"Offering"(2 Corinthians 9:1-9)

 2 Corinthians 9:1-9

 

In Second Corinthians, Paul talks to the church about offerings. In verses 1 to 5 Paul is excited to write about the eagerness of this church in Corinth concerning the preparation of their gifts for God. In fact, their zeal is an inspiration for Christians to give.

 

for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them.

2 Corinthians 9:2 ESV

 

We, too, need to prepare before we give gifts to God. This also includes our offerings of worship to God. Much like athletes who need to prepare before a game, we, too must ready our hearts and minds before going to church. Those athletes who prepare well before a game will perform better. With a church service, the more we prepare our hearts, the better we receive the service.

 

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

2 Corinthians 9:6 ESV

 

Paul mentions a crucial point about giving. Many people might want to give after all their expenses and other monetary concerns have been taken care of, but, for God, we need to give first with a grateful heart. This is not just with our finances but with also our time. Indeed, we should not give sparingly to God, but generously. Too often we give just a few minutes of our time late at night just before we go to bed instead of giving our best time to God. We should sow abundantly with intention by laying down everything to God as we desire to. Our desire should be to please God and not others.

 

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

2 Corinthians 9:7 ESV

 

By giving cheerfully and not reluctantly to God, God in return will give you grace. God will work out those things that seem to be lacking. There may not seem to be enough time, money, or other resources to give to God and accomplish all that you need to for God’s kingdom, but God will give the grace to endure and eventually succeed.

 

And God can make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

2 Corinthians 9:8 ESV

 

God has given to us abundantly, and we can show our love to giving back to God abundantly. And we can do this with the knowledge that when we set out to do God's work, God will support us. God will take us to the end.