“GOD (IS AND) LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER” (Outline)
September 17, 2023 – Pentecost 16 – 2 CORINTHIANS 9:6-11
INTRO.: In the verses before our text the Apostle Paul praised the believers at Corinth for their generosity. These believers took up a collection for the church in Jerusalem. They wanted to help poor believers in Jerusalem. Believers in Corinth had not met their fellow believers. Did not know them. It was faith that moved them to share their gifts of love with fellow believers. “What we received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we might know the blessings freely given to us by God” (1 CORINTHIANS 12:12). “GOD (IS AND) LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER.”
I. The Lord provides generously. II. Believers respond generously.
I. THE LORD PROVIDES GENEROUSLY.
A. Verse 8. “God is able to make all grace…in all things…at all times…having all that you need…”
1. The key word ALL emphasized the Lord’s generosity towards believers.
2. Believers lacked nothing. All the time the Lord provided all things for all that they needed.
3. The result was the believers “will overflow in every good work.” (More about this result later.)
B. Verse 9. Here the Apostle Paul quoted Psalm 112:9. The Lord scattered his seed.
1. The Lord provided for the poor. Generously. Freely out of divine love. Care. Concern.
2. God’s generosity was much more than physical. Spiritual: “righteousness remains forever.”
C. Verse 10. This earthly example explained the divine generosity of the Lord God of Armies.
1. The Lord provided seed to the sower. Provided bread for food. Multiplied the seed.
2. God gave a “harvest of righteousness.” Spiritual sowing. Growth. Harvest. Generous God.
D. As believers we know that our loving, heavenly Father provides for us. Daily blessings. Physical. Spiritual. Generously. This is the difference between children of the Lord and children of the world. The worldly feel they provided for themselves. Their efforts. Their earnings. They deserve. Such an attitude easily leads to hopelessness. Peoples’ plans often fail. Fall short of expectations. God’s children put their trust in the Lord God of Armies. Bold confidence. We have been given every good and perfect gift from the very hand of God. Scripture is filled with reminders of the Lord’s generosity. The familiar Psalm 23 begins with: “The Lord is my Shepherd, I lack nothing.” Our Shepherd provides all things, all the time, for all our needs! “My cup is overflowing. Surely goodness and mercy will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever” (PSALM 23:5b, 6).
E. We also know that the Lord God who created the heavens and the earth and everything in it provides for us supernaturally and naturally. The supernatural includes the miracles we enjoy every day. In truth, the natural provisions in our lives are also miracles. Life and breath. Planets, sun, and moon held in perfect positions in the universe. Job lost everything. Even all his children. Job still knew the Lord guided his ways for good. “He does great things that are beyond investigation, and miracles that are too many to be counted. He provides rain for the earth. He waters the fields in the countryside” (JOB 5:9, 10).
F. How greatly the Lord loves his creation. His creatures. We are formed from the dust of the earth. Given the breath of life. A soul. God’s children. Like children we disobey our loving, heavenly Father. All too often. We sin much. Daily. And the Lord? He forgives. More times than can be counted (see Gospel: MATT. 18:21-35). How can we truly appreciate such great love? Consider this short prayer. “I pray that you would be able to comprehend, along with all the saints, how wide and long and high and deep his love is…” (EPHESIANS 3:18). God’s Word reveals the depths of God’s great love.
“GOD (IS AND) LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER.” Our loving Lord generously provides all things.
II. BELIEVERS RESPOND GENEROUSLY.
A. Verse 6. Once again the earthly example of sowing. Harvesting. Easily understood.
1. God’s divine truths: Few seeds = small harvest. Generous sowing = abundant harvest.
2. Sowing, seed, bread, righteousness harvest point to spiritual. God’s Word is spread.
B. Verse 7. Another “new practice” for New Testament believers. Generous sowing from the heart.
1. The Old Testament law emphasized the tithe, ten (10) percent. Now heart determined.
2. Believers generously sowed (gave) “not reluctantly or under pressure”. Cheerful givers!
C. Verse 8. All grace is God’s undeserved love. “Overflow in every good work” is believers’ response.
1. Verses 9b, 10b. God’s righteousness and harvest of righteousness = generous, spiritual gifts.
2. Verse 11. “Made rich in every way…may be generous in every way…” Especially spiritual.
3. God’s generosity moved these believers to be generous. “Produces thanksgiving to God…”
D. Did you notice a word not mentioned when generosity is often discussed? Generosity and giving all too often limit the discussion to money. The word money is not used in this section. What the believers at Corinth gave of was themselves. Paul mentioned this fact earlier. The Lord’s generosity moves each one of us to be generous. Generous with the gifts God has given to us. (We may include monetary gifts.) God’s generosity includes much more than that. The Lord has blessed us with spiritual gifts. “If it is serving, then serve. If it is teaching, then teach. If it is encouraging, then encourage. If it is contributing, be generous. If it is leadership, be diligent. If it is showing mercy, do it cheerfully” (ROMANS 12:7, 8). In our society today encouraging might be at the top of our list. Many people are discouraged. Fearful. Hopeless. Dear Christian you know God is generous. Our sins are freely forgiven. GENEROUS! Our loving, heavenly Father gives us peace. We can share it with others. God is our hope. Strength. JOY!
E. Each of us ought to readily admit that in our country we are “over-blessed”. We have almost too many earthly blessings. Not a single one of us is lacking. Like so many others we have extra stuff stored in many various places. The Lord God reminds us that godliness and contentment go hand-in-hand. The love of money is the root of evil. Earthly wealth does not last. May we always focus on God’s generous spiritual gifts he freely gives us. Gives us to be generous with them for others. “Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and willing to share” (1 TIMOTHY 6:18). Generosity.
F. Our sinful nature is selfish. We love to have things just for ourselves. Ponder our Father’s divine generosity. The Lord sent his only Son to take on human flesh here on earth. To die on the cross. Be buried. Rise again. All this in order to perfectly pay for our sins. And the sins of the world. Another short, valuable prayer. “And may the Lord increase your love and make it overflow for each other and for all people, just as ours does for you…” (1 THESSALONIANS 3:12). Lord, help us to love all people.
CONCL.: Is God generous? YES! Oh, that we would learn to value just “how wide and long and high and deep his love is…” We grow to understand God’s great love for us every day. In every way. Then we also respond with generosity. Generous with God’s Word of truth for those still in darkness. “And my God will fully supply your every need, according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever! Amen” (PHILIPPIANS 4:19, 20). “GOD (IS AND) LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER.” Our perfect, loving heavenly is very generous so that we too will want to be very generous. Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
PENTECOST 16 rdgs: GENESIS 50:15-21; EPHESIANS 4:29-5:2; MATT. 18:21-35; (PSALM 103)
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