II CORINTHIANS: MINISTERING TO BELIEVERS FACING FALSE TEACHERS

II. Paul’s Directives On Collections For Needy Believers, 2 Corinthians 8-9

D. God’s Edifying Program Of Giving

(2 Corinthians 9:6-15)

I. Introduction

A. False teachers, claiming to be apostles, had entered the Church at Corinth, and they had tried to promote their own views while discrediting the person and message of the Apostle Paul. (Bible Know. Com., N. T., p. 552)

B. This was a difficult situation for Paul: his readers were immature believers who had been saved out of corrupt backgrounds in a city known for its vice, so they were easy prey for false teachers, and Paul had to be careful how he handled the situation lest his readers think he was being unjustly defensive and thus discredit himself.

C. Thus, on the subject of the donating of one’s money, Paul could not appear to be unrighteous before believers who had been led to doubt his character and who might think that he was trying to influence them for his own interests of greed, so in 2 Corinthians 9:6-16, Paul gave insight on God’s edifying program of giving.

D. We view the passage for our insight, application and edification (as follows):

II. God’s Edifying Program Of Giving, 2 Corinthians 9:6-15.

A. As a general rule, a believer should give with an attitude of liberality, namely, bigheartedness, 2 Cor. 9:6:

1. A believer who “sows sparingly” – who donates to God’s interests with restraint on the amount given – will “reap sparingly,” meaning he will be reimbursed from the Lord with a modest amount.

2. However, he who “sows bountifully” – who donates with liberality – will “reap bountifully,” meaning he will be reimbursed from Lord with a bountiful amount, 2 Corinthians 9:6.

B. However, a believer is to give the amount that he cheerfully decides to give, 2 Corinthians 9:7:

1. The believer is to donate what he himself personally decides to give, 2 Corinthians 9:7a.

2. In doing so, he should give neither “reluctantly” (lupe, Arndt & Gingrich, A Grk.-Eng. Lex. of the N. T., 1967, p. 483) nor “under compulsion” (anagke, Ibid., p. 52) “of any kind, outer or inner” (Ibid.), that is, neither out of false inner guilt nor under pressure from within or from without by some other Christian or Christian leader, 2 Corinthians 9:7b. God loves one who gives “cheerfully” (hilaros, Ibid., p. 375-376).

3. Thus, the amount that is actually given should be set by the donor at the level where he can gladly give.

C. God is then able to make all grace abound toward the donor so that he will obtain all material sufficiency in all things at all times to meet his own livelihood needs and also continue to abound in every good work of making additional, future donations, 2 Corinthians 9:8-9. Paul explained this program in 2 Corinthians 9:10-11:

1. When a donor “sows” or makes his donation to the Lord’s interests, God will then reimburse that doner with some “seed” for his own livelihood needs, what becomes the donor’s “bread,” 2 Corinthians 9:10a.

2. The donor will then have some “seed” of moneys left over so that he can donate again, and as he gives or “sows” again, that “seed” will increase the fruits of the donor’s acts of righteousness, 2 Corinthians 9:10b.

3. As this process is repeated many times over, the Lord equips the donor to continue to increase the amount he is able to give, thus increasing the production of his righteousness in a lifelong giving ministry! (v. 11)

D. When the donor becomes involved in a life-long ministry of giving with the Lord’s resulting reimbursements, he will not only be used of God to supply the material needs of other believers in God’s service, but he will also cause many who are helped by the donation to give much thanksgiving to God, 2 Corinthians 9:12 ESV.

E. This thanksgiving will glorify God due to the donor’s submission to the Lord that rises from his confession of the gospel of Christ and the generosity of the donor toward other needy believers, 2 Corinthians 9:13 ESV.

F. Furthermore, such a giving program will enhance unity between the donor and his recipient, what will lead to thanksgiving to God throughout the Church for His inexpressible gift of salvation to believers and its overflow in the whole ministry of giving among those who have been saved through Christ, 2 Corinthians 9:14-15 ESV.

Lesson: God’s edifying program for those who give to His interests involves believers giving with an attitude of liberality balanced by their giving the amount that keeps them cheerfully giving, not doing so reluctantly or under compulsion. As they donate, God reimburses the donors with financial resources that meet the donors’ livelihood needs along with enabling them to give ever-increasing amounts. This all glorifies God, causes recipients to abound with thanksgiving to the Lord and enhances the unity of the Church to the glory of the God of grace.

Application: (1) May we participate in the Lord’s great, edifying program of giving for the glory of God. (2) If giving is a new and intimidating ministry for us, may we start out “small” so God can reveal His blessing to us.