Looking for a Better Connection 10: Generosity

2 Corinthians 9:1-15 

Let’s talk for a couple minutes here about the background of this chapter.  In Acts chapter 11, a prophet named Agabus gave a message from God warning that there would be a severe drought and famine that would affect Judea.  We are told this happened during the reign of Emperor Claudius, who ruled from 41-54 AD.  Sure enough, this is one of many events in the Bible that is corroborated by other sources.  The first century Jewish historian, Josephus, wrote about this famine and how particularly hard it was in Judea.   

The early Church responded to this famine by collecting money from the predominantly Gentile churches of Asia Minor, Greece, and Macedonia.  This was to meet the needs of Jewish Christians in Judea, but it was also done as an effort to build unity in the Church.  There was a great deal of tension between Jewish and Gentile believers.  There were some Jewish believers who wanted to see Gentile Christians take on Jewish cultural practices in addition to believing in Christ.   

So as Paul and his co-workers were out and about on his third missionary journey, they collected these funds.  Then they were planning to take them to Jerusalem.  The Corinthian Church, we are told, had an early and enthusiastic response to this collection.  But a year later, it appears that they had not really followed through.  Or at least they had not followed through in the way that the Macedonian churches had.  Those had given enthusiastically and beyond what was expected of them.  Macedonia was not wealthy, at least not in comparison to Corinth, which was probably the wealthiest church in the first century world.   

Paul reminds them that, “It’s not the amount of the gift, but the spirit, the attitude, in which it is given.  God loves a cheerful giver.”   

Why do people give?  I think there are probably four basic reasons.   

One is that sometimes people give out of a sense of obligation.  “I have to.”  And I think if we’re honest, we probably all do that from time to time.  Because of our position or our associations or our relationships, sometimes we give to causes because we feel we ought to.   

Second, sometimes people give for the sense of self-satisfaction they receive.  “I’m a good person because I gave.”  The focus is more on the giver than on the recipient of the gift, in this case. 

Third, sometimes people give out of pride.  They give for the prestige of being seen as a benevolent person.  “Sure I’d be happy to give $10 million dollars for the new building at the university.  Oh, you want to name it after me.  Well, okay, if you must.”   

All of these “get the job done,” but none of them are ideal.  Ideally, we give because love compels us.  Our focus is on the needs of others.  After all, this is the example of God himself:  “For God so loved the world he gave his only Son.”  Exodus 25 teaches us that giving should flow out of a willing heart.  And Paul says here at the end of this chapter, “Thank God for his Son – a gift too wonderful for words.”  Can we who have been treated so generously by God be anything less than generous to our fellow human beings? 

Paul also teaches us in this chapter about the fundamental principle of generosity:  We do not lose by giving.  Generosity works according to the principle of sowing and reaping.  If you sow generously, then you also reap generously.  Imagine a farmer who has ten bags of grain.  What’s going to happen if he says, “Well, I just can’t part with all of them.  I’m only going to plant one bag.”  Is he going to have an abundant harvest?  Nope, not at all.    

God promises us rewards for our generosity.  It’s not a “maybe it will happen” situation.  He promises it.  In Deuteronomy 15:10, it reads, “If you give generously to the poor, God will bless you.”  In Psalm 112:9, it says, “If you share generously with the poor, your good deeds will be remembered.”  And Jesus taught us in Luke 14:14 that if you help those who can’t repay you, God will reward you.   

So the rewards are promised.  But, and it’s a big but, God never says that those rewards will be material.  Oh, we’d like that, right?  I give away $10,000 and God will reward me with $100,000!  Nope.  Not what God says.   

So, what are the rewards?  First, we will be rich in love if we are generous with others.  We will have love in ourselves and we will receive love from others.  Second, we will be rich in friendships.  Third, we will be rich in help.  If we find ourselves in need, others will be ready to help us out.  And fourth, we will be rich in our relationship with God.  “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.”   

This gets us into the benefits of generosity:   

First, the needs of others are relieved.   

Second, it brings glory to God.  “They will break out in thanksgiving to God.”