1There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the Lord’s people. 2 For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. 3 But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be. 4 For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to say anything about you—would be ashamed of having been so confident. 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.
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6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written:
10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
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By Fred Ursell
2nd Corinthians 9 : “grudgingly (v.5)
Giving is part and parcel of being a Christian. One saying of Jesus (interestingly not in the Gospels) is basic, “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20 v.35). But Scripture teaches us, on many aspects of life, that it’s not just what you do, but how you do it. Here’s another short dictum: “God loves a cheerful giver” (v.7). The very opposite attitude, cited to highlight the point, speaks about “a generous gift, not given grudgingly” (v.5).
It reminds us of Jesus’ remarks about folk donating hypocritically to get recognition for their charitableness (Matthew 6 vv.2-4). Makes you want to puke!
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READING
The Second letter of PAUL to the
CORINTHIANS - Chapter Nine
Read by David Suchet
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OVERVIEWS
The Second letter of PAUL to The
CORINTHIANS
Overview
“The Bible Project”
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STUDY - LINKS
The Letters of Paul to the Corinthians
David Pawson
2 CORINTHIANS 9
Dr Baruch Korman
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