When the economy of the nation crumbles, and people have less and less money (well let’s make it personal – you have less and less money), does God really expect a man to continue to give to His kingdom work financially? This is a question that in my brief ten years of marriage, I have asked myself at times. And the answer always seems to come back the same – give! I was taught, growing up in a Christian home and a good church, to always give to the Lord. But is this enough to keep me giving when it appears that the well is about to run dry?
I, as well as many other Christians I think, need better reasons for giving other than “The preacher said to give” or “My Daddy and Momma always gave something, so I’m going to give.” Paul provides us with that added incentive for giving in 2 Corinthians 9:6-15. He says first of all to the “cheerful giver” that:
1. God will reward the giving.
We have to be careful with this one; this is where much of the “Prosperity Gospel” has fueled its fire – from these verses. But it is clear from phrases like “He that sows sparingly will reap sparingly and He that sows bountifully will reap bountifully” in this passage that God does reward the man that gives to kingdom work. And conversely, God also does not bless the man that does not give. Paul reminds the giver that it is God that supplies all things to all men (vs. 10), and therefore it would be no problem for God to bless the giver in whatever way He (God) deems best. This reason for giving almost seems selfish, if it were not Paul the Apostle giving it. The Scriptures make it clear, that we can expect reward for our labors and giving, and it is not selfish to strive for the prize. But this is not the only reason Paul provides us for giving.
2. Our giving is a sacrifice of thanksgiving to God.
Paul writes to the Corinthians, “For the ministry of this service (the offering that he is collecting for the Jerusalem saints) is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.” How great are the designs of our heavenly Father! Notice all of the groups and individuals that He cares for in this cycle. The saints in Jerusalem receive the financial aid, the saints that give receive the blessings from God, and God receives the glory. Praise Him for His glorious design in giving. And on top of the blessings we receive in giving, the greatest is that we say “Thank You, Jesus!” by our giving to His (Jesus’) kingdom ministry. Paul closes by reminding us, “Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift!”
This is the gift of His Son, given freely to all mankind, to you dear reader, so that you might be made the rightousness of God in Him (2 Cor. 5:21). He was given a ransom for men to ransom them from their sin, from their slavery, and from their condemnation. Not only could we never outgive such a gift (this is not the reason for Paul’s writing this), we can never say “Thank You, God” enough. Therefore, I continue to give to the Lord’s work. Because I have to? Because if I don’t He will stike me with some illness, brake my automobile, or malfunction my refrigerator? (Side note: I actually have heard preachers say before, “God will get His money some way if you won’t give it” in reference to all of these bad things happening, and I thought, “How’s that going to give God His money?” The thoughts of an immature teen.) I think that I would like to give to the kingdom because it’s the best thing in the world that I can do with my resources right now. It blesses others, it blesses me, and it blesses my Father in heaven that has given me the inexpressible gift of His Son!
