Daily Bread 2010 - 2 Corinthians 9
Sowing Generously
6Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9As it is written:
"He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever." 10Now 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. 11You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
The context of this passage is that Paul is encouraging the Corinthians to make good on the pledges they had made financially to help the church in Jerusalem. Paul had made a big deal of their generosity and now he wanted to make sure he hadn’t boasted about them in vain.
And then in the paragraph above Paul lays out some principles for giving that are among the finest in the New Testament. I believer every church stewardship campaign should be about teaching these principles on giving God’s way. First Paul says to think about what you are going to give. It should be a flippant decision but a thoughtful one.
Importantly God wants us to give freely not under guilt or manipulation or under a sense of obligation. In essence, God doesn’t need our gift but gives us the opportunity to fund that which is of eternal significance. God wants us to give cheerfully knowing that He will bless our giving and continue to make His grace abound to us in all ways, including financially.
God gives us an incredible promise, he says he will increase our capacity to give as we give faithfully, generously and consistently. We can take that promise to the bank.
Jesus thank you for all the gifts you give us especially the gift of your grace. Help us to use the gifts you have given us to bless others and provide for them in their time of need as you have provided for us in our time of need. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
6Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9As it is written:
"He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever." 10Now 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. 11You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
The context of this passage is that Paul is encouraging the Corinthians to make good on the pledges they had made financially to help the church in Jerusalem. Paul had made a big deal of their generosity and now he wanted to make sure he hadn’t boasted about them in vain.
And then in the paragraph above Paul lays out some principles for giving that are among the finest in the New Testament. I believer every church stewardship campaign should be about teaching these principles on giving God’s way. First Paul says to think about what you are going to give. It should be a flippant decision but a thoughtful one.
Importantly God wants us to give freely not under guilt or manipulation or under a sense of obligation. In essence, God doesn’t need our gift but gives us the opportunity to fund that which is of eternal significance. God wants us to give cheerfully knowing that He will bless our giving and continue to make His grace abound to us in all ways, including financially.
God gives us an incredible promise, he says he will increase our capacity to give as we give faithfully, generously and consistently. We can take that promise to the bank.
Jesus thank you for all the gifts you give us especially the gift of your grace. Help us to use the gifts you have given us to bless others and provide for them in their time of need as you have provided for us in our time of need. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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