2 Corinthians 9:1-5
For regarding the service into the holy ones, it is unnecessary
for me to write to you all. For I have
known your desire – which I boast regarding you all in Macedonia – that Achaia
has been made ready since last year. And
your zeal has stirred up encouragement in the majority of people. And I sent the brothers in order that our
boasting about you all should not be emptied of its power in this matter – in order
that just as I was saying that you all should be having been made ready lest
some Macedonians should come with me and they should find you all unprepared
and we should be made to feel shame – in order to say nothing about you all –
in this trust. Therefore I consider it
necessary to encourage the brothers, to come ahead to you all and they should
prepare in advance your gift that has been previously promised to be prepared
in advance so as to be a blessing and not a grudging extortion.
Thoughts for Today
First Thought:
Most of this passage talks about giving – as will the
passages for the upcoming days. One of
the biggest points here in this passage is how giving inspires others to
give. When Paul spoke about the
Corinthians to the Macedonians, they were inspired. Generosity – true generosity and not competitive
generosity – is inspiring. It is also
contagious. This is why Paul is
concerned that the Corinthians will keep their word. If the Corinthians are being generous, their
example will inspire others.
Have you ever been inspired by the generosity of
others? What is inspirational for you
about a generous response to God’s calling?
Second Thought:
Part of this passage is a legitimate concern on Paul’s
behalf that the Corinthians would not make good on their promise. They had spoken well about how much they
would give, but all of the recent theological battles that had happened in
Corinth gave Paul reason to pause. With
all of the fighting that had gone on, it was highly possible that the collection
had gotten forgotten or that their zeal had become squelched. Unfortunately, Paul is aware of human
nature. We make big promises as human
beings. Sometimes we live up to
them. Sometimes our passion fades. Sometimes we forget altogether. This is why Paul writes to them and is happy
to have Titus and his friends go to Corinth.
Why do we as human beings experience a fading of our passion
as time goes on? Where have you been
guilty of such a truth about yourself?
Third Thought:
At the end of this passage Paul speaks about a blessing
versus extortion. I find this comparison
humorous but also unfortunately accurate.
Sometimes it feels like extortion to get people to support the work of
God. It never feels good as a leader to
need to use guilt or other negative pressure to get money. It often does truly feel like extortion. Paul doesn’t want to feel this way. He wants the Corinthians to give out of their
desire, not their guilt. For the record,
I believe that is what God desires, too.
God wants our hearts, not our grudging service.
Where in your life are you willing to give? Where in your life are you hesitant to give? What makes the difference for you?
Passage for Tomorrow: 2 Corinthians 9:6-9
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