2 Corinthians 9:6-10

2 Cor 9:6 (KJB)

But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

Sparingly - Thinly, meagerly, or stingy - Focuses on miserliness

While Paul is definitely not trying to manipulate anyone into giving beyond their means, he is definitely trying to provoke the Corinthians to give according to their means. Some people have more which means they can give more and some have less and can give less. We can invoke the principle of equality here, that those who give little and those who give much can balance out the offering to make it a decent one. This verse also presents a great principle in giving. If a person sows a crop with only a few seeds, in turn, they will reap a small crop. If a person sows a crop with much seed, they will, in turn yield a large crop. Here Paul is stating that cheap Christians will always yield a smaller crop than those who give bountifully or sacrificially. If a Christian gives bountifully to the sending forth of the Gospel, they may reap a great harvest of souls. If a Christian is cheap and miserly with their money, they will most likely have a life without much fruit. God tells us that He will supply seed to the sower, so if we give bountifully, God will send in the bounty so we can continue to give. (2 Cor 9:10 KJV) 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;) This verse is not teaching that if we sow $10, then God will give us a hundred. This is not name it and claim it. We give out of a spirit of desire to send forth the Gospel and God will bless us according to His will and in His timing.

2 Cor 9:7 (KJB)

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

He purposeth - Chooses or decides

Grudgingly - Sadness, grief or sorrow

Necessity - Compulsion or distress

Cheerful - Gracious or joyous

Here Paul lays down the proper way to give to the Lord’s work. The primary method of giving is to decide how much you want to give. You come to this amount not by being guilt manipulated but according to your financial situation. If you can afford a large gift, then give it. If all you can afford is a small gift, then give it. Remember, God knows how much finances you have and He knows full well that we still have to live in this world with bills. He also knows that if we can give even a small gift that He can multiply it beyond what we can even think. God does not want us to give out of compulsion, He wants us to give with a free heart and not one that is in bondage to our negative emotions. He also does not want anyone to give if they feel sorrow when they see “their” money going elsewhere. Those who are so cheap, that they cry when they have to part with their money might as well keep it. God wants His children to give to the ministry of the Gospel in a joyous mindset, that is, they find giving to the Lord’s work as a spiritual pleasure. In fact, the Greek word behind “cheerful” is “hilaros” where we get our English Word “hilarity.” God wants His children giving with the spirit of true merriment. I personally feel sorry for those who would rather hoard their money than invest it in the Kingdom of God. These are the long faced religious Christians who are part of the problem and not the solution. These kind of Christians don’t even make a ripple in a bathtub when they get into one. He who has ears to hear!

2 Cor 9:8 (KJB)

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:

Able - Having power, mighty, or capable

Abound - To have an abundance or to be more than enough

Sufficiency - Adequate, contentment, or enough

Here is one of the great principles we find in giving. When we become serious givers to the Lord’s work, God does not leave us to fend for ourselves. As we read in this verse that God is mighty, having power to make all the necessary and even above necessary, funds we need to continue giving unto the Lord. He will always make sure that we have what is needed to give. This way whenever the Lord sends an opportunity our way, we will be ready to meet the challenge and be able to contribute to the ministry. When I say ministry, I am not speaking of any specific ministry but the ministry of the true Gospel in general. I would like to give one of many personal examples of how this verse came alive in my life. This is not a brag but a testimony to the faithfulness of the Lord. If you are not experiencing anything like this, then take the glue off your dollar bills. Back in the 1980’s I was on the corporation board of America’s Keswick here in Whiting, NJ.

(www.americaskeswick.org) A letter went out to all the supporters that they were running a $30,000 deficit. I had $2,000 in the bank at that time but I had decided to give $1,000 to help them. About a month after I sent the donation to Keswick, my aunt Helen calls me and asks if I can come see her. I go to see her and she hands me about $2,500 in savings bonds. Now I did not know she was doing this. She had gotten these bonds when she was working and she had bonds on all the nieces and nephews, but here is the amazing part, I was the one who got most of the bonds and I was born in 1953 and she started saving these bonds for me in 1954. When I went to the bank to cash them in, I was shocked by their value. They were valued at over $5,000 because of accumulating interest. Now here in the 1980’s I made a donation of $1,000 and God already had my blessing in the works since 1954. So God blessed me in abundance for that gift I gave to Keswick. We learn from this type of scenario that God always keeps His word but in His timing and method.

2 Cor 9:9 (KJB)

(As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.

He hath dispersed abroad - Scatter abroad or dissipate

(Psa 112:9 KJV) He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour. Paul takes this verse from Psalm 112:9. Here we read about the focus of giving in that we are to scatter our seed abroad or around the earth in fulfillment of the Great Commission. We send forth the Gospel to the ends of the earth and the Lord is the one who applies the Gospel to the hearts of those He has elected to save. The righteous giver also gives to the poor and helps them. Mostly this verse is speaking of giving the Gospel to those who are spiritually poor which are the unsaved so they may become saved and rich in spiritual things. The giver who has a true heart for sending forth the Gospel to the ends of the earth is one whose righteousness remains forever, in other words, this person is truly saved and is manifesting that salvation by giving, so the word goes forth. Someone who desires to hoard their money needs to really look to see if they are truly saved.

2 Cor 9:10 (KJB)

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;)

Ministereth - Furnish, provide, or grant

Minister - Lavishly supply for or total

Multiply - Increase, abound, or grow

Increase - Become greater or grow

Here Paul is praying a prayer for the Corinthians. The principles found in this verse can be applied to those who give abundantly according to their means. First, Paul prays that the Corinthians will have abundant physical food for their table. This portion of the verse can also be interpreted spiritually that those who send forth the Gospel will also have much spiritual food for them, that is, they will have greater and greater understanding of the Bible. Then Paul prays that the spiritual seed which are sown will greatly multiply, that is, that there will be much people saved and that they will grow in the faith with the spiritual food. Then finally Paul prays that they will have a substantial increase in the fruits of their righteousness, that is, the people who become saved will be the fruit of their giving plus they would also increase in their giving and in their physical prosperity so they may continue to give with a worshipful spirit.