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The Indescribable Gift
2 Corinthians 9
Pastor Tom Fuller
Last week we looked at 2 Corinthians 8 and learned about why we should give. We learned that giving is a privilege, that it is to the Lord that we give, and that it is part of the maturing process as a Christian, that although there is no command to give, it should come as a result of our love for God.
This week we’re going to talk about the how of giving – what character should our giving take, and what are the results of our giving?
Paul starts by telling the Corinthians that he shouldn’t really even have to write them about the gift they were preparing, but somehow got neglected. And it’s true – giving should be a natural part of the redeemed soul – but as Peter said:
2 Peter 1:12-13 So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. 13 I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body,
9:1 There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the saints. 2 For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action.
At the beginning of chapter 8 Paul goes on and on about how generous the Macedonians have been – now he turns the tables and turns it up a notch – saying “I’ve already told them how generous you are” and that got them to give.
Do you get the feeling that Paul wants this gift to happen or what? It’s an interesting fund raising technique. I find it refreshing, however, that Paul is not raising money for a new building, or a new ministry – he is raising money to go directly to help feel hungry and impoverished Christians in Jerusalem.
But Paul doesn’t let words alone work – there has to be action accompanying those words – so he says “I’m going to let you put your money where your mouth is:”
3 But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be. 4 For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we-not to say anything about you-would be ashamed of having been so confident. 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.
“I don’t want to pry it out of your hands” in other words. The two interesting words here are “generous” and “grudgingly.” Grudgingly in the King James is “covetousness”. The idea is to desire something that is another’s – or to hold on to something.
The Revised Standard translates the word “extortion.” The idea here is to not pay your debts. Paul may have been concerned that the Corinthians were big on words – but short on action when it came to follow through on their gift.
This is important for us as well. Do you follow through on your promises? Are you a man or woman of your word? Or do you make promises to do certain things so you can look good, but then back out when it comes time to deliver?
I’m not just talking about money here either – did you promise to pray for someone and then just forget? Did you say you would help someone and then just conveniently not show up or say “well, I guess the Lord didn’t want me to do it after all.” The principal at work here is: if you say you are going to do something, follow through – because the Lord is watching, and counting. Look at the next verse:
6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
The principal of sowing and reaping is all over the Bible. Just talking about doing things for the Lord doesn’t get you a harvest – but if you generously sow your life into the lives of others, God will reward you generously. What kind of reward? That’s where many Christians have gotten themselves into trouble. We’ll get more into that in a moment.
So now you’re thinking – “Oh man, now look at all the stuff I’ve got to do – I promised all these things, man am I under the pile!” The word is: don’t promise anything you are not willing to do with a cheerful heart.
7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
The Greek word for “cheerful” is “hilarious.” So we say “I’m giving my last dollar to God – isn’t that hilarious!!!!”
The point really is: we should take great joy in being able to give to the Lord. If we pull out our wallets, or our time, or our expertise and say “Okay God, I guess you can have this, man!” then don’t bother. God doesn’t want our charity.
If you have that attitude then my question is: maybe you don’t realize how pleased God was to give you His Son!
1 Corinthians 1:21God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. KJV
So what do we get when we do give cheerfully? Read on:
8 And 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. 9 As it is written:
"He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever."
These verses are loaded with good stuff. “Abound” here means “a super abundance” or “more than you need.” We give to God and He pours out on us – but what does He pour out? His grace – for all circumstances, at all times – having all that we need. The idea there is “contentment.” It’s the opposite of being covetousness.
When we let go, God gives – but what does He give? He gives what we need to be content and to do the things He’s asked us to do. “you will abound in every good work.”
God doesn’t make you rich with money – unless He wants you to do something with that money to further His kingdom. God doesn’t fill you with possessions unless through those He can get glory.
The Christian church has too often stopped short of finishing verse 8. God’s character is always giving out – never taking in to have more.
10 Now 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. 11 You 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 more you give, the more you will have to give. The less you give, the less you will have to give. And I love what Paul says here is the outcome of giving – a harvest – not of material things, but of righteousness.
The more we are obedient to the Lord in giving, the more like Him we become and the less like the world. Isn’t that great? How does that happen? I think its because the more we realize its not about us, we are not the center of the universe, and the more we let God work through us, the more we realize that the character of God is a character of selfless love – and even more than that – take a look at the next verses:
12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.
Did you know that generosity is worship? Not just a gift given to God, but generosity towards others. Paul says that people will praise God for two things: the gift itself, but also your obedience. Our money and our time are commodities we never have enough of. We hold on to them for dear life. But if God whispers in your ear to help someone else – and you obey – it’s a wonderful thing. You get blessed just by seeing what He has done in someone else, and you are able to train yourself to hear His voice better.
I notice something else here too – its obedience that “accompanies your confession of the gospel.” I think this is a reminder that Jesus wants His people to be givers.
Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
James 2:16-17 If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
Deeds come as a natural result of belonging to Jesus – of confessing the gospel. Do we earn righteousness through generosity? No. But what we do is spread God’s love and the gospel of Jesus.
Recently a group from this fellowship traveled to Eastern Oregon. They went there to fix a kitchen and a porch that was literally falling apart. The woman who lives in the house is not a believer. We raised the money, and gave of the time to do the work without asking for payment. This dismayed the poor woman – “why are you doing this?” she asked. “Because God loves you,” was the answer.
You can talk till you’re blue in the face about the need for salvation, but often it is when we give in a selfless act of love that people see that there really is something to this Jesus thing.
John 13:35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
There are two others benefits to giving, prayer:
14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.
The first benefit is prayer. When you connect with someone by giving – you prompt thanksgiving to God, and prayer to God for you. We all need prayer, right? This is a good way to get it. Secondly it says “their hearts will go out to you.” There is a connection made between the giver and the receiver. Maybe you spend an hour helping a student that seems lost in a class to get their bearings. You don’t ask anything in return, you just want to help them. A connection is made that bonds you together in a special way – and in a godly way.
I love how Paul finishes this chapter:
15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
It all comes back to Him – and the gift of Jesus that made all of this possible.
1 John 4:19 We love because he first loved us.
As you give you are an extension of God’s love. The more mature you are the more you want to give to others. The more you see that truly “it is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35) – and the more you realize that it’s all tied up in the gift God has given to us – Jesus Christ.
Without Him we would have nothing to give and would be utterly hopeless.
So the next time you have an opportunity to give – think about these things:
1. Give enthusiastically (not half-heartedly) vs 1-2
2. Give fully everything God asks you to give (not grudgingly) vs 3-5
3. Give hilariously vs 6-7
4. Give graciously, receive grace (vs 8-9)
5. Give generously to be made rich spiritually (vs 10-11)
6. Give worshipfully so others may thank God (vs 12)
7. Give obediently so that the gospel may reach others (vs 13)
8. Give thankfully realizing that it comes from Jesus and is all for His glory (vs 14)
