2 Corinthians 10
And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year
ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. 11 So
now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may
be matched by your completing it out of what you have. 12 For if the
readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not
according to what he does not have. 13 For I do not mean that others
should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness 14
your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that
their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. 15 As
it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever
gathered little had no lack.”
2 Corinthians 9:1 Now
it is superfluous for me to write to you about the ministry for the
saints, 2 for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the
people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year.
And your zeal has stirred up most of them. 3 But I am sending the
brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this
matter, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be. 4 Otherwise,
if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we
would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—for being so confident. 5 So I
thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and
arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be
ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.
Be ready to give - not just what you’ve got left. Think about it. Plan for it. Discuss it. Pray about it.
6 The
point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and
whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must
give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under
compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
How can giving be cheerful? When money is in it’s proper place as gift rather than God.
8
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all
sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good
work. 9 As it is written,
“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.”
10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply
and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your
righteousness. 11You will be enriched in every way to be generous in
every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.
God will supply your needs so that you can be generous. God is giving you stuff so that you can give it away! It his stuff and he knows what’s best for you to do with it. It’s not a case of how much of your money you should give to God, it’s how much of God’s money does he want you to use on yourself.
12
For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the
saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By
their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your
submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and
the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 14
while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing
grace of God upon you.
Our giving shows our understanding of the gospel. We give because we have received. Our generosity shows the gospel to others. People should recognise that we have a different attitude to money.
15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!