You Will Be Enriched In Every Way So That You Can Be Generous On Every Occasion And Through Us Your Generosity Will Result In Thanksgiving To God
Don't Be A Stingy Christian
2 CORINTHIANS 9:10-11
“Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.
”II Corinthians 9:10-11 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/2co.9.10-11.NKJ
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Paul appealed to the Corinthians to give sacrificially to aid the Jerusalem congregation.
He wanted his readers to be generous on every occasion and reminded them that God is the source of everything good (9:10).
We believers are called to be generous because of the example of our Lord Jesus Christ.
There should be no such thing as a stingy Christian! Generosity is proof that a person’s heart has been cleansed of self-interest and filled with the Spirit of God. For the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (GALATIANS 5:22-23).
Our God wants to bless us; He wants us to be comfortable, but if we hold on to everything He gives us, our hands would be full and our hearts hardened and fattened in selfishness.
My beloved, “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
I Timothy 6:6-10 NKJV
My brethren, God does not tempt us more than we can stand (1 CORINTHIANS 10:13), nor will He give us more than we can handle; that which will cause you to slip back into selfishness or indeed that which will cause you to spend or even give foolishly.
Giving must be by the leading of the Holy Spirit and not for any other reason, especially emotional blackmail.
Emotional blackmail can come from within one’s self or from others who want to manipulate people for their own personal gain.
Sadly, many ministers over reach when preaching on tithes and offerings, suggesting false promises of blessings in return.
At best this shows a lack of faith within the church leadership, desperation, or maybe selfish ambitious reaching for riches.
Foolish giving can undermine God’s work and teach people to manipulate and lie.
Tithes and offerings was a part of the Old Testament tradition, designed to help and guide believers in how much to give, and that giving applied to all believers as it does in New Testament times.
But today, we believers have the Holy Sprit to lead us in all truth (JOHN 16:13), including giving, whether to fund the ministry or help the needy.
My beloved, church isn’t the building, it is the body of people who fill it, and the burden of funding falls upon the whole congregation.
Nobody can give what they haven’t got and should always live and give within their means. “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.”
II Corinthians 9:6-8 NKJV
My beloved, the more wise and selfless one becomes, the more God will bless him or her. Not so much for personal gain, but that he or she might use those blessings to forward the church and bless others even more for the glory of God. Furthermore, blessings shall pile up in heaven for the cheerful giver MATHEW 6:20).
Therefore, give! Empty your hands that your Father can bless you even more. Give to those in need; share the blessings God has given you and make someone’s difficult life a little easier.
If you don’t have money, maybe you have time. Volunteer in your church, orphanage, or charity.
If you have things you don’t need or use; clothing, furniture, or anything, give it to the needy.
My beloved, don’t be a stingy Christians; that kind of Christian should be an extinct species.
In the very least we can pray blessings over one another.
My beloved, shine for Christ and your kindness and generosity will draw people to the Lordship of Christ and glorify our Father in heaven.
“For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men, and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”
II Corinthians 9:12-15 NKJV
Jesus sacrificially gave His life for you! Are you ready and willing to give sacrificially for Christ?
All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
