February 11, 2025
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Deuteronomy and Corinthians? Here’s today’s reading:
2 Corinthians 9 (NIV)
1 There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the Lord’s people. 2 For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action.……Continue Reading
2 Corinthians 9
Giving with the right heart and for the right reasons. Most obviously we give based on need, to help someone or in the idea of tithes to help the church function. We give as an expression of our thanks to God for ALL He has given us. We give because He asks us to, not because He needs our money but because we are His hands and feet and we give of our resources including our time and talents to care for people and show His love to them in a tangible way. We give to keep us in a mindset to put others first before ourselves.
Sow sparingly. And reap sparingly. Sow generously . Reap generously. Promise from God. Run a business started by my grandfather 1905. My father ran it for many years till his death February 21 1981. The day I became a man. No choice. Had to run the business. Take care of my mother and support 3 pieces of property. And it all came to pass. By the blessing from God. How could we not be grateful and help others with what our father has blessed us with?
2 Corinthians 9
2 Corinthians 8-9; Deuteronomy 21-22
I know of church folks who will not tithe-period. They see no reason, as others pay enough to keep the congregation going. One explained they give to other benevolence, but never to their church.
The first church collapsed.
The second church voted a budget that laid an impossible annual burden of >$3400 on every man, woman, child, and baby in a 71-member congregation. That budget collapsed, even though that person was one of 19 to vote for the budget.
The building we call “church” doesn’t exist out of thin air. This website is an example, Sorry, it requires money to keep it running, that responsibility is on all of our shoulders. The workman is worthy of his hire. Muzzle not the ox when he treadeth out the corn. Where have we robbed thee?
May the Holy Spirit move on these reluctant hearts like over the waters of old, and fan a flame of understanding! Giving is not our duty, or burden, it is our pleasure to have the opportunity to do it! -Reb
Amen, Gordon!
God wants us to be cheerful givers as it says in the following verses. 2 Cor. 9:6,7. {But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give, not grudgingly, or of necessity; for God loveth a cheerful giver.} God gave this principle throughout the Old and New Testaments. The Israelites were to help those in need like the example given in the book of Ruth. In the New Testament, Jesus tells His disciples and the crowds that it is better to give than receive. Acts 20:35 {I have shewed you all things; how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak; and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.} Luke 6:38 {Give and it shall be given unto you;—.} Jesus also tells us to not lay up for ourselves treasures on earth. Matthew 6:19a. In verse 20; He tells us to lay up treasures in Heaven. In other words we are to seek spiritual blessing like helping others. The joy of helping others whether spiritually or physically. May the Lord bless each and everyone of you.
This is why we are cheerful when we give: God blesses us, and he gives us everything we need to do his good work. Our service is an overflowing expression of our thanks to God. Others will praise God for our generosity and they will have a heartfelt connection with us because they can see the glory of God’s grace in us.
2 Corinthians 9
2 Corinthians 9
Paul continues to instruct us and the Corinthians about giving and the first point he makes is to follow through on whatever commitments we make to give. Paul was raising a fund for the sake of others and using the generosity of the Corinthians to motivate others to give..so Paul basically says, please don’t let me down. Because there are good reasons to give. One is because God is the source of everything and so when He calls us to be generous He is able to increase and multiply things in our lives that goes beyond just money. And we can certainly trust God in this and so we give because we want to, not because we have to. In fact we are to give with so much faith and thanksgiving, that we give cheerfully. Therefore we are to purpose what to give, letting God direct our hearts in it as well. And when we give in this way and people are impacted by our giving, then we allow others to be thankful to God because of what He has done for them through us.
”So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.“
II Corinthians 9:7 NKJV