The Christians in Corinth had initially expressed an enthusiastic willingness to help the struggling believers in Jerusalem who were up against tough times. When the Apostle Paul first mentioned it, they were cheerfully anxious to help. But then problems arose in their local church.

In addition to other things, false teachers in Corinth planted problems, and rumours began to spread about Paul himself. Some hinted that Paul was up to no good and may even be money hungry. Who could trust his motives? Maybe he was milking the Christians.

Whatever was being said in Corinth, it certainly threw a damper on the Christians’ willingness to help out the poverty-stricken believers in Jerusalem. Internal assembly issues had side-tracked them, and their generous gift never materialized.

That’s the background of the two full chapters in 2 Corinthians that instruct believers on spiritual giving. Yes, the Holy Spirit, through Paul, saw fit to devote considerable space to the single topic of Christian giving. Here are just two verses from that section:

Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed… 2 Corinthians 9:7-8

If you are young, make it your lifelong desire before the Lord to be a generous and cheerful giver. The Greek word for purpose (proaireomai), in verse 7, is only used once in the New Testament. So its single mention makes it unique. It means a predetermined plan of action – a conscious, voluntary choice made in advance that’s permanent and long-term in nature. Have I spent much time praying about how I can express the love of God to others in the community and in Christian circles by generous giving?

Paul says God uniquely loves those who are happily committed to generous giving. Am I a cheerful giver – enthusiastically thrilled with the pleasure of giving? Giving without any hint of reluctance – giving with joy?

Yes, we are to give ourselves to the Lord. And we are to give our time to the Lord, and we are to give our talents to the Lord – but here it is our treasures! Our hard-earned and often scarce cash. God loves Christians who happily help others materially – whether directly with money or indirectly by making goods and services available to others in need. The context here is giving to help meet the temporal needs of poor Christians.

As a good Christian steward, whether I’m a student, secretary, homemaker, mechanic or executive, I am to give wisely, generously, joyfully and continually. Will you be the loser if you dig deep and give generously? Study verse 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. 2 Corinthians 9:8

I will be a very great loser if I hang on to every cent, give miserly and give reluctantly and skimpily and only occasionally. Giving to others is an eternal investment, and the dividends will be evident when your Christian life is reviewed and rewarded at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

Sinner’s Prayer Messed Me Up – Joel Hovey’s Testimony

To underscore the importance of giving, we are pointed to the Supreme Example in both chapters.

“You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes, He became poor, that you through His poverty might be rich.”   2Corinthians 8:9

Then the concluding verse of Chapter 9 is: 

“Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable (indescribable) gift.” 2Corinthians 9:15

Yes, the gift of the Lord Jesus Christ.  God cheerfully and without reluctance gave His Son for us – why shouldn’t we, in turn, be cheerful givers representing our great and giving God? How could someone who has truly experienced God’s unmerited kindness and generosity not be a cheerful giver to others?

 Don’t hesitate to share a thought from your personal experience in the comment section below. Or, if you would like to reach out privately, click below.