2 Corinthians 9.6-8
The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will
also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap
bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not
reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is
able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having
enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.
Paul has previously shared
with the Corinthians the needs of the Christians in Jerusalem, where there has
been famine and hardship. The Corinthians have promised to help, but it seems
that no actual money has been forthcoming – yet! Paul encourages them to set
this right.
Fear is a great enemy of
generosity. What if there isn’t enough left for us? But Paul reminds his
readers that everything they have comes from God. Their generosity should be
rooted in an awareness of God’s generosity to them. “God loves a cheerful giver”, he says, not one who gives because
they must, but who gives because they know how much God has given to them.
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