Week 14, Day 5: Generosity of the Saints
Today’s Reading: 2 Corinthians 10:1-11:33
Some thoughts from yesterday’s reading…
Often, 2 Corinthians 9 is read just before the collection of the saints is taken up on a Sunday morning. I think that the applications to that setting are very good, and very appropriate. However, I think that the principles established in this chapter are far deeper, and more important than just how much money a person decides to put into the collection plate.
Paul speaks in this chapter about our generosity. In 2 Corinthians 9:6 he tells us that those who sow sparingly will also reap sparingly. It is certainly not uncommon for Paul to use a gardening example in his teaching. Here, the example is of one who spreads seed. The one who is greedy with his seed, striving to save all that he can and not scattering it in the field, will have a much lower yield than the one who is generous with his seed. The same application can be made to us as Christians. If we are greedy with our money, then we will “reap” sparingly. We will be far more blessed by being generous than by being greedy. But, we do need to remember that what comes back to us (that which we reap) is not necessarily financial prosperity as so many denominations teach.
Paul also speaks of our attitudes. In 2 Corinthians 9:7 he tells us that God loves a cheerful giver. God does not want His people despising the money (or anything else) that they give in service to Him. It seems like there are many Christians who do give in a begrudging way. They put their money in, but they are going to complain about it. Maybe they will not complain when they give it, but they will complain if it is not spent just the way they want it to be spent. Or perhaps they will begin to withhold their money if they don’t like something that the church has done. Either way, this can be a sign of a deeper attitude problem that reflects greediness on our part! Notice that Paul also addresses the idea that we shouldn’t give “out of necessity.” That is, we shouldn’t think of our giving as something that we have to do just because God told us to do it. It should be something we want to do. It should be something that we GET to do!
Finally, realize that Paul also addresses what this money that is collected is to be used for. In 2 Corinthians 9:8, he tells us that by being generous there would be enough money to always have what was needed to do perform the work of the Lord, and even have “an abundance for every good work.” Of course, “every good work” is defined by God’s own word–not by the desires of mankind (2 Timothy 3:16-17). We need to use the money that is collected according to what God has commanded. To be wasteful, or to use it in manners that are not approved of by God constitutes stealing from God Himself. This was one of the problems faced by the Children of Israel by the close of the Old Testament. Malachi specifically addresses those who would be so presumptuous as to steal from God (Malachi 3:8-12).
We typically get very sensitive when it comes to “our money.” But, let us always remember that what we have is a gift from God. He provides for us, and we should always remember to be gracious and generous with what He has provided. Let us give to the work of His church, and let us be generous with others whenever the opportunity arises.