GIVING FROM GRATITUDE PRODUCES MORE GRATITUDE

November 18, 2023

You will be enriched in every way to be generous on every occasion, so that through us your giving will produce thanksgiving to God.  For this ministry of service is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanksgiving to God.

2 Corinthians 9:11-12 (BSB)

8:1–9:15 This section concerns the collection of money for poor Christians in Jerusalem (cf. Acts 19:21, 22; Rom. 15:25–28; 1 Cor. 16:1–4).

Sproul, R. C. ESV Reformation Study Bible, note on 2 Corinthians 8:1-9:15.

8:1–9:15 While this section specifically deals with Paul’s instruction to the Corinthians about a particular collection for the saints in Jerusalem, it also provides the richest, most detailed model of Christian giving in the NT.

MacArthur, John, NKJV MacArthur Study Bible, 2nd Edition, note on 2 Corinthians 8:1-9:15

Generosity is relative. For example, the widow who gave only two small coins but that was all she had (Mark 12:41-42) gave extremely generously. A person who has millions of dollars and gives $1000.00 may not be giving generously or may be very generous depending on his/her other obligations. It’s not about the amount. It’s about the heart that gives out of gratitude for God’s blessings and a desire to minister to those in need. It has been our experience that if God moves us to give an offering above our tithe to a mission trip or a person’s medical needs or some other situation, He enables us to give what we have joyfully purposed in our hearts to give. For example, we believed the Holy Spirit was leading us to give toward a mission trip. We were able to put at least $5.00 a week in an envelope toward that gift by giving up our Saturday donuts. We were living on a tight budget at the time but were able to give $100.00. Not much to some people, but it represented a sacrifice of our one budgeted indulgence for several weeks. We were thankful for the opportunity and ability to give, and the minister to whom we gave it was grateful to God as well. I’m sure the people he ministered to gave thanks to God for the mission team’s help to them. Grateful giving multiplies the thanksgivings to our Lord.

Is the Lord leading you to give an offering for a specific need? Pray and ask Him to enable you to give generously. We are not to give out of obligation, “Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). Giving is an act of expressing gratitude to God for His faithful provision for our daily needs and many unexpected, underserved gifts to us. It is a blessing to give someone else a reason to thank God.

Father, we thank You for providing not just for our needs but enough to share with others. Thank You for the opportunity to pray for others even when we are unable to contribute financially. Thank You for helping us to understand that everything we have comes from You and ultimately belongs to You.