Indescribable Gift Series

AMC, 04.09.2022

Theme: Indescribable Gift

Text: 2 Corinthians 9:1-15

The Lord is good and his love endures forever.

Happy Teachers’ Day!

St. Paul Having discussed in chapter 8, the principles of Christian giving, Now, he shares the promises that we can claim if we are faithful in our giving to God. He emphasizes giving generously, giving bountifully, and giving the indescribable gift. The true Christian life is connected with giving the self, the sources, and giving the priceless gift of salvation to all.

1. GIVE GENEROUSLY (2 Corinthians 9:1-11):

Naturally, we are tempted and more enthusiastic about getting, receiving, and retaining than giving. Paul remembered the words of our Lord Jesus Christ related to giving and recorded in his preaching saying, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ (Acts 20:35).

Solomon says, “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Paul exhorted the Church at Corinth to excel in giving to God (2 Corinthians 8:7).

Generously means Openhandedly, bigheartedly, kindly to the needy, to the missions, and to God and for his ministry. “The opportunity of a lifetime must be seized within the lifetime of the opportunity.” (Leonard Ravenhill).

God looks not at the quantity given, but at the quality of the giver! It is not HOW MUCH we give, but HOW we give! All giving should be "want to" not "have to!" (Austin Precepts).

The Christian gift of giving ought to be exercised as an act of worship with preparation, purpose, and joy. Giving that is reluctant or forced is not pleasing to God, "for God loves a cheerful giver” (Believers study Bible). Many are giving sorrowfully, they are induced to give by regard to public opinion, or by the stress of conscience (Hodge).

If the giving comes from a committed and happy heart, it also gives a happy heart which lengthens our life. God does not want a "percentage" of our hearts but he wants our whole hearts (1Kings 8:61, 2Kings 20:3, 1Chronicles 28:9).

A young man met Jesus and wanted to enter into the Kingdom of God. But he turned sorrowfully because he was asked to sell everything and give it to the poor. He would have given him bountifully and a hundredfold as per he promised (Matthew 19:21-22, 28-30). We know that God is not a debtor of any one (1 Chronicle 29:12-18).

Barclay says of this ancient Greek word autarkeia: “By it, they meant complete self-sufficiency. They meant a frame of mind which was completely independent of all outward things, and which carried the secret of happiness within itself. Contentment never comes from the possession of external things.” With this contentment, we can be the richest people in the world. A man might have the wealth of the richest man in the world, yet lack contentment. But if we have this contentment, it really does make us better off than the wealthiest people who don’t have it. (2 Corinthians 9) (Austin Precepts).

In Ghana, at the offering people dance as a part of African culture in religious, and spiritual worship. While music is played people bring offerings to the altar by dancing. The offering could go on for a long time because they are dancing all the way down the aisle. Interestingly, it's the only time in the service when they smile, when they're giving their money! (Brian Bell). Attitude is honored, and rewarded.

2. GIVE BOUNTIFULLY (2 Corinthians 9:7-12)

This is the secret to prosperity and success. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a CHEERFUL GIVER (2 Corinthians 9:6-7). ‘When a generous believer gives by faith and trust in God, with a desire to produce the greatest possible blessing, that person will receive that kind of a harvest of blessing (Proverbs 3:9, 10; 28:27; Malachi 3:10). God gives a return on the amount one invests with Him. (John MacArthur).

Precept Austin: Purposed (proaireo) means to decide ahead of time and thus means that each individual should make a pre-determination to give in contrast to giving by impulse or even worse under a sense of guilt or coercion! Purposed is in a perfect tense indicating the decision was made at the point in time in the past and is still in the person's mind and heart. Purposed is also in the middle voice, indicating each person initiates the action energized by the Spirit giving them the desire (Philippines 2:13), and then they participate in the act or process of giving.

A farmer sowing seed may feel he loses seed as it falls from his hand to the ground. He sows with weeping but the Psalmist ends the verse they will reap with joy (Psalm 126:5). The same way we may feel we are losing when we give. But the harvest brings joy. In the field of God, there is no draught, no locusts eating, no worms eating but gives a hundredfold return.