Day 1,145: 2 Corinthians 9- God Centered Generosity

​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.
The Cheerful Giver
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!
 
Meditation
Grace is the ground from which generosity grows. To know God’s grace in Christ moves us to live generously with others in the name of Christ. When the gospel opens your heart to God’s love then you will cheerfully open your hands to share what God has entrusted to you.
 
After additional clarification for sending a delegation to Corinth to prepare the gift for the Jerusalem church (1-5), Paul emphasizes five God-centered reasons for Christians to live generously, culminating in celebration of God’s “inexpressible gift” of His love for us in Christ (15):
 
1-God will grow our generosity into a harvest (6).
 
2-God loves a cheerful giver (7). God’s love transforms our heart and from the heart the tone of our giving is set. A heart gladdened by grace will cheerfully give.
 
3-God will abundantly provide for you, supplying your daily bread, and multiplying what He has entrusted to you to overflowing (8-11). God supplies in every way for His people to be generous in every way.
 
4-God is to be thanked for the Church’s generosity and God will be glorified by the obedience of Christians giving (12-13).
 
5-God will unite His people through generosity (14).
 
Christian generosity begins and ends with God. To live in God’s lavish love is to learn to love as God has loved us, joyfully sharing with the saints and in service to God’s world.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Which God-centered reason for generosity jumps out to you from today’s reading? Why?
 
-Where do you see the connection in your heart between knowing God’s grace on a more personal level and showing His grace through a high level of generosity?
 
-How can you focus more on the riches of God’s kindness toward you in Christ so you can share the riches of His kindness with others? Be specific.
 
Key Verse
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.