July 31, 2023 | Be On Mission
Becoming a Cheerful Giver
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9(NIV)
1 There 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.
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:
“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;
their righteousness endures forever.”
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!
Devotional
In the previous chapter, Paul used the generosity of the Philippians in Macedonia to inspire the Corinthians in Achaia. Now he turns the table: “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” (v. 2). The Philippians had given first, but Paul says they were inspired to do so by the promises to give made by the Corinthians. Now, Paul was ready to collect on those promises!
In the midst of this discussion, Paul makes a theological statement concerning money: “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” (v. 11). Hmm. The purpose of money is not a luxurious lifestyle or even a leisurely lifestyle. Rather, God gives us money in order to be generous to others and give thanks to Him. Not exactly something you would expect to see in Money Magazine.
Speaking of which, Money Magazine listed Fishers, Indiana as the No. 1 best place to live in America in 2017 and No. 3 in 2019. Carmel was listed as No. 2 in 2018 and 2021. Their method of determining best places to live were things like good schools, a good economy, personal safety, low crime, and low unemployment. I’m not sure if they took into account rates of generosity.
Like ours, the city of Corinth was an affluent community. While there are poor people everywhere, most were doing quite well. Paul knew this. He simply reminded them, “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. 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” (v. 7-8).
Generosity is more a matter of the heart than the pocketbook or portfolio. How is God calling you to be generous with what He has given you?
Poem
Cheerful Giving
I love to laugh! I love to smile!
As offering plate comes down the aisle
A ha-ha joy comes from my lips
As envelope from fingers slips
The joy of giving, nothing beats!
Lay sacrifice at Jesus’ feet
What need be filled? Where will it go?
What grace from God will it bestow?
O, ha-ha-hee, excitement thus
When in God’s hand my gift I trust
