Verses 1-2 For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you: 2 For 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.
This chapter is about sacrificial giving with a cheerful heart and the rewards and blessings that come to pass from this positive attitude and ministry. Here the Apostle Paul acknowledges that the Corinthians want to collect for the poor and less fortunate brethren and that he has boasted of them to others.
Verses 3-4 Yet 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: 4 Lest 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.
However, he warns the Corinthians that having a zeal does not mean much if unprepared to give gifts when the brethren collecting these gifts arrive to receive them.
Verse 5 Therefore 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.
So the Apostle Paul wants the brethren involved with this ministry of raising gifts for the saints in need to go to Corinth and assist as necessary in helping with this project before he, and the men from Macedonia to whom Paul has been boasting about the giving nature of the Corinthian church, show up to collect the gifts. If they are unprepared, they will be embarrassed.
Verse 6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
Application: This is a principle that God has established in His kingdom and for His people. He will reward His people regardless of the size of their unselfish giving, but the more given, the greater the reward. Again an agricultural metaphor is presented here. If lots of alfalfa seed is sown, lots of hay will grow if watered and properly cared for. If little alfalfa seed is sown, the hay crop will be very small. Likewise, the more a Christian believer invests in the Kingdom of God, the more results will be seen both on Earth and later in Heaven. This investment is not necessarily in the form of money, although there is always a need for funds in the ministry of the Church. But time given is also an investment. Teaching and mentoring a new believer is an investment. Teaching children about Jesus is an investment. Providing meals for someone recovering from an illness or surgery or grieving from the loss of a loved one is an investment. Whatever a person uses to sow spiritual seeds in the Kingdom of God will not go unnoticed by the LORD and blessings will be given by Him to reward His servant. The greatest blessing will be when after physical death, his people arrive before the throne of God and hear the words, “Well done thou good and faithful servant. Thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” Matthew 25:21
Caution: Many of today’s televangelists preach and teach a “seed doctrine” by taking verses like the one above out of context. This doctrine is simply that if you want to get rich, or if you want to get money for some purpose such as paying down debt or buying a car, just give all that you can to their ministry and watch blessings in the form of money flow into one’s life. This is not how it works. Believers are to give because their heart is right and they love their LORD and Saviour and allow Him to direct they sacrificial giving. They are not to give because they want a high return on their financial investment. Giving to these charlatans just allows them to “fleece the flock” and purchase jets, gold toilet seats, and strip-malls for their own greedy purposes.
Verse 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
Notice that the Apostle Paul does not give a specific money amount or percentage that Christians are encouraged to give. The Old Testament required people to “tithe” more than 10% and most churches today who teach and preach tithing use the 10% amount to “extort” money from their congregations. This writer uses the verb, extort, on purpose because congregants are made to feel guilty if they do not tithe a specific amount on a regular basis. To extort means to obtain by force, threats, or other unfair means. The unfair means used from the pulpit and from televangelists is emotional blackmail: guilt, fear of God being angry, fear of not being considered a “good” Christian, and so forth. Jesus Christ never demanded, pressured, or begged for money during His 31/2 years of ministry. God’s shepherds (pastors, evangelists, teacher, youth pastors) are to be like Jesus and never pressure people to give. The only requirement from the LORD regarding giving to His ministry is to allow the Holy Ghost/Spirit to guide the believer in what to give and when to give and to give with a cheerful heart and not begrudgingly.
Verses 8-9 And 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: 9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
Grace is unmerited favor. It is when God blesses His people even though they do not deserve it. So grace is giving what is not deserved but mercy is not giving what is deserved such as punishment for sin. These two attributes of God are often confused. The Apostle Paul is teaching that when believers want to give and to give from a pure heart, God will give His grace to believers and provide for them so that they can give and yet not go without. God assists His people in performing good works such as supporting the poor.
Verses 10-11 Now 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;) 11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
Application: The “he” in verse 10 above is the LORD Jesus Christ. He provides for both the sower and the consumer of the crops sown in the natural world, and He provides metaphorically to the Christian believer spiritual gifts so that the believer can produce spiritual food such as converts to the Gospel and other righteous works.
Verses 12-15 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; 13 Whiles 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; 14 And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. (2 Corinthians 9)
So the Apostle Paul expresses his thankfulness to the Corinthian church for all that they do to help supply the needs of the saints which in turn glorifies God and helps continue the spreading of the Gospel throughout the region and beyond. In all things, the Apostle Paul expresses thanks to God who provided the gift of salvation through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ.