"That is the Art - giving" – 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 The apostle Paul relates some of the wonderful benefits and rewards of Christian giving. First, it establishes the law of the harvest. It is a well-known fact in agriculture that a generous sowing of seed is necessary if there is to be a generous harvest. Perhaps the farmer is ready to sow the seed in the field.
I. He will sow liberally.
A. He will sow everything or take some of the grain to use.
1. Eat food in the months to come.
2. The thought here is that if you sow it "generously," you will also reap out of all proportion to what you sow.
3. We should remember this regarding agriculture; The farmer does not reap the exact amount of grain he sows, but much more in proportion (constant ratio with another).
4. So, it is with Christian giving.
5. (7) Each one must give as he purposed in his heart.
6. You will need to consider what is necessary for your immediate needs.
7. He will have to think of the just obligations he will incur during his normal life.
8. But then, above this, you must think of the needs of your brothers in Christ and of Christ's demands on you.
9. Taking all these considerations into account, it should not cause sadness, not even out of necessity.
10. It is possible to give and yet not be happy about it.
11. It is also possible that under the pressure of emotional appeals or feeling rushed before others.
12. None of these things will do.
13. "God loves the cheerful giver."
14. Does God really need our money?
15. No: His is the cattle on thousands of mountains and if He needed anything He would not tell us (Psalm 50:10) "for every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills". 11: "I know all the birds of the mountains, and everything that moves in the field belongs to Me." 12: "If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for mine is the world and its fullness (totality)."
16. But the attitude of our heart is what does matter.
17. He loves to see a Christian so full of joy in the Lord that wants to share with others what he has.
18. "God loves the cheerful giver."
19. Giving with joy is born of love and therefore is passionate who loves with passion and who rejoices in communion. Giving is the language of love; "Certainly, it has no other language; God so loved that He gave." Love finds its very life in giving itself. Their only pride in possessing is the joy of surrender. If love has all things, however, it possesses nothing.
20. (8) Here we have a promise that, if someone really wants to be generous, God will see to it that he receives the opportunity to do so.
21. Here the term "grace" (gift) is used as a synonym (equal) for resources (means) through His Son, our Heavenly Father.
22. God is powerful to supply us with resources so that we not only have all enough ourselves, but so that we can share with others what we have and thus abound for every good work.
23. Let's look at everything: all grace, always (i.e., always), sufficient, all things, all good work.
24. (9) Psalm 112:9: The expression "scattered" refers to the act of sowing the seed.
25. This verse describes a man who has been generous in his sowing of the seed or more particularly in his actions of kindness.
26. The specific goodness to which he is dedicated is to give to the poor.
27. Are you a loser for such an action?
28. No!
29. "His righteousness will stand forever."
30. This means that if we scatter (spread) the goodness as the sower scatters his seed, we will be storing up treasures in heaven.
31. The results of our kindness will remain forever.
32. (10) The illustration of the sower continues here.
33. The same God who supplies seed to the sower and bread to the eater, takes care that those who sow goodness (the essence of heavenly life, it is the way a Christ-like person treats others) reap (cut) certain rewards to others.
34. First, it will multiply our sowing (planting).
35. The Corinthians were righteous in giving to the saints in Jerusalem.
36. As a result of that gift, they received fruit by way of eternal reward.
37. As God increased his ability to give and as they increase (increase, grow in value, size, number, importance) their generosity, the rewards would increase correspondingly.
38. (11) Of course, it is clear with this action that no one is impoverished by giving to the Lord.
39. Rather, every act of kindness has an action that reflects the reward that is given out of all proportion to the gift that is given. Amen
Christian Church Mega Zoé · Pastor Edermira Cruz
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