Offering
II Corinthians 9:1-9
There were many churches at the time Paul wrote
II Corinthians suffering because there was a famine affecting the Roman Empire.
Paul didn't intend competition among churches but rather to encourage the Corinthians
to give.
The church needs leaders, but there are no perfect
leaders. Everyone needs support and encouragement and leaders also need this.
Paul was not trying to punish the Corinthian or
shame them, but he is trying to have them return to their original efforts to help.
2 Corinthians 9:5 ESV
[5] So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers
to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so
that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.
There are many ways to be a better Christian. One method is preparation.
2 Corinthians 9:3-4 ESV
[3] But I am sending the brothers so that our
boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready,
as I said you would be. [4] Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find
that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—for being so
confident.
Paul gives the example of preparing for mission
work. We need to prepare our hearts before we go to church. We have to make sure
our hearts are soft enough to receive His word. It is not enough to look good, but
to prepare for worship and the service.
The seed is important but if the soil is bad,
it will not grow. No matter how good the sermon, a hard heart will not allow for
the message to take root.
Paul also talks about offerings. Although in this
context it is money, offerings can be time, effort and attention
2 Corinthians 9:6 ESV
[6] The point is this: whoever sows sparingly
will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
When Paul speaks about giving generously, he is
talking about giving to God first and not the leftovers. This again is about our
time, efforts, attention and our resources. Giving sparingly to give what is left
over if there is anything.
Paul is not saying that we have to buy God's love
or his blessings. It is a response to the God's great love to us.
2 Corinthians 9:7 ESV
[7] Each one must give as he has decided in his
heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
When we realize that we do not truly own anything,
including our lives, we can act more generously. Through preparation and being joyful
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