Day By Day - 2 Corinthians 9
By Leanne Rich
Opening Thoughts:
In this chapter, Paul gives advice to the Corinthian church about how to use the administrative gifts mentioned in Romans 12:7-8. The gifts specifically referred to by Paul were giving and serving.
This church seems to have been well resourced compared to others that Paul had visited and he encouraged them to share their wealth. In practical terms, Paul instructs the Corinthian congregation in the following:
1. Preparation for giving and serving
Paul gave the church advance warning of the visit by fellow missionaries who would collect funds for distribution. This means that Paul knew of the needs of the poorer churches and called upon the richer churches to contribute.
The individuals in the Corinthian church could then have time to save and contribute their best. It appears the hat was not just passed around on the day to collect what people could spare.
2. Each person to decide what they could give.
The gift was a deliberate one, decided beforehand. So a certain sum of money was decided by the giver, not just a notion to 'give something'.
3. The attitude of the giver and server
Verse 7, "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
4. God increases our wealth in order that we can contribute more generously.
Verse 11, "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."
Final Thoughts:
The result of the generous application of administrative gifts, Paul said, would be praise and gratefulness to God for providing the need of less fortunate believers.
Verse 13, "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."
Opening Thoughts:
In this chapter, Paul gives advice to the Corinthian church about how to use the administrative gifts mentioned in Romans 12:7-8. The gifts specifically referred to by Paul were giving and serving.
This church seems to have been well resourced compared to others that Paul had visited and he encouraged them to share their wealth. In practical terms, Paul instructs the Corinthian congregation in the following:
1. Preparation for giving and serving
Paul gave the church advance warning of the visit by fellow missionaries who would collect funds for distribution. This means that Paul knew of the needs of the poorer churches and called upon the richer churches to contribute.
The individuals in the Corinthian church could then have time to save and contribute their best. It appears the hat was not just passed around on the day to collect what people could spare.
2. Each person to decide what they could give.
The gift was a deliberate one, decided beforehand. So a certain sum of money was decided by the giver, not just a notion to 'give something'.
3. The attitude of the giver and server
Verse 7, "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
4. God increases our wealth in order that we can contribute more generously.
Verse 11, "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."
Final Thoughts:
The result of the generous application of administrative gifts, Paul said, would be praise and gratefulness to God for providing the need of less fortunate believers.
Verse 13, "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."
Posted in 2 Corinthians