A Giving Christian

Paul just reminded the Corinthian church of their commitment, their commitment to give to God’s program. He had bragged on their enthusiasm. He used the

Your Meter for Giving.

Giving can be a meter to show where your spiritual progress is. Your giving should be consistent. You should give weekly to the cause of Christ. The bills of the church come consistently. The maintenance of the church comes consistently. The giving should be done consistently. Your giving should be done cheerfully. Blessed is the cheerful giver. Moses asked the people to give to the tabernacle from the heart. There was so much given that the leader had to say stop. When finances are given cheerfully God is pleased. The best is given and there are no hard feelings. Your giving should not be a duty but a privilege. Giving is a way to continue to be a part of the plan of God. God has a plan for this church.

2 Corinthians 9:6 NKJV

But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

He which soweth

sparingly shall reap also sparingly

bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

Paul uses the life of a farmer to drive home the point. The farmer sows (plants) according to how much he wants to reap (harvest). If a little crop is desired result then he will plant a little. If a large crop is desired result then he will plant a lot.

Proverbs 11:24 NKJV

There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty.

Your Motive when Giving.

2 Corinthians 9:7 NKJV

So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

To Honor God

Proverbs 3:9 NKJV

Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase;

Honor the Lord with your Possessions

Give to The Poor

Proverbs 28:27 He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: But he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.

Give to The Pastor

1 Timothy 5:17–18

17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.

Give to The Powerless

James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Your Profits

9 Honor the Lord . . . with the first-fruits of all thine increase

Deuteronomy 14:22 Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.

Malachi 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be meat in mine house, And prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, If I will not open you the windows of heaven, And pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Cheerfulness

Exodus 25:2 NKJV

“Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering. From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take My offering.

Exodus 35:5 NKJV

‘Take from among you an offering to the Lord. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as an offering to the Lord: gold, silver, and bronze;

Generosity

2 Corinthians 9:6 NKJV

But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

2 Corinthians 9:7 NKJV

So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

(NKJV) — 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

Discipline

1 Corinthians 16:2–4 NKJV

On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. And when I come, whomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem. But if it is fitting that I go also, they will go with me.

Humility

Matthew 6:2–4 NKJV

Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

A willing spirit

2 Corinthians 8:12 NKJV

For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.

A sacrificial spirit

Mark 12:41–44 NKJV

Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.”

2 Corinthians 8:1–4 NKJV

Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

The Marvel received through Giving

In your supply.

2 Corinthians 9:8 NKJV

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

God is able to make all grace abound toward you

always having all sufficiency in all things

may abound to every good work:

The New Living Translation says it so we can see what Paul is really saying.

8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. NLT

2 Corinthians 9:10 NKJV

Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness,

And God, who supplies seed for the sower and bread to eat, will also supply you with all the seed you need and will make it grow and produce a rich harvest from your generosity.

2 Corinthians 9:11 NKJV

while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.

Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.

11 He will always make you rich enough to be generous at all times, so that many will thank God for your gifts which they receive from us.

In your ministry

2 Corinthians 9:12 NKJV

For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God,

For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints

12 For this service you perform not only meets the needs of God's people

1. Needs of God’s people are meet

2 Corinthians 9:12 NKJV

For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God,

2. Praises are given to God

, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;

but also produces an outpouring of gratitude to God.

2 Corinthians 9:12 NKJV

For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God,

3. Proof will be provided

2 Corinthians 9:13 NKJV

while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men,

Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;

13 And because of the proof which this service of yours brings, many will give glory to God for your loyalty to the gospel of Christ, which you profess, and for your generosity in sharing with them and everyone else. TEV

Eccl 11:1 Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.

Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.