blessed richly should give richly. Those who are not so fortunate should give what they can. When this principle is observed the church will prosper and no one will suffer lack.
- As he purposeth in his heart. The word purposeth means to bring forth from one’s own store. I have heard of churches encouraging folks to borrow money to give to a project for the church. I would never recommend this. The way to give is to give as one receives. The money should be paid from that which you have in store, or in abundance. Charity should not bankrupt the giver.
- Not grudgingly. The word “grudgingly” means with sorrow, pain, grief, annoyance, or affliction. Simply, if the amount you are giving causes you to be angry or annoyed; keep it. God only wants offerings that are given cheerfully. A gift that is resented is not given in thanksgiving or faith.
- Of necessity. The word translated necessity means by force, coercion, entreaty, or undue pressure of someone in authority. It is not the job of the Pastor to beg the church for money. I believe it is his job to teach that the Bible instructs Christians to give to furnish the church, but he shouldn’t have to plead or threaten to make ends meet in the house of God. Those who are truly born again will have a desire to help the church with finances. By the way, I think the church house should be among the nicest buildings in the community when possible. People who drive by should see your love and devotion towards God demonstrated in your upkeep of His house.
- God loves a cheerful giver. The phrase means a given with a cheerful countenance or expression on their face. If you can give with a smile God loves you and I think I can be safe in saying that you love God. If you give to get recognition or thanks then you already have your reward. If you give out of a grateful heart; then God apparently dwells in your heart.
9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 9:9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
Your needs met
The good thing to remember about giving is that God has promised to provide for the needs of the giver and those who receive. The old folks used to say “you can’t out give God.” They understood that God would bless the cheerful, generous giver. He would make sure they had “sufficiency in all things.”
9:10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)9:11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. 9:12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
God will reward the giver
Who provides seed to the farmer? God! Who provides bread for the needy? God! If you are faithful to give and you are a sower, God will provide you bread to eat and seed to sow. God will place resources in the hand of the generous. He does not waste His provision, but trusts those who will share with the less fortunate. With this method God provides for the needy and rewards the faithful. It is an immutable principle of God. The question to you is which position do you want to maintain? Do you want to be a giver or one in need?
9:13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men; 9:14 And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.
2 more benefits
There are two more benefits of being generous. Those who receive your gifts will glorify God because of your good heart and they will pray for you because they are grateful for your kindness. God desires praise; He will be pleased if your actions reveal His love in your heart and it leads to Him receiving praise from more folks. Having people praying for you because they have witnessed your Christian attitude can never be a bad thing. God may honor their prayer and send a special blessing your way. God seems to respect those “little ones” and honors their desires.
9:15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
Greatest gift of all time
The Apostle Paul ends this dissertation with a wonderful reminder of a reason to give. You are only repaying in a very small way what God has done for you. You may give a tremendous amount and supply a gigantic need, but God gave better than you! What is the greatest gift of all time? The answer is here: John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” God gave the best He had; His only Son to an unworthy, rebellious creation that we might live. No doubt, it is the greatest gift in the history of the universe. If you want to witness love; look at Calvary. It is at Calvary where unmerited love is pictured in its purity. 1st John 4:10 “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” It is a gift too wonderful for words!
New Living Translation (recommended as a commentary only)
3 But I am sending these brothers just to be sure that you really are ready, as I told them you would be, with your money all collected. I don’t want it to turn out that I was wrong in my boasting about you. 4 I would be humiliated—and so would you—if some Macedonian Christians came with me, only to find that you still weren’t ready after all I had told them! 5 So I thought I should send these brothers ahead of me to make sure the gift you promised is ready. But I want it to be a willing gift, not one given under pressure.
6 Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7 You must each make up your own mind as to how much you should give. Don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves the person who gives cheerfully. 8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 9 As the Scriptures say, “Godly people give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will never be forgotten.”10 For God is the one who gives seed to the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will give you many opportunities to do good, and he will produce a great harvest of generosity in you. 11 Yes, you will be enriched so that you can give even more generously. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will break out in thanksgiving to God. 12 So two good things will happen—the needs of the Christians in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanksgiving to God. 13 You will be glorifying God through your generous gifts. For your generosity to them will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. 14 And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the wonderful grace of God shown through you. 15 Thank God for his Son—a gift too wonderful for words!
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PASTOR RICK BARCUS
