King James Version, with Nii Okai's journal notes · 3 notes
Read 2 Corinthians 9 in the app
1For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:
2For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.
3Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready:
4Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we ( that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.
5Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.
I love that, practical and pragmatic steps to avoid any embarrassment when it came to giving.
We bless God for wisdom.
6But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
In other words, and looking at the context from the previous verse stating that they were being pre-informed so they give out bountifully and not grudgingly, as the NKJV says,
they that sow bountifully would reap bountifully, and they that sow sparingly (not that they did not have but are compelled to give, but have and yet are stingy and withhold) will reap sparingly.
This does not mean we should compel people to give what they don't have to their own hurt.
See the widow who gave 2 mites at the temple 🏛.
Jesus said she had given more than those who had given so much.
So let's all give according to what we have in our hearts 💕 and 👐 hands to give.
We should always give bountifully and, where we can, give over and beyond, as exemplified by some of the early church.
7Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
8And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
We can see the Apostle Paul nudging the believer towards giving more and bountifully, so they get blessed through their giving, whilst also maintaining sound doctrine so they do not feel compelled to give in a wrong way or out of compulsion.
9( As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
10Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
11Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
12For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
13Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;
14And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.
15Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.