2 Corinthians 9:6-9

                                                                             2 Corinthians 9:6-9

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  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.  As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”

Motivation is an important consideration in all our lives.  Care must be taken to make sure we are doing the right things for the right reasons.  Paul is striving to give the church in Corinth clear motivation as to why they should give generously.  These same motives continue to be true in our lives.  Paul is not manipulating giving for his own benefit, he is motivating giving for the benefit of others.

  

GOD REWARDS OUR GENEROUS GIVING: We must be careful not to think that generosity will result in immediate prosperity.  God’s rewards are far more beneficial than earthly prosperity.  We do not give as an attempt to manipulate God into giving us more.  God may choose to entrust a generous person with additional and even abundant resources as a result of our faithfulness with what we have.  However, that should not be our motive for giving.  What God does promise is much better than wealth.  He promises eternal rewards.  When we are faithful to give abundantly, God will grant abundant eternal rewards which are far more precious than prosperity on earth.

 

GOD LOVES OUR CHEERFUL GIVING: The key to qualifying for these abundant rewards is not only the abundance of our giving, but the attitude of our giving.  We should not give out of some compulsion to give or some sense of obligation.  Our giving should be joyful and free.  It is a privilege to be able to give and should be considered as such.  Giving is not something that is an obligation imposed on us by a God who needs or gifts.  Giving is an opportunity afforded to us by a God who loves to reward His children.

 

GOD ENABLES OUR GRACIOUS GIVING: The ability to give and even the desire to give are graces bestowed upon us by God.  He not only provides the means to give but also the motivation to give as a result of His grace on us.  We can be gracious in our giving only because of His grace in our lives.  It is an amazing thing that God rewards us in eternity for the giving that He enables us to do in the first place.  Grace is the only way to describe such a reality.

 

APPLICATION: Look forward to and place a high value on the eternal rewards God has promised us.  They are proper motivations for giving.  Don’t be fooled into being motivated by temporal wealth that God has never promised.  Don’t give out of a sense of obligation but give from a joyful heart.  Thank God for His grace in enabling and giving us the desire to give.

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