2nd Corinthians 9:1-15 – Lessons on Generous Giving
We are there in 2nd Corinthians 9. Of course we are going verse by verse through the entire book. Chapters 8 and 9 have to do with generous giving and the theme is that the Apostle Paul is taking up a special offering. We divided chapter 8 into 2 parts. In the first 5 verses we have an example of the Churches of Macedonia of generous giving. Then the rest of the chapter was an exhortation to the Church at Corinth for generous giving. In chapter 9 he continues that exhortation in regards to the special offering.
I’ve been making this disclaimer that I did not plan for us to be in these chapters about giving and a special offering 3 weeks before we take our special offering. I wish I could take credit for that as it sounds like a good plan. However, God just worked it out that way. We started the book of 2nd Corinthians back in September and we arrive at this part at the perfect timing. That must be what God wanted. I don’t feel that bad about it because I don’t speak on giving that much. ’m going to give you some lessons on generous giving from chapter 9. I’m only preaching this because we happen to be in this passage but of course we have a special offering up coming up this weekend so you should make the application and I will make the application in regards to giving.
2nd Corinthians 9:1 “For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:”. That word “superfluous means it’s unnecessary. He is saying that it is not needed to write regarding the necessity. “2 For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.”. Paul is stating that just as he boasted about the Churches of Macedonia, he boasted about the Church of Corinth to Macedonia. Paul is stating that he knows the Church of Corinth wants to take place in this offering. He is saying that he has used the willingness of the Church of Corinth as an example to provoke or motivate others.
Verse 3 “3 Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready:”. Paul tells them that he wants them to be ready for this offering. Verse 4 “4 Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.”. Paul is stating that he already told these other Churches about the willingness of the Church of Corinth. You really see the humanity of Paul here. Obviously the Bible is written under the inspiration of God and this is a scripture from the word of God but you see his humanity as a human being. In verse 3 he tells them that he already told his brethren that he sent that the Church of Corinth was ready. He tells them that he doesn’t want to tell the people from Macedonia that the Church of Corinth is ready and then they find you unprepared. Notice the last part of verse 4. “we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.”. He is telling them that he wants them to be ready. The last word in verse 3 is “ready”.
That’s really what this week is about. Normally during a vision offering I will preach on the subject of the vision offering on Sunday morning before the vision offering. Then we take a week to prepare for the vision offering. Why? That we may be ready and that we are not found unprepared and are ready to participate and partake in this offering. Notice verse 5 “5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness. The word “bounty” there means a generous gift. It’s referring to the special offering. He tells them that he wants them to be ready.
This is what the Apostle Paul is talking about in verses 1-5. Paul is telling them that he already used them as an example to encourage other people to give. He doesn’t want them to show up and find the Church of Corinth unprepared. That is the context in verses 1-5. Then in verse 6 he kind of changes gears. He begins to give them some lessons because he wants to continue to encourage them on the subject of giving. He gives them lessons in regards to giving. The Apostle Paul gives them 5 different things in regards to giving.
Point 1 – The Promise of Giving. Verse 6 “6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.”. The word “sow” there is an illustration in regards to farming. It means to plant or to put seed in the ground. The reason he is giving them for why they should give. If you sow “sparingly” or in a limited way then you will reap or get a return in a limited way. The word “bountifully” means generously or abundantly. Basically the more you sow, the more you reap. He is using an example of a farmer but it is easy for us to understand. The amount of a harvest that a farmer gets is dependent on what they put in the ground. If they sow sparingly then they will reap sparingly but if they sow bountifully then they will reap bountifully. That is true of farming but that is also true of giving according to Paul.
Proverbs teaches the same concept. Proverbs 11:24 “24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.”. The word “scatter” means to distribute or disperse. The word “meet” means suitable or appropriate. What he is saying is that there are people who give or scatter a lot and yet they are blessed financially. Then there are others that withhold financially and they end up not having much money. Is there something wrong with withholding? There is not wrong with withholding. We should all withhold to some extent because we have bills to pay and a family to take care of. However, there are some people who withhold too much. We would call them a cheapskate. The word “poverty” means to have little money or no means of support.
Whether you want to believe it or not, the Bible is the word of God and this proverb is true. What I’ve noticed over 11 years of ministry is that the people who are successful and God has blessed financially in their lives are generous people. Initially your thought is that they are generous because they have a lot. That is what my wife and I thought when we first entered the ministry. People that are generous are generous because they have a lot. However, over 11 years of ministry we’ve had the wonderful privilege of watching God take people who did not have a lot yet were generous and he’s made them wealthy and successful. They were generous before they had a lot. How is that possible? There are some people that scatter and are generous and yet they increase. God blesses them. God helps them at work. God gives them bonuses and increases and raises and blesses their businesses. However, you also look at people who hold on to money and are afraid to give it and yet they are always broke. As the Bible says “it tendeth to poverty”.
In verse 25 he says “25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.”. The word “liberal” means generous. We use the word “liberal” in reference to politicians. The problem is that those politicians are generous with other people’s money but not their own money. This is talking about being generous with your own money. The Bible states that the liberal soul will be made fat and he that watereth shall be watered. How can this be? Here’s how. Because he which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Here is the promise of giving. The more you give, the more you get. I don’t want you to think of this like prosperity preaching. We will talk about that later on to be clear. However, the promise of giving is that the more you give, the more you get.
Let me give you a couple of promises in regards to giving. The investment aspect of giving. Why is it that he who soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly and he that soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully? What can we learn from that? We can learn that the more you give the more you get. Here’s another law of giving that God has given us. You cannot out give God. Luke 6:38 “38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”.
To understand that verse. Think of a measuring cup. If you have a container of flour, you have different size measuring cups you can use. You decide which one to use based on how much you want to take out of the container. This is the idea that Jesus is giving. We pick up the measuring cup to scoop out of the resources God has given us. God says that with the same measuring cup, he will also give to you. However, it says good measure. God is going to give us based on the same measuring cup that we use. He that soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly and he that soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Remember that it has nothing to do with the amount that you’re giving but it has to do with the sacrifice. A 4-year-old girl that has no money that puts in a 5-dollar bill is like the widow’s mite. It is a great sacrifice. We shouldn’t be cheap with God because he is going to measure to us.
The first lesson is the promise of giving. I don’t want you to get the wrong idea there with a prosperity gospel mindset because that’s where our flesh tends to go. I’m going to show you and talk about why that is false in this sermon. However, we should realize that we can’t out give God. The second lesson is the perspective of giving. This is in regards to your attitude.
Verse 7 “7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”. By the way, this is not just the attitude we should have with a special offering but with our tithes or any money we give. The money should be given purposefully. That is why is said “purposeth in his heart.”. It shouldn’t just be that you found a few dollars in your pocket. It should be a planned-out amount. Remember, Paul said that he didn’t want them to be unprepared. That’s why I pray that during this season of vision offering, you’ve taken the time to think and pray and consider and ask yourself. It should be done purposefully.
However, it should also be done joyfully. Verse 7 “7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”. He wants us to give purposefully. He wants us to give joyfully. I’ve made a big deal about this every year and I’ve made a big deal about it already during this season of giving. Just remember that we want joyful givers. If you can’t be joyful in your giving then you should just keep your money. We don’t need it. We don’t want you to give grudgingly or of necessity. We’d hate for you to think that God needs you. I don’t mean that in a rude way. We want your participation. I hope everyone participates but don’t ever get in your mind that God needs you. God doesn’t need anybody. God doesn’t need you. God doesn’t need me. However, you have the opportunity to give to God and work alongside with God. It is a blessing to be partnered with God. So if you’re going to give grudgingly and of necessity, please don’t. God loves a cheerful giver. He wants you to give purposefully and he wants you to give joyfully and he wants you to offer a willing sacrifice.
In 1st Chronicles 29, remember that David is taking a special offering. 1st Chronicles 29:9 “9 Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the Lord: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.”. They offered willingly to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced with great joy. I’m not trying to be rude and I’m not trying to discourage you from giving. I’m just letting you know that if your heart is not in it then don’t give. The heart matters. At the end of the day, it is between you and God.
We see the promise of giving. The more you give, the more you get. You cannot outgive God. We see the perspective of giving. We are to give purposefully and joyfully. Thirdly, notice the provision of giving. The provision is in regards to the fact that you’re being taken care of by God. 2nd Corinthians 9:8 “8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:”. Sufficiency means having everything that you need. If you have the attitude that you don’t have everything that you need then it shows that you are covetous. The Bible says having food and raiment let us be therewith content. If you have eaten in the last 24 hours and have clothes then be content. If you aren’t content then it shows you are covetous. We need to understand that God provides the resources from which we live.
1st Corinthians 4:7 “7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?”. You see, everything that we have is something that we received from God. There is nothing that you have that you can state you have it based on your own power. It was given by God. So why glory as if you didn’t receive it from God. God gave you everything. Every good gift and every perfect gift coming down from the father of lights. If God has given everything that you have, why are you posting and bragging about it online? The truth is that God provides the resources from which we live.
I hope that as a result of coming to a Church like Verity Baptist Church and learning Biblical principles on finances, getting out of debt, saving money, budgeting, being wise and generous will allow God to bless you and help you. I also hope God does bless you with a nice house, vehicles, clothes and food. Just remember that when God gives that to you, he is the one who provided it. What hast thou which thou didst not receive.
In Deuteronomy 8, God is speaking to the nation of Israel. He’s warning them to not forget from where they’ve came and that it is God that brought them into this promised land. He says in Deuteronomy 8:18 “18 But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.”. We need to always remember that whatever success you have, whatever wealth you have, whatever resources you have, it is God who has given you the power to get that wealth. God provides the resources from which we live. Paul is teaching that it is God who is able to make all grace abound toward you that you can have sufficiency in all things and abound to every good work.
2nd Corinthians 9:9 “9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. 10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)”. Remember that promise. He says it is God that gives seed to the sower. The same God that multiplies that seed is the one who gave that seed to begin with. This is the God that gives you the increase once you’ve planted it. God provides the resources from which we live and God provides the resources from which we give. This is quote from Isaiah 55. Go to Isaiah 55.
Isaiah 55:10 “10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:”. Now Paul takes this verse which is a parable and uses it in the application of giving. That’s fine. The Holy Spirit decided to do that. Isaiah 55:11 “11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”. Isaiah uses this illustration in the sense of the word of God being preached because scattering seed can both picture giving or it can picture the gospel. So both are being used from this example.
Both Paul and Isaiah are making the application with farming as they are speaking to agricultural societies. The Bible speaks about sowing and reaping 10-fold or 50-fold or 100-fold. They might be very rich and very wealthy as a result of their investments. Isaiah is reminding us not to forget that once we start thinking that our own hand hath gotten us this wealth, don’t forget that it is God who provided the rain and allowed the harvest and gave the seed that was sown into the ground. It was God that brought up the sun and gave all the resources to have gotten you that wealth. God provides the resources from which we live. God provides the resources from which we give.
This reminds me of the story or joke I’ve heard. “The scientist looked up to heaven and shook his fist towards God and said ‘We have created life in the lab and we’ve learned how to do it and we don’t need you anymore. We’d like to challenge you God because we can create life.’. God miraculously spoke from heaven and said ‘I’ll take that challenge.’ God took dirt and created life from it and said ‘Your turn’. The scientist got down on his knee and picked up a handful of dirt and God said ‘No, get your own dirt’.”.
The truth is that you might think it is your hard work and mind and strength and education and that is why you are wealthy. God gave you that mind. God gave you that strength and education. The Bible says that the breath we breathe right now is in the hand of God. Paul says when it comes to giving, don’t forget that your provision came from God. God provides the resources from which we live and God also provides the resources from which we give.
Paul talked about the promise of giving, the perspective of giving, the provision of giving and now he talks about the profit of giving. 2nd Corinthians 9:11 “11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.”. Notice that it says being enriched in everything. It doesn’t just say being enriched with money. Remember, I said that the more you give, the more you get. You can’t out give God. However, you have to realize that what you get in return from God is not always money. Prosperity preachers say to invest $100 and you will get $1,000. The Bible doesn’t say that. The more you give, the more you get. However, it is not always money that you get. Life is about more than just money.
3rd John 1:1 “1 The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth. 2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. 3 For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”. You say “Pastor, I committed to give a certain amount and I can’t out give God and I believe God will give me more in return.”. I agree with that. However, it is not necessarily money that you will get in return.
Sometimes God does give back in money. I’ll be honest, I haven’t really seen that in our lives. There are some things that I would rather have than money. I’d rather have heath, children, a good relationship with my wife, great friends in the ministry. I’m not saying that if you don’t have health or kids or aren’t doing well then that is the curse of God. I’m just telling you that when it comes to the blessings of God, there are some things that I would rather have than money. If God blesses me in lots of areas of my life then that sounds like a good investment to me. So Paul says that it is true that you get more than you give but don’t always assume it’s money. The truth is that there are many rich people who are helpless in an emergency room, helpless on the day of their death, helpless in a divorce court. There are some things more important than money. Paul says that we can get the blessing of God in our lives by giving. That which is temporal can gain that which is eternal which sounds like a great blessing to me.
We talked about the promise of giving, the perspective of giving, the provision of giving and the profit of giving. Lastly let’s talk about the praise of giving. 2nd Corinthians 9:11 “11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.”. He says that when you give, it causes thanksgiving to God. Go to Matthew 6:19 and I’ll show you something interesting. Matthew 6:19 “19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:”. Any country could go to war with any country and cause the stock market to crash. You don’t have any guarantee when you’re laying up for yourselves treasures upon earth. There is moth, rust, thieves break through and steal.
Matthew 6:20 “20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:”. A lot can be side from this passage but let me just say that when you give here on earth, you get credit in heaven. You can’t take it with you but you can send it on ahead. When we give on earth, we get credit in heaven.
2nd Corinthians 9:11 “11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. 12 For the administration of this service…”. He is talking about the organization and administering of this special offering. Paul is talking about the fact that he had to write letter to all of these Churches and preach his vision offering sermon and get them all to give a certain amount at a certain time. Then they had to gather it together and count it up and send it. I understand this because the vision offering around here is a big process. We send letters and postcards and make videos and text messages and emails to announce it and preach it. Why do we go through all of this trouble with the vision offering? Because someone in this room is going to show up on Sunday morning and say “Is that vision offering thing today?”. It’s just how human nature is. Paul talked about the administration of the service.
2nd Corinthians 9:12 “12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; 13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;”. 2nd Corinthians 9:14 “14 And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.”. What does this mean? What it means is that when we give on earth, we get credit in heaven. Praise God for that.
I don’t know what’s going to happen to Verity Baptist Church. I don’t have a magic or crystal ball that tells me what the future has in store for us. We’re just taking things one step at a time. One day we will move out of this building and into a bigger building and maybe a building we own. As a result, we will be able to reach more people and fit more people and lives will be changed and family trees will be changed and entire legacies of Christian heritage will happen as a result of this ministry. There are people coming down the road, people that you’ve never met and I’ve never met, people we don’t even know. My wife and I were just talking about this. There are people that are being impacted and influenced as a result of the soulwinning and preaching which will impact generations to come. Generations from now, people will say “Praise God for this ministry. Praise God for this Church.”. Soulwinning and preaching are part of this but also the giving.
I want you to understand the praise of giving. When you and I give on earth, we get credit in heaven. In heaven we will get the credit. In heaven we will get the reward. In heaven we will lay up in store for us a good gift up there. When we give on earth, we get the credit in heaven and God gets the credit on earth. Think of the people being impacted right now. Tons of Filipinos are getting saved through our Churches right now and they can say “Thank God for those offerings.”. Think of the work that has been done and is being done in Vancouver, Boise, Fresno, Manila, Bicol, Pampanga. Who knows what other Churches we might plant in the future? The beautiful thing about giving is that when we give, we credit in heaven and God gets the credit on earth.
We talked about the promise of giving. You can’t out give God. We talked about the perspective of giving. You are to give purposefully and joyfully. We talked about the provision of giving. God provides the resources from which we live. Because of that, God provides the resources from which we give. We talked about the profit of giving. Though the more you give, the more you get, it isn’t always money. There is more to life than money. Finally, we talked about the praise of giving. When we give on Earth, we get credit in heaven.
Then Paul ends with verse 15 before transitioning into something completely different. Verse 15 “15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.”. This is sort of the last-ditch effort by Paul to motivate people to give for this special offering. He has done everything he can think of. He has encouraged them to give and exhorted them and provoked them. He talked about the promise and perspective and provision and profit and praise. Then he ends with this verse.
Why does he end with this? He is saying that even if no one gives, thanks be to God for his gift. What is that gift? The Lord Jesus Christ and salvation. If you can’t think of a reason to give, you ought to give because you are saved. If you need motivation to give this year, thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.
Let’s pray.