2 Corinthians 9 • A Theology of Generosity OR; Get Rich Or Die Trying

2 Corinthians 9 ESV

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. 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!

Context Statement: Part of Paul’s purpose in writing 2 Corinthians is to prepare the believers for his arrival and to avoid any awkwardness that may exist because of a breakdown in communication. In Chapters 8-9, Paul encourages the Corinthians to be generous in their offering toward believers in need in another region. He is sending messengers ahead to make sure that the Corinthians follow through on their initial eagerness to help support these brothers and sisters in need. In 9:7, Paul makes the famous statement that, “God loves a cheerful giver.”

Introduction

When I began to study for this sermon I was a little nervous. First, Tapestry, you have been the most generous congregation that I have been apart of serving as a staff member. I don’t want anyone to come away with the idea that I, or our leadership, wants you to leave feeling guilty today. I am also aware that no one really wants to sit and listen to a lecture on what to do with their money from a person who is directly a beneficiary on their money. Sadly, the generosity of God’s people has been exploited and abused in many places by many people. The third reason I was anxious about preaching this passage is that I don’t personally feel like a generous person. As much as the passage may convict anyone else, I am aware that there is probably a large gap between God’s desire for my heart and where my heart actually is. As I began to study this passage, though, I went from anxious to excited. Not because I would like a new Playstation, but because this passage is not intended to make us feel guilty about money, but to remind us of the beauty of God’s grace toward us and how that grace flows not just to us, but through us, so that others see and rejoice in the goodness of God.

This morning, I want to encourage you to hear this passage in a fresh way. We’re going to talk about three principles of becoming a truly cheerful giver.

Eternal Truth: You Will Reap What You Sow

The first principle of becoming a truly cheerful giver is to understand the eternal truth that you will reap what you sow. In verses 1-5, Paul explains how he has been bragging about the Corinthian’s eagerness to give to meet the needs of others. He is sending ahead messengers in part to make sure that the Corinthians follow through on their generous promises to give. In verse 6, he begins to share his theology of generosity. Look with me at 2 Cor. 9:6-7

2 Corinthians 9:6–7 ESV

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.

Paul uses an agricultural analogy to help the Corinthians understand the kingdom economics of generosity. If you sow only a few seeds as a farmer, you shouldn’t expect to reap an enormous harvest. If you sow a lot of seeds, you should expect more return on investment. Paul goes out of his way here to make sure the Corinthians know he isn’t twisting their arms. He says don’t give out of compulsion, but see the reality that God loves those who joyfully see the reality that sowing spiritual bounty is a blessing and not a curse.

Let’s take a moment and let the truth sink in. It is easy to skip right over the foundation in attempt to get to a solution, but part of the solution for us is to observe the truth and then consider if we match up to it or not. In discipleship, we often have to deal with what I call the “disconnect” between where God’s word tells us we can be (a cheerful giver) and where we actually are. Ask yourself for a moment: (1) What does my “sowing” with my time, talent, and energy look like right now? And, (2) Am I confident that I am a cheerful giver?

I want to share with you two possible disconnects we may experience in this area of discipleship.

Disconnect 1: Fearful or Reluctant Giving.

First, you may read this passage and feel the conviction that you’re sowing sparingly. I want to guard us here from worldly guilt that constantly tells us we “aren’t doing enough.” That isn’t necessarily what we’re talking about here. Rather, when it comes to how you’re investing in God’s kingdom, you feel a legitimate conviction that you aren’t being obedient.

Disconnect 2: Joyless Giving

Another disconnect you may feel when confronted with this passage is that though you are giving, and maybe even in great amounts of time, energy, and resources, you don’t feel joyful or cheerful about it. Giving has become, like other holy habits, a routine to check off the list rather than a joyful expression of praise.

I want you to consider if you struggle with either or maybe both of these disconnects. How do we get it right? I want us to move on from observing the eternal truth to seeing the eternal treasure.

Eternal Treasure: God’s Provision & Plan

I want to propose to you this morning that many people might stop here and say, “I’m convicted, so I’ll try harder next week.” The reality is, that what motivates a cheerful giver according to the Bible isn’t about effort or even available resources, but about a right understanding of who God is and what he has done for you.

Paul’s theology of generosity is built on the character of God and his generosity toward his people in the gospel of Jesus. I want us to take a moment and see how the goodness of God meets us in our disconnect and motivates us toward generosity.

We Sow Bountifully Because We Trust in God’s Provision

First, I want us to see that Paul points us to God’s lavish generosity and provision for us as the motivating foundation for giving to others. The correction for our reluctance to give generously is to see how God himself has generously given to us. Paul says in 2 Cor. 9:8-9

2 Corinthians 9:8–9 ESV

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.”

It is human nature to think about generosity as a zero sum game. If I give $50 to you, I no longer have $50. In a strictly economic sense, this is correct. But, in the economics of Jesus’ Kingdom, it doesn’t work like that. Rather, the Bible tells us that we don’t have to worry about what we might lack if we give generously of our resources. Paul tells the Corinthians that God is able to make all grace abound. Look at those three “all” gifts from God to believers. We have (1) all sufficiency in (2) all things at (3) all times.

The Lord has convicted me on this point this week. Tapestry, do you really believe that God will give you everything you need? Really look at the text and then really look at your heart. There’s levels to this, obviously. Part of my lack of trust is not really that I don’t trust God, but that I’m fearful that what I need and what I want may be different. And the reality is that it very much is! The worldliness in me tempts me to hold on to every comfort and desire for personal gain. It makes no sense to be generous if you’re walking the worldly path. Godliness, though, says that sufficiency for both life on earth and life in eternity comes from God alone. Godliness challenges us to see that what God has given us is what we need and that we don’t have to fear missing out on what is best for us as long as he is our provider.

We Give Cheerfully Because We Understand God’s Plan

When we trust in God’s provision we begin to overcome our fear of sowing bountifully, but we may still be tempted to give and not give “cheerfully.” Trusting God’s provision needs to be matched with understanding God’s plan. I want to propose to you that the deeper you understand the good news of Jesus’ generosity toward you, the more joyful you will be in reflecting that generosity.

In 2 Cor. 9:11-15, Paul shows us God’s plan to enrich his people so that

2 Corinthians 9:11–15 ESV

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!

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