2 Corinthians 9 - What's Your Yield Like?
We love stats - whether it's points scored or yield per acre. What do your Kingdom stats look like?
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2 Corinthians 9 (ESV)
1 Now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the ministry for the saints,
2 for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you
to the people of Macedonia,
saying that Achaia has been ready since last year.
And your zeal has stirred up most of them.
3 But I am sending the brothers
so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter,
so that you may be ready, as I said you would be.
4 Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready,
we would be humiliated—
to say nothing of you—
for being so confident.
5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised,
so that it may be ready as a willing gift,
not as an exaction.
6 The point is this:
whoever
sows sparingly
will also reap sparingly,
and whoever
sows bountifully
will also reap bountifully.
7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart,
not reluctantly or under compulsion,
for God loves a cheerful giver.
8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you,
so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times,
you may abound in every good work.
9 As it is written,
“He has distributed freely,
he has given to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.”
10 He who supplies
seed to the sower
and bread for food
will supply and multiply
your seed for sowing
and increase the harvest of your righteousness.
11 You will be
enriched in every way
to be generous in every way,
which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.
12 For the ministry of this service
is not only supplying the needs of the saints
but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.
13 By their approval of this service,
they will glorify God
because of your submission
that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ,
and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others,
14 while
they long for you and pray for you,
because of the surpassing grace of God upon you.
15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!
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Read previous DIG DEEPER posts on 2 Corinthians
2 Corinthians 9 Summary
Pledges are easy to make but hard to keep. The Corinthians had made a big pledge to contribute to the fund for the church suffering from the famine in Jerusalem, so big that Paul was excitingly sharing the news with the churches he visited in other parts of the Roman empire. This chapter is Paul's way of reminding them that the time is quickly coming for them to put their money where their mouths are.
Be careful here, as it's very easy to misunderstand this passage. On the surface, it may seem like this is investment advice, as if you give generou$ gift$ you will receive generou$ ble$$ing$. But look closely at what it says:
Generosity is hard work. Most of you know the hard work involved in sowing and reaping crops, and the effort you put into your generosity must reflect the effort you put in each springtime and fall.
These efforts must be made cheerfully.
God will bless your efforts. It even says that He will make you abound in these blessings.
But this passage does not promise you that these will be material or even financial blessings.
God may and often does reward us financially for our generosity, but He's promised you three things:
"you will have all that you need;"
so that "you will abound in every good work."
you will be "enriched in every way so that you can be generous in every occasion."
Isn't it awesome that giving to one cause opens the door to giving in other causes?
Dig Deeper
FARM YOUR GIVING: It does feel good to make a contribution to a worthwhile cause, but Paul's metaphor of sowing and reaping calls you to do more than just write a check. Just as you would not walk away from your newly seeded crop and not come back until harvest, you should be invested in the causes you give to.
Give the non financial gifts you've been blessed with as well, such as your experience & talents, to help organizations grow & develop and become even better outlets of God's grace.
AAA Prayer:
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father God loves a cheerful giver who makes all grace abound to you
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Ask God to help you discern needs and be ready to give generously
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:
