Deuteronomy 6:4-9; 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Keep these scriptures in mind as we study God’s Word – the activity of God, the Father, applying his word to our minds and hearts by the Holy Spirit through Christ, His Son, changing us and conforming us to the image of his Son.

Giving – 2 Corinthians 8 & 9

Explain context of the second letter to the Corinthians and the subject of the gift to the relief of the saints in chapters 8 and 9. 

Read 2 Corinthians 8:1-7.

v. 1 – 5

Paul starts with the example of the Macedonian believers.

We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia…

He speaks of their giving as a work given of God by his grace. 

…for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part…of their own accord…

They were given a zeal to contribute to the relief of other believers – begging to be allowed to participate.  Paul didn’t expect this.

They went the right way about it…unto God and for his glory (v. 5):

…but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.

Romans 12:1,2

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

vv. 6, 7

Thus Titus was urged to go to the Corinthians that they, too, would complete their desire to give – to excel in this act of grace as Paul had seen them already excel in other ways in their life in Christ.  Note these.

Read vv. 8-15.

vv. 8, 9

Paul is not giving a command but is sharing the example of the Macedonians in order to show that they have the same genuine love. 

Essential implication in all this is the love of God that we have in Christ.

• Let all that you do be done in love. (1 Cor. 16:14)

• We love because he first loved us (1 John 4:19)

He points them to Christ, who he is and what he has done for them.  He is the one they are to imitate and all that they have is from him.

…he was rich…

Colossians 1:15-18

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things were created through him and for him.  And he is before all things and in him all things hold together.  And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

…he became poor…that you…might become rich.

Philippians 2:5-8

Have this mind among yourselves which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

vv. 10,11

It will even be to their benefit to finish what they had wanted to do and begun to do a year ago. That willingness they had will bear fruit.  So, he tells them to finish it:

that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have.

vv.12-14

He goes on to explain how and why they are to give according to what they have. 

• Their gift is acceptable to God as they willingly give out of what he has given them.
• They are not to give so much that they burden themselves to ease others.
• There is a fairness here that, at this time, their abundance supplies the other’s need

v. 15

He concludes with an illustration – what God did for his people in the wilderness with the manna and how the people used what God had provided (Ex. 16:22):

As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.” 

The implication is mutually sharing what God has given to his people.  If one has the abundance, he shares with other who is in need.  Then when he, himself, is in need he is supplied from those who then have the abundance. 

Caution: not to be taken out of context and be used as an argument for re-distribution of wealth.  It’s not charity if you are made to do it or your property is taken and given to others.

Ultimately, though, it is God who will make sure that his peoples’ needs are met.

Summarize 8:16 – 9:5

• Paul thoughtfully commends those he is sending to help that the Corinthians may rest easy and know they can be trusted.
• He respectfully and gently reminds them of the ministry of giving to the saints and is careful of their reputation (and his 😊) in not wanting them to be humiliated by not being ready.

Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-15.

v. 6

Paul uses farming to remind them of the general principle of reaping what you sow – advising them to be generous not to compel them to give more than they already planned to give.

We see this in what he says next:

v. 7

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

… decided in his heart

Even though this is a gift given by the body of believers, the Lord through Paul makes it clear that each person is to make his own decision as to how he will give.  Not because he thinks he should because others are or because others have guilted him into it and not in haste which may lead to regret.

BUT with give careful thought and consideration to our own circumstances and to that of those we seek to help and happily, with a plan to give generously. 

…for God loves a cheerful giver.

God is pleased when those he loves in Christ give in this way.  

vv. 8, 9

God is able to make all grace abound to you…as it is written (Ps. 112:9)

God is sovereign and, by himself and by his grace, gives us in abundance what we need to the good works he has planned for us.

vv. 10-11

Paul expands on what he says in verse 8 by telling them what God will do, again acknowledging that it is God, the Creator and Sustainer of all things, who does it by his own power: multiply your seed for sowing, increase the harvest of your righteousness, enrich you to be generous, and finally, through them produce thanksgiving to himself.

vv. 12-14

The ministry of giving was not just to supply the need of believers, but to result in overflowing thanks to God.  As the receivers are pleased with the gift, they glorify God because they recognize that the gift was given in submission to him through the work of Christ in their hearts in salvation.  And that it was so generous is due to God’s abundant grace upon the Corinthian believers.

v. 15

Finally, Paul lifts our eyes again to Christ. 

All this work of giving is to the glory of God and is done in his gift of Christ for those who are his.   God gives to them all that Christ has in his life, death, resurrection, and exaltation.

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

(Romans 8:32)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.

(Ephesians 1:3)

Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!