God Speaks
I realize that I really don’t even need to mention this to you, about helping God’s people. 2 For I know how eager you are to do it, and I have boasted to the friends in Macedonia that you were ready to send an offering a year ago. In fact, it was this enthusiasm of yours that stirred up many of them to begin helping. 3 But I am sending these men just to be sure that you really are ready, as I told them you would be, with your money all collected; I don’t want it to turn out that this time I was wrong in my boasting about you. 4 I would be very much ashamed—and so would you—if some of these Macedonian people come with me, only to find that you still aren’t ready after all I have told them!
5 So I have asked these other brothers to arrive ahead of me to see that the gift you promised is on hand and waiting. I want it to be a real gift and not look as if it were being given under pressure.
6 But remember this—if you give little, you will get little. A farmer who plants just a few seeds will get only a small crop, but if he plants much, he will reap much. 7 Everyone must make up his own mind as to how much he should give. Don’t force anyone to give more than he really wants to, for cheerful givers are the ones God prizes. 8 God is able to make it up to you by giving you everything you need and more so that there will not only be enough for your own needs but plenty left over to give joyfully to others. 9 It is as the Scriptures say: “The godly man gives generously to the poor. His good deeds will be an honor to him forever.”
10 For God, who gives seed to the farmer to plant, and later on good crops to harvest and eat, will give you more and more seed to plant and will make it grow so that you can give away more and more fruit from your harvest.
11 Yes, God will give you much so that you can give away much, and when we take your gifts to those who need them they will break out into thanksgiving and praise to God for your help. 12 So two good things happen as a result of your gifts—those in need are helped, and they overflow with thanks to God. 13 Those you help will be glad not only because of your generous gifts to themselves and to others, but they will praise God for this proof that your deeds are as good as your doctrine. 14 And they will pray for you with deep fervor and feeling because of the wonderful grace of God shown through you.
15 Thank God for his Son—his Gift too wonderful for words.
Source: The Living Bible: BibleGateway.com
We Respond
Reflection: In chapter 9, Paul continued to discuss the “gift of giving” with the Corinthians. He told them that their own willingness to give in support of the Christians in Jerusalem had served as a catalyst inspiring the Macedonians to do the same. To ensure that neither he nor they would be embarrassed by their not being ready, Paul was planning to send men ahead of him to supervise the collection of the money: that way there would be no pressure when he arrived. He reminded them that the resulting output was in direct proportion to their input. Little in = little out; much in = much more out. This principle is confirmed in both the Old Testament and in everyday life. Their generous giving would have two positive results: others would rejoice because their needs had been met, and God would be thanked because He had motivated them to give. We are to be eternally thankful for the most precious gift God has bestowed upon us–Jesus Christ, His Son.
Prayer: Dear loving God who has promised to give us more than we could ask or imagine, thank You. First, please give me a willingness to sacrifice for the sake of others. Thank You for those who have sacrificed their money, time, or energy on my behalf in the past. Please help me to apply the principle of “little in = little out; much in = much more out” in my life. I want to see others rejoice because their needs are met, and You thanked because You motivated me to give. I will be eternally grateful for Your most precious gift–Jesus. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, which one of these He wants you to work on or something else more personal that He points out.)
- I will both ask and thank God for the “gift of giving.”
- I will ask God to increase my willingness to give.
- I will think back over my life to see where the principle of “little in = little out; much in = much more out” has been true in my own life.
- I will show my thankfulness to God for His gift of Jesus and His self-sacrifice by generously and sacrificially giving to others.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.