The Result of Generosity

2 Corinthians 9:10–15 (NIV)

2 Corinthians 9:10–15 NIV

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. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

Background to the Text

Famine In Jerusalem

There was a bad drought in Jerusalem that was causing a severe famine.

The Jerusalem Christians had doubts that the Gentile Christians had genuinely given their lives to follow Jesus.

Paul Encouraging the Corinthians.

He uses the poverty on the Macedonians and the fact that they gave very generously to the offering.

Corinth was a wealthy place, Paul was encouraging giving out of generosity rather then out of duty.

This was an opportunity for the Gentile churches to show Christ to the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem.

Paul is addressing more directly how Christians with material means should serve the Lord: he calls such Christians to give cheerfully and generously in proportion to the way God has blessed them.

In verse 11 Paul makes three promises to the church in Corinth. These promises are a great example of how scripture looks at the Christian life we are called to live.

You Will Be Enriched

Growth In Christ

When Paul encourages the churches to be generous he promises spiritual growth.

He says that we will be enriched in every way. This means their is no limitations to where generosity can take us in our journey with Christ.

Generousity All the Time

We Become More Like Jesus

We grow in Christ and the result is the ability to be more generous.

This is the Jesus way, we become more like Christ.

The Result is Thanksgiving

Expression of Thanks to God (vs. 12)

When we are generous we not only supply for the needs of others, but we also are giving thanks to God.

Generosity creates a thankful heart in the person being generous.

Being generous shows that we are thankful to God for His many blessings. Because God has blessed us we bless others.

It Shows Evidence We Serve God (vs. 13)

Being a giving person is evidence of salvation, and because of this others will praise God

It Shows Obedience (vs. 13)

Others will praise God because of seeing our obedience to God.

When others see that we are placing our trust in God, when they see that we are making a sacrifice, they will praise God.

Giving is a Confession of the Gospel of Christ (vs. 13)

When we give generously we are showing Christ to others.

This is a profession of faith in Jesus.

It is evidence that we place our trust in Jesus and his love for others.