CHAPTER 9

1 For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:
2 For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia,
that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.

In the above, Paul gives complimentary praise to the church in Corinth.
He feels it is "superfluous" to write more concerning the collection
he intends to collect there.
He already knows their mind is set to give.
And, he has bragged about it to the churches of Macedonia.

Achaia was the province of which Corinth was the captitol.
He knew the area, and knew the people were ready to give because
the church in Corinth had "provoked" many to give.
((By the way, the word provoked is translated from the Greek erethizo,
which means to stimulate.))

When the church (people) give in a cooperative manner to the
church (organization), aid to others is MULTIPLIED!

3 Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf;
that, as I said, ye may be ready:
4 Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared,
we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.

Paul had sent Titus and another "brother" to the church in Corinth
to aid in them being "ready" for the collection.

This way, his bragging of them to the Macedonians would not have been
"in vain."
Paul had initiated a great response to the collection in Macedonia by
bragging on the church in Corinth.
(See 2Cor. 8:1-4)

When churches begin to give cooperatively for specific purposes
aid is MULTIPLIED tremendously.

5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would
go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty,
whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready,
as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.

Paul had sent Titus and the other "brother" to Corinth
"before" he came himself to gather the collection.
His desire was that they would give because of generosity
and not because they were cooerced.

Giving should be inspired, yes - but never coerced!

((I remember being in a church where the offering was taken
with long poles which had a basket attached to the end.
If you didn't give willingly, you were POKED!))

Sermons should sometimes utilize inspirational statements which
highlight a DESIRE to give.
But a whole sermon on giving may be used as COERCION!

6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly;
and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give;
not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

Paul illustrates giving with the example of planting crops.
If you sow (plant) sparingly you will also reap (harvest) sparingly!
If you sow (plant) bountifully you will also reap (harvest) bountifully!

Remember about planting:
1) You ONLY reap if you plant!
2) You will reap WHAT you plant!
3) And, you will reap MORE than you plant!

Again, may I say, giving should be a matter of the heart,
in prayerful consideration of what GOD wants, and not what WE want!

Remember: "God LOVES a CHEERFUL giver!"

8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye,
always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

The FIRST thing we should do with our paycheck is CONSULT
with God about how much we should give back to HIM!

GOD IS ABLE!
He is able to HELP you budget what you HAVE so that you can GIVE!
He is able to pour out abundant grace which will supply ALL your NEEDS!
He is able to AID you in ABOUNDING in EVERY good work!

The question is, are you WILLING to LET Him be ABLE in your money?

Is this a basis for some televangelist to coerce you into giving
MORE than you can afford?
NO!
Does it mean if you give a LOT you will GET a lot MORE?
NO!

We must be FAITHFUL to seek God about what we should give.
But we must never PRESUME upon God to grant us more than we NEED!

GOD IS ABLE!
WE must be RESPONSIBLE!

9(As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor:
his righteousness remaineth for ever.
10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food,
and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us
thanksgiving to God.

Paul is quoting from and using the spiritual assurance in Ps. 112:9.
He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever;
his horn shall be exalted with honour.

Let our Lord be our example.
He disburses liberally.
God gives us the seed to plant.
He also gives us the ability to plant, nuture and harves so that we have food.

God has also disbursed righteousness to the poor!

You and I are poor in the respect that we HAVE no righteousness!
But through Christ, God has disbursed to us HIS righteousness!

God has disbursed LOVE, MERCY, GRACE, and ETERNAL GLORY to we who
are POOR IN SIN!

STILL, God's righteousness endureth FOREVER!
He NEVER runs out!

With one hand you give; with the other you receive.
God is ABLE to BALANCE those two!

And, when we give for the benefit of the church organization,
God is ABLE to MULTIPLY that for the benefit of others!

You may not be able to go to a foreign country and preach the Gospel.
But cooperative giving can MULTIPLY your giving so that someone else CAN!

Your giving through the church organization may bring THOUSANDS
to know Jesus as LORD and SAVIOR!

12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints,
but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed
subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;
14 And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.

Giving is evidence of your desire to use what God has given you
for His glory!

Giving is evidence of "thanksgiving(s)" to God.
Giving is used to help other Christians who may be less fortunate.
Giving is used to advance the Gospel of Christ to others.
Giving is also evidence of your "subjection" to Christ!

Looking at verse 14 for a moment, consider this:
your giving may inspire others to pray more earnestly for you
and provide more than monetary blessings in your life!

15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

THE "gift" of God is "unspeakable"!
We CANNOT express in words the gift of Jesus Christ for our salvation!
However, we CAN express in small ways our THANKS to God!

Earnest prayer is one of those ways.
Bible study is one of those ways.
Attending church services is one of those ways.
Sharing the gospel is one of those ways.

And giving is one of those ways!

Give thanks!
Give praise!
Give attendance, prayer, Bible study.

And, give monetarily to further aid and the Gospel of Christ!

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.
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