The Gift that Keeps on Giving!

2 Corinthians 9:6-8,15 Generosity Encouraged

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. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift.

Paul closes his teaching on giving with the following verses.  He has already told the Corinthians how anxious he was to collect the offering they had set aside for the church in Jerusalem. Paul even sent people in advance so that when he got there with the Macedonians they would be ready  He jokes with them a little saying, "I have already been bragging about you to the other churches, so you better come through!" 

But one of the reasons he wants them to be prepared is that he doesn't want them to give under compulsion or obligation.  It is really important for Paul not only that they follow through on their pledge but do it with the right motivation. It is important to Paul because the heart they give with is as important as the amount.  God loves a cheerful giver. Why?  Because God doesn't necessarily need our gifts, He wants us.  We never have to worry about "outgiving God".  

And then Paul gives a precious promise.  "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." We call this an abundance mentality.  A scarcity mentality is characterized by "hoarding" and always being worried that there won't be enough.  It leads to miserly giving and no element of faith or trusting in God's provision.  Yet the one who gives generously, joyfully and freely is given a promise God that they will always have enough.  God always funds what God wants to get done.  As we trust in God with our resources, God replenishes them in many ways, not always materially.  

Finally, Paul gives us the motivation of all of our giving.  God is the ultimate gift giver.  God's generous and gracious nature is show in the sending of His Son.  Paul calls it the "indescribable gift".  It is indescribable because it comes in the form of Himself and gives us not only abundant life on earth but life everlasting.  

Charles Spurgeon gives us great quote about the nature of preaching about God's indescribable gift, Jesus Christ.  

“If you preach Christ, you will never run short. If you have preached ten thousand sermons about Christ, you have not left the shore; you are not out in the deep sea yet. Dive, my brother! With splendour of thought, plunge into the great mystery of free grace and dying love; and when you have dived the farthest, you will perceive that you are as far off the bottom as when you first touched the surface.” (Spurgeon)