God wants all believers to give cheerfully: (Chap.9)
After discussing the principles of giving, Paul continues to write to them that there are great promises we can claim by our giving to the ministry. No one should take it as a burden or legal obligation but be joyful and experience the freedom and cheerfulness in giving.
Great blessings in store for us: (9:1-5):
Apostle Paul has promised that he would be in Corinth to collect the gift personally for the relief of Jerusalem Christians. A previous collection for the Jerusalem saints was told in (Acts 11:29). Paul says, he does not need to remind them of the collection because Corinthians were already willing to give but he wants to make sure that they will do it fast as a team of 3-persons (Titus and two other brothers) are coming to Corinth to encourage them and take collection. Paul says: “Your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action” (9: 2). Paul had boasted about the generosity of Corinthian believers before the Macedonian Christians (the churches of Philippi, Thessalonica and Berea).A year before, they had urged Paul to take up this missionary offering and had pledged their support. The apostle had used their zeal as an encouragement to the other churches, and now he reminds them of their promise. If they fail to do, they would discourage other Christians and also embarrass him. Since they were willing to make an offering a year ago, Paul says complete it now so that you can have special blessings.
Paul called this collection as “a bounty. He wanted them to look upon it as an opportunity to receive blessing, and not as a yoke on their necks. Paul wanted the whole business of the collection completed before he arrived, so there would be no difficulty in receiving the collection. The gift should be generous but not grudgingly given or given with an obligation. The generous gift means it is given with a right attitude and the amount of gift should commensurate with the person’s faithfulness. Many Christians misunderstand the true blessing of giving! By giving, it gives blessing to both who receive andto those who share. When a Christian is faithful in giving, he or she is a blessing to others and encouragement to other Christians to be obedient to the Word. We need to understand that the grace of God flows with no limitation to any individual so our offering should not be obligatory.
Right attitude of giving fetches blessings: (9:6-11):
Apostle Paul gives a beautiful agricultural example of sowing the seeds. If a farmer were to sow few seeds because he wanted to hold on to as much seed as he could, he would have more seed in his barn after sowing time. But at the harvest, the one who sowed more seed would have much more grain in his barn. A spiritual harvest of course, may differ in kind from the seed sown.
But just as the sower gives the seed in anticipation of a future harvest, we should give with the same heart. Paul speaks of a bountiful sowing from each believer. “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). He further says: “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver”(9:7). This means that each believer should give in proportion to what he has. It is quite often that this verse is misunderstood and say that as long as we cheerfully give God will accept it. But Paul says: Giving must be from the heart and God loves a cheerful giver. This indicates that it definitely matters how much we give to the Lord and the ministry. We must be obedient to the call and give the right gift with right motive. A man of God said: “Give according to your income, lest God will make your income according to your giving.”
By giving to the Lord we will never be the losers. The Lord can never be in debt to any man, and we should never be afraid of giving God too much. Spiritually or materially, we can’t out-give God. Our God is “Jehovah Jireh.” He is faithful to supply all our needs, spiritually, materially or physically. The widow of Zarephath is the perfect example for all those who give much to the Lord. He meets not only all our needs, but provides us to help others. We are to abound in every good work. God is concerned about how we give from the resources that we have (Mk.12:41-44). We should look upon giving as an opportunity to show our love for God. It is not difficult to suggest why God delights in the cheerful giver. He himself is such a giver and desires to see this characteristic restored among those who were created in his image.” (Kruse).