6The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8And 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. 9As it is written,
“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.”10He 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. 11You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13By 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, 14while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! (2 Corinthians 9:6-15)
Christian Giving Has Divine Resources
Christians are better resourced for generosity than anyone else because God funds their giving.
8And 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.
10He 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. (2 Corinthians 9:8, 10)
First notice that God is able to fund comprehensive generosity:
- All grace
- All sufficiency
- All things
- All times
- Every good work
Second notice that God promises to fund our generosity. He “will supply and multiply your seed for sowing.” But there’s a catch. The funding dries up as the generosity dries up. The promise is this not The more you give, the more you get. It’s The more you give the more you get to give. The inverse is true too. The less you give, the less you get to give.
6The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. (2 Corinthians 9:6)
This is a stewardship principle. God gives us resources to use generously. If we’re faithful to do so, he gives more resources. If we fail to do so, he takes away even what we have (Matthew 25:14-30).
10He 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. 11You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way… (2 Corinthians 9:10-11a)
This Thanksgiving as you consider God’s blessings in your life, think of them as seeds for sowing, as riches for use in generosity.
Christian Giving Has Divine Results
Christians have greater motivation to be generous than anyone else because they live for God’s glory.
Why does Paul want the Corinthians to give to the poor Christians in Jerusalem (that’s what this passage is about)? Not just because it’s good for the Corinthians to give. Not just because it will truly help the Jerusalem Christians. Because it will result in thanksgivings to God.
11You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13By their approval of this service, they will glorify God… (2 Corinthians 9:11-13a)
This Thanksgiving, don’t just be a recipient of God’s blessings. Don’t just be thankful. Produce thanksgivings to God in the people around you by being generous.
With God’s grace beneath us and God’s glory above us, we have every reason to give. So let’s sow bountifully. Let’s be generous in every way. Let’s produce thanksgiving this Thanksgiving.
Discussion Starters
- Take some time to catch up.
- Read the passage together.
- Have you ever received generosity that made you worship God in thanksgiving? Share your stories together.
- What instructions for giving do you find in this passage, particularly verse 7?
- What all do we learn about God in this passage?
- What are some ways we can become more generous as individuals? Families? House to House groups? A church?
- Take some time to pray together.
