Why do we give?

2 Corinthians 9:1-5.

Last week we saw as Paul had shared with the Corinthians the willingness and desire the Macedonian churches had in giving

Paul expressed the concern that he had that the church of Corinth would be able to have the same conviction

though He pointed out they had done so previously.

Tonight we see a little deeper into what the truth of that was.

Let’s look at verse 1

The New International Version Chapter 9

There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the Lord’s people. 2 For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action.

Not only did Paul know they had previously given and given eagerly,

but he had even bragged about them to the Macedonian churches.

It was because of this eagerness and Paul’s explanation of that, most of the Macedonians took action.

They were inspired by the actions of the Corinthians.

Have you ever been inspired by someone else’s actions

Has it ever pushed you to do something yourself?

vs. 3

The New International Version Chapter 9

But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be. 4 For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to say anything about you—would be ashamed of having been so confident.

Because of the previous enthusiasm and the bragging that Paul and the others ha done about the church of Corinth that Paul sent Titus and the two brothers

Why, because he had concern that their reaction could possibly not be the same as it had previously been.

I read somewhere one time a statement on this text that

Paul hoped that promising clouds would in fact produce rain.

If the Corinthians failed the to produce, then they would feel ashamed.

And this could happen in front of the less capable, yet extremely noble character of the Macedonians.

Have you ever heard the claim that you should never meet your heroes because you will wind up disappointed?

This is what I think of when I read what Paul is saying here.

If the Macedonians were lead or inspired to give by the stories of giving that Paul had told them of

then later they saw the Corinthians didn’t live up to the hype, they may be disappointed or discouraged.

this is why Paul would feel shame and the Corinthians might feel the same.

vs. 5

The New International Version Chapter 9

So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given

He wanted Titus and the brothers to go ahead too, so the giving that would happen by the Corinthians wouldn’t have to happen under pressure.

the motivation of pressure by others is not Godly motivation.

giving should not be done grudgingly

rather, it should be done willingly with a worshipful heart.

For those in need, it is usually good to receive and often it doesn’t matter to them the intentions behind the gift.

However, for the giver, it matters.

When we give because we think we have to

or because of some other outside reason, we are not giving at all.

we are succumbing to a duty.

When we are giving willingly

we are giving because we want to

This is one of the desires that is gained by having a strong relationship with Christ.

Why do you give

are you giving with a cheerful heart.