2 Corinthians 9 completes Paul's teaching on the collection for the poor in Jerusalem. He urges the Corinthians to have their promised gift ready, so that it is a willing gift and not one forced out of them. Using the picture of sowing and reaping, he teaches that generous giving bears a harvest of blessing, and that God loves a cheerful giver. God is able to supply all they need so that they can keep doing good. The result is thanksgiving and glory to God, who has given us His inexpressible gift.
Historical Context
Chapter 8, studied in Lesson 24, introduced the collection and its gospel foundation. In chapter 9 Paul explains why he is sending the brothers ahead: the Corinthians had boasted of their readiness, and the Macedonians had been stirred by it. Paul does not want that boast to be empty, or their gift to be squeezed out at the last minute.
Scripture Passage
2 Corinthians 9:1-15
Interpretation & Insights
Ready and Willing
Paul says it is unnecessary to write about the ministry to the saints, because he knows the Corinthians' readiness (9:1). He had boasted to the Macedonians that Achaia had been ready since the previous year, and their zeal had stirred many (9:2). Now he sends the brothers ahead, so that when he comes with some Macedonians, neither he nor they would be humiliated (9:3-4). He wants the gift to be ready "as a willing gift, not as an exaction" (9:5). Paul cares about how a gift is given, not only how much. A gift extracted by pressure is not the gift God desires.
Sowing and Reaping in Context
"The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully" (9:6). This verse is often misused to promise that if you give money to a ministry, God will return it to you many times over in wealth or health. Paul's own words in 9:8-14 show what the harvest is. God supplies what His people need so that they may abound in every good work (9:8). He increases the harvest of their righteousness (9:10). He enriches them in every way so that they can be generous in every way (9:11). The result is that needs are met, many people thank God, and God is glorified (9:12-13). The harvest is more generosity, more good works and more praise to God, not personal riches. Giving is never a payment to buy blessing from God, and never a seed planted to grow wealth for ourselves.
God Loves a Cheerful Giver
"Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver" (9:7). Giving should be thought through and decided before God. It should not be reluctant, as if money is being torn away from us. It should not be under compulsion, whether from guilt, public pressure, fear of a curse or the promise of a reward. Cheerful giving flows from a heart that has received grace. As Lesson 24 showed, it is measured by what a person has, not by what he does not have (8:12).
God Is Able
"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" (9:8). This is a promise that God will provide what His generous people need, not everything they want. Sufficiency means having enough. Paul quotes Psalm 112:9, describing the righteous person who gives to the poor, whose righteousness endures forever (9:9). The God who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply their seed for sowing (9:10). The seed here is the resources God gives us to keep doing good. Paul himself knew both plenty and hunger (Philippians 4:12), and he never taught that faithful giving guarantees comfort.
Thanksgiving and Glory to God
The gift would not only meet the needs of the poor believers. It would overflow in many thanksgivings to God (9:11-12). The Jerusalem believers would glorify God because the Corinthians' obedience matched their confession of the gospel of Christ, and because of their generous sharing (9:13). They would pray for the Corinthians and long for them, because of the surpassing grace of God in them (9:14). Generosity binds Jewish and Gentile believers together as one family in Christ.
His Inexpressible Gift
Paul ends, "Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!" (9:15). Above every gift we could give stands the gift God has given: His Son, who died for our sins, taking the punishment we deserved in our place, and rose again (John 3:16). We do not give to earn salvation; we give because we have been saved by grace. Ask God to show you how to give thoughtfully, regularly and cheerfully, to your local church, to those in need and to faithful gospel work, as He provides. And when you give, give thanks to Him.
Reflection Questions
- Why does Paul care so much that the gift is willing and not an exaction (9:5)?
- Read 9:6-14 together. What is the harvest Paul expects, and how does this correct the idea of giving as a seed for wealth?
- What does it mean for you to give as you have decided in your heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion (9:7)?
- How does the promise that God is able to make all grace abound (9:8) free you from fear when you give?
- How has someone's generosity caused you to thank God (9:11-13)? How might your giving do the same for others?
- How does God's inexpressible gift (9:15) shape your motive for giving?
Prayer Points
Father, thank You for Your inexpressible gift, Your Son Jesus, who died in my place and rose again. Everything I have comes from You. Free my heart from fear and greed, and from any pressure or guilt, so that I can give as I have decided before You, willingly and cheerfully. Thank You that You are able to provide what I need for every good work. Use what I share to meet real needs and to bring thanksgiving and glory to Your name. Keep me trusting You, not money, whether I have little or much. Amen.
Related Verses
- Psalm 112:5-9
- Galatians 6:7-10
- Luke 12:15
- 1 Timothy 6:17-19
- Hebrews 13:16
- Philippians 4:18-19
- John 3:16