GLORIOUS GIVING
2 Corinthians 9:1-15
INTRODUCTION: There is no giving that is so glorious as Godly giving. This section will show how such giving takes place when Paul reminds the church at Corinth that they had made a commitment nearly a year earlier, and had not followed though with it. In a very tactful, but also in a very firm way he is letting them know that much is at stake if they failed to be responsible to their word. It would affect the reputation of the church, of Paul, and of Christ.
Paul tells the church that he has three men coming to collect the gift, and then in effect tells them that there is no giving like Godly giving. Godly giving is glorious giving. In this study we will show, from our text, three things that characterizes the glorious giver.
I. THE GLORIOUS GIVER IS SENSITIVE TO THE NEED. (Vv. 1-5).
Paul wants to do right, and he wants the church at Corinth to do right. Paul is not questioning their willingness to do right; he just wants to make sure that they do not procrastinate doing what they had promised. The church at Jerusalem had needs and needed their needs met in a timely manner. Christians, having good character ought to be punctual in keeping their appointments and their promises, and this is what Paul is telling the church at Corinth.
A. He Is Sensitive With Purpose. (V.1).
"ministering to the saints"
The purpose that Paul had was to help the Church of Jerusalem. He was very sensitive to their needs, even though the church at Jerusalem could have been undeserving the entire concept of Grace giving allows one to give whether it is deserved or not.
1 John 3:17 SAYS, "But whoso hath this world?s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?"
This passage is an indictment against having a hard heart against a brother who is in need. When a brother is in need, those who are blessed in having the goods of this world should be sensitive to that need. This principle deals with the importance of being sensitive to the needs of others. Keep in mind that it is a principle, and that there are other principles in the word of God to be considered when helping others. When it is obvious that someone is under the chastening hand of God, it is inappropriate to offset what God is doing by helping undo what God might be doing. Being sensitive means that you are first sensitive to God.
B. He Is Sensitive Without Procrastination. (V.4).
"ye may be ready"
Paul wanted the church at Corinth to have more than good intentions. Someone said that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Serving God should have the same urgency as the clause, "Today is the day of salvation". The devil’s today is tomorrow. We have a wonderful opportunity to serve God today, with no promise of tomorrow. As we support our missionaries, and as we conduct our local ministries, we need to do it now; and keep on doing it until the Lord comes, or until it is our time to go.
So many think that any thing that they do for the Lord will only be rewarded in heaven, and that there are no earthly enjoyed benefits. John Calvin knew different:
"This harvest should be understood both in terms of the spiritual reward of eternal life and also referring to the earthly blessings with which God honours the beneficent. Not only in heaven does God reward the well- doing of the godly, but in this world as well."
C. He Is Sensitive By Being Prepared. (V.4-5).
" that the same might be ready"
In the case of what Paul is referring to in our text, he is exhorting the church to be ready for those collecting the money, and the gifts. He told them that if they were not prepared, that there would be a reason for their being ashamed for boasting of being ready when they actually were not.
Likewise, in regards to our mission giving, would it not be sad and shameful to tell our missionaries that we no longer can take care of them, because we have not properly prepared ourselves to be a blessing to them. Would it not be a poor testimony to the good name of this church to start dropping our missionaries? Thank God, we do not have to do this. Having studies like this, which prepare our hearts to give, is simply applying what Paul was referring to in this passage of Scripture.
II. THE GLORIOUS GIVER WILL SOW TO THE NEED. (Vv. 6-9).
When a farmer releases from his hand the precious seed, he does so with great anticipation of a bumper crop. For every one seed, which he drops, he expects much more in return. He understands in his humble way the law of sowing and reaping. This is a universal law that is necessary for healthy survival. In church giving, you do not need to fear releasing that which God has blessed you to hold. He will never bless the squeezed hand as he does the open hand. Bible Baptist Church has for fifty years been an open-handed church. May it continue to be so?
A. In Respect To The Law Of Sowing. (V. 6).
Paul takes the commonly understood law of sowing and reaping, and uses it to challenge the giving ministry of the church at Corinth. He wanted to impress upon their minds that they were investing in eternity. He wanted them to know that the returns will far exceed the investment. There are at least four principles that relate to this law.
1. The Principle of Investment: you reap only as you sow
If you fail to sow you obviously will not grow.
2. The Principle of Identity: you reap only what you sow.
This law applies to everything. If you plant hate then you will grow hatred. If you plant love you will reap love in return. The blessings or the curse will come back in like kind.
3. The Principle of Increase: you reap more than you sow.
This is the law that guarantees our survival. Churches across our land have closed their doors for the last time because they do not understand this law.
4. The Principle of Interval: you reap after you sow.
This is the law that demands faith and patience as you give.
B. In Respect To The Love Of Sowing. (V. 7).
Giving involves a Godly love. God loves a cheerful giver because He loves giving. Giving should never be done without one preparing his heart so that he can give in a loving way. When one gives this way he will find a joy that cannot be described. Notice the poet Carlyle describing a giving experience that took place when he was a little boy. Giving God’s way can be even better than what Carlyle describes, and can be repeated over and over again.
The poet Carlyle said that when he was a boy, a beggar came to the door when his parents were gone. On a youthful impulse, he rushed to his room, broke his piggy bank and gave the beggar all the money. He said that never before or since had he known such sheer happiness as came to him in that moment.
The more that one experiences the love of God, the more one will give in a cheerful manner. May every aspect of our giving be done in this manner.
C. In Respect To The Latitude Of Sowing. (Vv. 8,9).
God determines the latitude of our giving. When I say latitude, I am referring to the blessed potential that comes when God blesses. Be mindful that every commitment ought to be made to God, and through God. Every giving commitment should take in consideration that God is the supplier, because "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:"
If every time that you give you have calculated it, and you feel that you are able to do it. Why not give and give when you are not able to calculate how you are going to do it? Why not get alone with God, and find out what God wants you to do? Have you ever given in such a way that you appear to be taking a risk, but then you are impressed by God that that is exactly what you should I have found my greatest giving joy when I give this way, believing that God will supply. I give this way from time to time just to make sure that I do not get to the place that I am afraid to trust God. God has not once let me down.
III. THE GLORIOUS GIVER WILL BE SUPPLIED FOR THE NEED. (Vv. 10-15).
God is the supplier of our needs, so that we can meet the needs of others. Paul is showing that many good things are happening when you are cheerful, and not fearful in your giving. He is showing that many good things are happening when you are glad, and not sad or mad in your giving.
A. The Glorious Giver’s Need Will Be Supplied By The Generosity Of God. (Vv. 10-12).
The glorious giver has absolutely no reason to mistrust the goodness of God. God has shown His goodness to all in every way. The Book of Romans tells us that the goodness of God leadeth men to repentance. An it is the goodness of God that allows the seed to go to the sower as verse 10 tells us, "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".
The gift to be given, in our text, is referred to as seed. Seed has such a small beginning, yet has so much growth potential. The word "multiply" is used in verse 10 to illustrate this in a quantitative sense. As you support the giving ministries of Bible Baptist Church, you will find just how generous God is to the generous giver. May I please remind us, that we cannot out-give God.
B. The Glorious Giver’s Need Will Be Supplied By The Grace Of God. (Vv. 13-15).
Whether we deserve it or not, God will continue to be our strength and our portion because of His wonderful Amazing Grace. As we give, He will continue to give through us, and for us.
CONCLUSION: Just knowing that God loves a cheerful giver should be enough to inspire and challenge us to give, as we ought to. I trust that we will. May God bless you!
