SSL 12 - 2 Cor. 9:1-15
Prayers & Announcements
Last Week: We covered 2 Cor. 5:16-21; 6:1-2 on the theme of the New Covenant ministry of reconciliation. We learned that there are three essential elements to the work of reconciliation, which are: 1. We must accurately understand what has gone wrong between people, God, and creation. If we truly don't understand the ills of the world, then we can't bring genuine reconciliation any amore than an ambassador can effectively represent one country to another without knowing what's going on in both. From this viewpoint (how God see it), "ill" means sin bondage and eternal separation from God-in short, the world God created has fallen. 2. We must love other people and work to benefit them rather than judge them. If we condemn people in our workplaces or withdraw from the daily places of life and work, we are regarding people from a human point of view, i.e., "according to the flesh." If we love the people we work among and try to improve our work-places, products, and services, then we become agents of Christ's reconciliation. 3. Being the seeds of God's new creation, requires, very clearly, that we remain in constant fellowship with Christ. If we do these things, we will be able to bring Christ's power to reconcile the people, organizations, places, and things of the world so that they too can become members of God's new creation.
This Week: We move to 2 Cor. 9:1-15 on the topic of Giving. Paul's original reason for bringing up this topic was a severe famine that swept across Judea in the late-40s A.D that left Christians in Jerusalem facing potential starvation. Previously, the leaders of the Jerusalem church, James, Peter, and John had sent Paul a appeal "to remember the poor" (Gal. 2:9-10). In response, Paul contacted the various churches to encourage benevolence offerings for the Jerusalem Christians. He originally presented this request to the Corinthian church in his first letter to them (1 Cor. 16:1-3), and in today's lesson he reaches out to them again.
Read 2 Cor. 9:1-5 - God Gives Most
For it is superfluous for me to write to you about this ministry to the saints; 2 for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the Macedonians, namely, that Achaia has been prepared since last year, and your zeal has stirred up most of them. 3 But I have sent the brethren, in order that our boasting about you may not be made empty in this case, so that, as I was saying, you may be prepared; 4 otherwise if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we-not to speak of you-will be put to shame by this confidence. 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brethren that they would go on ahead to you and arrange beforehand your previously promised bountiful gift, so that the same would be ready as a bountiful gift and not affected by covetousness.
Note: The stress between Paul and the Corinthian church, most likely fostered by the negative influence of the false teachers there, had apparently halted efforts to take up the collection for Jerusalem. In chapter 8, Paul renewed his appeal by citing the generosity the Macedonian churches had shown toward the Christians in Jerusalem, then he reaffirmed his appeal to the Corinthians in this effort and informed them that Titus and two others would be coming to Corinth to collect it. I'm going to cover the first five verses quickly so we can focus on the heart of the lesson in vv. 6-15.
vv. 1-2: "For it is superfluous for me to write to you about this ministry to the saints; 2 for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the Macedonians, namely, that Achaia has been prepared since last year, and your zeal has stirred up most of them." - Seems that Paul is using a shade of sarcasm here. He's basically saying that he knew he doesn't really need to remind them of the collection because he's sure that they were already in the process of putting it together.
vv. 3-5: "But I have sent the brethren, in order that our boasting about you may not be made empty in this case, so that, as I was saying, you may be prepared;4 otherwise if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we-not to speak of you-will be put to shame by this confidence. 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brethren that they would go on ahead to you and arrange beforehand your previously promised bountiful gift, so that the same would be ready as a bountiful gift and not affected by covetousness." - Paul continues the sarcasm here. He's saying I'm so confident that you will deliver the offering that I'm sending Titus and two brethren to get it. The comment about the Macedonians finding them "unprepared" was obviously intended as an incentive. Despite all this, Paul's last statement, "a bountiful gift not affected by covetousness," showed that he was very concerned that their giving should be an act of generosity rather something done out of reluctant sense of obligation. The biblical idea of "generosity" has much more to do with attitude than the amount given.
Read 2 Cor. 9:6-7 - Sow Bountifully and Reap Bountifully
6 Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
v. 6: "Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully" - This verse alludes to Prov. 11:24, which states: 24 There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, And there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want. Paul states a principle that would be obvious to any farmer or gardener. A person who measures seed too sparingly will likely go hungry when winter comes. Stingy people, in the end, will suffer a penalty for their uncaring attitude. Restraint can be good or bad, depending on how it's applied. Certainly, we should be good stewards of the financial resources God provides; however, there are times when we should act on faith and extend ourselves-it's a judgment call. When Paul tells us the person "who sows bountifully will reap bountifully," he's means that a person who gives generously is likely to receive generosity in return. In saying this, Paul is trying to counter Corinthian objections-i.e., we can't afford to make a large offering-by telling them if they give generously, they can expect to receive generous blessings (from God) in return.
v. 7: "Each one must dojust as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver" - Paul mentioned earlier that the Macedonian churches gave generously "of their own accord in spite of their poverty" (2 Cor. 8:3). Now he is asking the more prosperous Corinthians to give in the same spirit. In this respect, he tells them not to be unhappy (grudgingly) when they part with their money-or doing it only because they felt pressured into it (under compulsion). The phrase, "God loves a cheerful giver" (Gr. hilaros = hilarious/joyful) comes from the Greek translation of Prov. 22:8, which is missing from the original Hebrew version and thus doesn't appear in English language translations (it's not in your Bible), and except for Paul's inclusion here, nobody would have ever heard it. It's easy to be a cheerful giver because that's the kind of giving that comes from the heart. And joy-it's contagious, isn't it? We all love a cheerful giver, whatever they're giving. We even love cheerful people when they aren't giving anything.
Read 2 Cor. 9:8-9 - God's Grace Abound to You
8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; 9 as it is written, "HE SCATTERED ABROAD, HE GAVE TO THE POOR, HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ENDURES FOREVER."
v. 8: "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed" - Greek word for "grace," charis, means something that's not earned but received as a free gift, from God in this case. In this sense, Paul wants to encourage the Corinthians by presenting them with a picture of God's overflowing grace. The Greek word used here for "sufficiency," artarkeia, has a dual meaning (1) sufficiency in material needs like food and clothing as well as (2) the genuine contentment (a fruit) that comes from living a Christ-centered life. So, as we give, we can be confident that God will reward our giving, materially and spiritually. As to "an abundance for every good deed," Paul is reminding us that we will be blessed so that we can be a blessing to others. The point is that God expects us to be conduits of His blessings, not merely containers that hold them.
v. 9: "as it is written, "HE SCATTERED ABROAD, HE GAVE TOTHE POOR, HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ENDURES FOREVER." - Here, Paul quotes Ps. 112:9. Interestingly, the phrase, "HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ENDURES FOREVER," a common OT reference to Yahweh, in this instance refers to the man who scattered abroad. Paul used this Psalm to show the Corinthians an illustration of a man who has right standing with God, and with it, he's suggesting that the good words of this Psalm could apply to them, too.
Read 2 Cor. 9:10-15 - Thanksgiving to God
10 Now 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 everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God. 13 Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all, 14 while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you.15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
v. 10: "Now 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" - This is nearly an exact quotation of Isa. 55:10. God, of course, supplied the seed and the bread that comes from it. He's the great supplier of everything; the same God who also gave His only Begotten Son to die for us. Paul's obvious point is to remind the Corinthians of the great generosity God had shown them in the past, which begs the unsaid question: should they expect it to continue?
vv. 11-12: "you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God.12 For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God." - Paul spoke earlier about the great joy of giving experienced by Macedonians despite their poverty (2 Cor. 8:2) and presents this vision to the Corinthians of receiving similar blessings if they contribute generously. When Paul says, "through us," he means he's in this with them, a partner. The "saints in v. 12 refers to the Jerusalem Christians. In this verse, Paul makes two important points: (1) Their offering would serve the physical needs of the Jerusalem Christians, for whom it was intended. The situation there was truly desperate, and the offering would allow them to buy imported food. (2) More importantly, he emphasized that the recipients will give thanks and praise to God for it, which means that the gift to the Jerusalem Christians was also a gift to God.
v. 13: "Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for yourobedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all" - The Jerusalem Christians would certainly see the generosity of the Corinthians as proof of several things: (1) their faith in giving, (2) their agape love of others, and (3) a bond of Christian brotherhood felt between a largely Gentile church toward one composed of Jews. The phrase, "they will glorify God," repeats the idea of v. 12 that the offering to them would also be a gift to God. Using the phrase, "your confession of the gospel and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all," Paul points out that the Corinthians believers not only have a shared profession of faith with the Jerusalem Christians but that their generosity in giving will also show their obedience to the spirit of this shared gospel.
vv. 14-15: " while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" - By this, Paul is telling the Corinthians that the "yearning" of the Jerusalem Christians won't be focused on the financial assistance they have received but on the tremendous grace shown to them by the donor Christians. The term, "surpassing grace in the Greek (hyperballo) literally translates to grace beyond our imaginations, so great that we can't comprehend it. Finally, Paul thanks God for his indescribable (Gr. anekdiegetos = Lit., something that cannot be described in mere words) gift! While the gift to the Jerusalem Christians would be wonderful, even life-saving, God's indescribable gift must be something far greater, do you agree? What might that gift be? (1) the fact that God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (Jn. 3:16); or (2) the fact that the Son, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Phil. 2:5-8); or (3) the fact that, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand (Rom. 5:1-2a). I could go on, but I think you get the point. Amen?
APPLICATION-principles for Giving on Faith:
1. Certainly, we should be good stewards of the financial resources God provides, but there are times when we should act on faith and stretch ourselves. Scripture tells us that a person "who sows bountifully will reap bountifully," which means if we're generous in our giving, we are assured that God will give us His generous blessings (in some form) in return.
2. We experience good feelings-true pleasure-when we give on faith. It's easy to be a cheerful giver because that's the kind of giving that comes from the heart. And joy-it's contagious, isn't it? We all love a cheerful giver, whatever they're giving.
3. When we are blessed, both materially and spiritually, God expects us to be conduits of His blessings, not merely containers that hold them. When Paul tells us that God will provide "an abundance for every good deed" (v.8), he's reminding us that God blesses us for the purpose of equipping us to be a blessing to others.
4. Giving on faith to others in need is also a "thanksgiving" (v. 12) gift to God Himself. When we stretch ourselves to give in faith to others in need, we accomplish two things: (1) we help those who receive our financial assistance, and (2) also make a simultaneous gift of thanksgiving to God.
5. No matter how much we give to others, we are still indebted to God for His "indescribable" gift to us. While giving on faith to others can provide life-saving benefits to them, God's indescribable gift to us is something far greater. He showed us "indescribable" love by sending His only son to save us from the bondage of sin and offer us eternal life in heaven with Him, a gift of immeasurable value.
