2 Corinthians 9.6–11

⁶ Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. ⁷ Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. ⁹ As it is written:

"They have scattered abroad their gifts to the poor;
their righteousness endures forever."

¹⁰ Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. ¹¹ You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

I once saw a preacher on TV. He was trying to raise $300,000, and claimed that God wanted him to rise up 300 millionaires. To become one of those millionaires, all you had to do was give the preacher man $1000, and God would make you into a millionaire. If you didn’t have it cash, that was okay, you could show your “faith” in God by putting it on your credit card.

Guys like this are the reason that most ministers are reluctant to talk about money and giving. Too many dishonest men have distorted the reality of giving. Paul says 3 things here: Give what your heart tells you to give (no “set” amount, just do it cheerfully); God will provide for you; you will be a part of God’s work (and in that way, you are rich in every way).

What is your heart telling you to give?

2 Corinthians 9.1-5

¹ There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the Lord's people. ² For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. ³ But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be. ⁴ For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to say anything about you—would be ashamed of having been so confident. ⁵ So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.


Last semester here at ISU, CCF students took part in collecting and sending Christmas gifts to children overseas through the ministry Operation Christmas Child. It was a wonderful project and several students were already familiar with the ministry either through their churches at home, or from participating in it through CCF in previous years. Naturally, I think those students were the ones that were the most enthusiastic about the cause at first. Eventually, however, I began to see that enthusiasm spread as though it were contagious throughout the entire group of students. The pile of donated toys grew steadily throughout the month of November and into December. In the end, the group filled 23 boxes with dolls, toy cars, crayons, mittens, hats, socks, toothbrushes and toothpaste!

No one was forced to give toys so that poor children could have gifts for Christmas, but I do believe that as we all witnessed the giving and thoughtful spirit, we were quietly encouraging one another to give more.

2 Corinthians 8.22-24

²² In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you. ²³ As for Titus, he is my partner and co-worker among you; as for our brothers, they are representatives of the churches and an honor to Christ. ²⁴ Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it.


Representatives

Who comes to mind when you read each of the following?
A bad actor
A bad actress
A great cook
A great author
In your opinion, the names you thought of are examples of their respective categories.
Paul gives us the names and characteristics of afew people he believes to be “splendid examples of those who bring glory to Christ.” He refers to them as “representatives of the church.”
What are the names of several people you know that you consider splendid examples of those who bring glory to Christ? Or. Think about this: if your friends were asked who they thought was an example of someone they could recognize Christ working within, would you make the cut?

2 Corinthians 8.16-21

¹⁶ Thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. ¹⁷ For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative. ¹⁸ And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel. ¹⁹ What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help. ²⁰ We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. ²¹ For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of others.

The pastor asked us to reach down under our chair. Certain chairs – five of them – contained an envelope with a one hundred dollar bill inside. I was one of the fortunate ones. Now that c-note came with one stipulation. We were to pass it on to someone who had a need. The only thing that the recipient was to know was that the money was a gift from God. For two weeks I prayed about and fretted about how to best use that $100. I could give it to a homeless shelter. The need was there, and it would be pretty easy. It would make a really good tip at a local restaurant (and what waitress doesn’t need a bonus from God). I really wanted to make sure that the gift was used in a way that the congregation intended and in a way that God was glorified.

In today’s passage, Titus is one of the carriers of a cash gift. Paul and the others were concerned that they handle this endeavor with integrity. They took pains to do what was right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men.

Today, look for a chance to give a blessing (financial or otherwise) in a way that will honor the Lord. (vs. 19).