2 Corinthians 9:1–15 (NKJV)
1 Now concerning the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you; 2 for I know your willingness, about which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal has stirred up the majority. 3 Yet I have sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this respect, that, as I said, you may be ready; 4 lest if some Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we (not to mention you!) should be ashamed of this confident boasting. 5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation. 6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 9 As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.” 10 Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, 11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. 12 For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, 13 while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men, 14 and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
St. Paul continues his admonition about the special offering the Corinthians were gathering—or were supposed to be gathering—for the saints in Jerusalem. Again, we can apply his instructions to our own charitable offerings to other Christians in their time of need.
Give, because I know you’re willing. You said you were willing. I know you want to help your fellow Christians.
Give, because I’ve already boasted to others about your willingness and zeal to help, and I don’t want to be put to shame if I arrive and find that you were all talk and no action. Then I will appear to have deceived others about you.
Give, because I’ve already boasted to others about you, and I don’t want you to be put to shame. You said you wanted to help. How embarrassing it would be for you if your fellow Christians learned that you chose not to help them.
Give, not grudgingly, not out of a sense of obligation, but cheerfully, because God loves a cheerful giver.
Give, not sparingly, but generously, because God will bless you far beyond what you give, sometimes with physical blessings, but always with spiritual ones.
Give, because it supplies the needs of many, even beyond what you actually give, because God is able to multiply the little works that we do, even as Jesus once multiplied a few loaves of bread and a few fish to feed more than 5,000 people.
Give, because it results in thanksgiving to God as the recipients of your gift praise Him for working such love in you and for providing for them through you.
Let us pray: O Lord, increase in us the mind of Christ to keep us focused on fulfilling the needs of others, as You give us the means and the opportunity. Amen.
