In this chapter, Paul reminds the Corinthians of their responsibility toward those in need. The ‘service to the Lord’s people’ is the service of helping the needy saints in Jerusalem, 2 Corinthians 9:1.
The word ‘eagerness’, in Greek, is ‘perissos’, and it means more than sufficient. Paul tells the Corinthians that he realises it is a redundant thing for him to write; however, he wants to make sure that they are ready with the aid.
Paul knew and was confident in the Corinthians’ readiness in this matter. Paul was so confident that he ‘boasted about their, that is, the Corinthians, behalf to them of Macedonia,’ 2 Corinthians 9:2.
The ‘one year’ gives us an idea as to when 1 Corinthians was written in relation to this epistle, 2 Corinthians 8:6 / 2 Corinthians 8:10. Sometime, less than two years ago, Paul had sent the first letter to the Corinthians.
This is important because it helps us understand that God does not tolerate sin. The Corinthians needed to correct their errors, and Paul was filled with anxiety while waiting for news from Titus regarding their spiritual state.
A study of 1 and 2 Thessalonians proves the same message. While Paul commanded the Thessalonians to be patient and admonish the disorderly in the first letter, 1 Thessalonians 5:14, we find him commanding the brethren to withdraw themselves from the disorderly, 2 Thessalonians 3:6.
Paul explains to the Corinthians that he has sent Titus and the two unnamed brethren of 2 Corinthians 8:18-19 / 2 Corinthians 8:22, back to Corinth to prepare them for the collection for the needy saints, 2 Corinthians 9:3. The Macedonians have given beyond that which they were able, 2 Corinthians 8:1-6.
Paul is afraid that, as he travelled to Corinth with some of the Macedonians who had given so much that they would be discouraged and think ill of the Corinthian brethren if they did not give to the cause in Jerusalem.
The Corinthians would put Paul and his companions who gloried in the Corinthians to shame if they were not given for this cause. Paul is telling the Corinthians not to embarrass him in this matter.
Paul sends Titus and the two other brethren to Corinth, 2 Corinthians 9:3. Titus’ objective was therefore to make sure that the monies that the Corinthians had previously promised would be ready for collection and delivery. What if Paul came to Corinth and found the brethren lethargic in this service? 2 Corinthians 9:4.
Plummer, in his commentary, says the following.
‘He is not afraid that they will refuse to give, but he is afraid that they may be dilatory for want of organisation. It will produce a bad impression if the money is not ready when it is needed. He carefully limits his anxiety to ’this particular.’
They meant to collect the funds, and were willing and ready; however, the matter just simply didn’t get done, 2 Corinthians 9:5. Paul would find himself hurriedly politicking for the monies that the Corinthians had promised a year back.
What does this do? When one knows the needs of others, is willing and able to help, however, time slips by, and he never does anything due to procrastination. It says to others that you do not set this activity as a priority in your life. It just does not speak well for such a one in the minds of others, and so it shouldn’t. Christians should be willing to help and not delay!
Sometimes we know that a shut-in is lonely and starved for attention. We know that we have the ability to stop by and see them, read some scriptures with them, sing a few songs of praise with them or have a prayer with them.
However, we just get ourselves too busy with our own lives. Paul did not want to see this kind of behaviour on the part of the Corinthians, and it should not be our behaviour, 2 Corinthians 9:5.
Paul used an illustration of a farmer who sows a few seeds in the field as opposed to the one who sows many seeds in the field by hard labour, 2 Corinthians 9:6.
Constable, in his commentary, says the following.
‘One of the great spiritual principles of life is that God blesses people in proportion to their blessing others, Proverbs 11:24-25 / Proverbs 19:17 / Proverbs 22:8-9 / Luke 6:38 / Galatians 6:7.’
The one who sows a few seeds will only reap a few products. The one who labours with purpose and sows much will have much product. Those who work hard and purposefully in the kingdom of God will reap many rewards.
Many needs will be met, and souls will come to Christ. The individual who works with little purpose will help few and save few souls. This principle stands true for many areas of life. The hard worker is rewarded with greater outcomes because he is interested, energetic, enthusiastic, and willing to work.
At first glance, when we read Galatians 6:7-8, when we think about Karma and the idea of reaping what we sow, it’s very easy to conclude that the doctrine of Karma is a very Biblical concept, especially when we read what Paul wrote to the Galatian church.
Constable, in his commentary, says the following.
‘In Galatians 6:7, the emphasis is on ‘that’ rather than ‘reap.’ Paul’s point there was that we reap in kind what we sow, Galatians 6:8. He did not say that we will get back more of whatever we sow.’
The Bible teaches that we reap what we sow in this life, Hosea 8:7 / Matthew 7:15 / Romans 2:6 / 2 Corinthians 9:6, but it would be a serious mistake to believe that we can escape the consequences of our actions, Romans 2:6.
Paul is basically teaching what he’s been teaching throughout the book of Galatians; he’s contrasting all those who sow to please the Spirit, Galatians 5:16 / Galatians 5:18 / Galatians 5:25, with those who sow to please the flesh, Galatians 5:13 / Galatians 5:19.
Those who sow to please the flesh will reap the curse of God, Galatians 1:6-9, but those who reap to please the Spirit will reap eternal life, Galatians 5:21. When we put our faith in works, ‘Karma’, in order to determine our earthly outcome, we’re sowing to please the flesh, but when we put our faith in Christ, we’re sowing to please the Spirit, and we shall reap eternal life.
In other words, with Karma, you trust in yourself and your own righteousness, and you reap corruption but if we trust in Christ and His righteousness, 2 Corinthians 5:21, we will reap everlasting life.
Karma teaches people to believe that they will always get what they deserve, if they do good, good things will naturally come their way; if they do bad, bad things will inevitably come, and so on.
While the idea of having good come around again for the good things we do and having bad come around again for the bad things we do, sounds like the sowing and reaping principle of Galatians 6:7-8, but it really isn’t.
Karma insists on receiving the returns of what we do today in the afterlife, something like ‘if you’re a bad man today, you’ll be a dirt-eating fly in the next life,’ but the Bible gives us just one simple explanation to say what we deserve, because of our sin we deserve death, Romans 3:10 / Romans 3:23 / Romans 6:23.
The Bible simply says that all of us deserve nothing good for what we’ve done and how we’ve lived. Karma says we can do good and receive our due after this life, but the Bible says there’s nothing we can do in this life to make us worthy of receiving goodness in this life or in the life to come.
What’s more, Karma says all of us will live again, to either a better or worse life based on what we do today, but the Bible, however, says that we can only live if we believe in the Son of God, John 3:16-17. In other words, our actions can’t win a better afterlife for us; only the blood of Jesus can, Hebrews 9:12-14 / Hebrews 10:38 / 1 Peter 1:2 / Ephesians 1:7.
The doctrine of reincarnation and Karma are foreign to the Scriptures, both of which are free from any accountability to anyone, Romans 14:12. It’s very true that how we live in this life will affect where we end up for eternity, and it’s also true if we don’t know God or obey the Gospel, we will end up in hell, 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9, but the belief that we can determine where we spend eternity by our good or bad Karma, isn’t Biblical, Isaiah 64:6 / Ephesians 2:8-9 / Proverbs 14:12.
Notice in 2 Corinthians 8:7 that the work that one does to help others is to be done ‘cheerfully’ as opposed to ‘grudgingly’. Here we see the difference between the apathetic and lethargic brother who has the means and will to help those in need; however, he has not placed their needs at a high priority in his life, and thereby the needy go on in need.
Such a one has not ‘decided in his heart’ to meet the needs of the needy by giving in the treasury, 2 Corinthians 9:7. The cheerful giver is the individual who has a spiritual vision, one who understands the work of the church and is willing to give for that cause in a timely and cheerful manner.
Such a one knows the consequences of such deliberate and purposeful giving. Needs are met! Those needs may be met by helping the needy, preachers are supported, and materials for such activities are provided.
Notice that Paul did not impose upon the Corinthians the tithing of the Old Testament. The Jews were required to pay a tenth part or tithe of all their property, grain, vineyards, produce, cattle, etc., for the support of the system of worship. Generally, the fund or supplies went to the priest and Levites who ministered to the service of the tabernacle, Numbers 18:20-24.
When a Jew lived a great distance from Jerusalem, he was permitted to liquidate his product for currency and bring this to Jerusalem at the appointed time, Deuteronomy 14:24-29.
The new covenant in Jesus Christ is one of the heart, Jeremiah 31:31-33. Individuals in the church perform the Lord’s commandments out of earnest love for the Lord and not because they ‘have to do something’ as was the case under the Mosaic Law.
One becomes a Christian voluntarily; we are not born into this relationship. So God desires those who would seek him, Hebrews 11:6, those who have a humble and contrite heart, Isaiah 57:15, those who keep His commands because they want to not because they have to, 1 John 5:3.
And those who give into the treasury of the church because they see the need not because it is a tax imposed upon them as saints, 2 Corinthians 9:7. God desires those who desire Him.
When a parent has to make a child do his chores, mow the grass, pick up room, clean house, wash the care etc. even after the child is trained to do so, it grieves the parent, Proverbs 15:20 / Proverbs 17:25. Likewise, those servants of the Lord who must be continuously told what to do are grievous to the Lord and the church.
The words ‘bless you’, 2 Corinthians 9:8, must be the monetary things mentioned in the context of 2 Corinthians 8-9. Apparently, Paul was saying that God will always take care of us as we do our work in His Kingdom, Philippians 4:11 / 1 Timothy 6:6.
To prove this providential care, Paul, in 2 Corinthians 9:9, quoted from Psalms 112:9. As God cared for His people in the Old Testament, so He cares for His people now, 2 Corinthians 9:10 / Matthew 6:25-34.
The service of giving as one prospers and purposes in their heart with cheerfulness serves two purposes. First, the needs of the saints are met, and secondly, God’s name is glorified, and much thanksgiving is given on His behalf, 2 Corinthians 9:11.
All things are well when we are doing God’s commands by choice. We cause others to give God praise through our obedience and relationship to God and His word.
We cause others to praise God when we give with a spirit of liberality into the treasury, 2 Corinthians 9:12-13. We cause others to pray for us and love us because of our generosity, 2 Corinthians 9:14.
So Paul exclaimed, ‘Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift,’ 2 Corinthians 9:15. The word ‘indescribable’, is the Greek word ‘anekdiegetos’, and it means beyond expression, indescribable or unspeakable.
Words cannot convey the gift God has bestowed upon man, the gift of His Son for the forgiveness of our sins. This being said, we ought to do all within our power to show the Father our sincere gratitude.
Constable, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The Corinthians did follow through and assemble their gift. It was only a few months after Paul penned 2 Corinthians that he wrote Romans. In it, he said that the Christians of Macedonia and Achaia (including Corinth) had made a contribution to the poor saints in Jerusalem, Romans 15:26-27. Paul and his delegation then travelled back to Jerusalem from Corinth through Macedonia and Asia Minor, Acts 20:3 to Acts 21:19. The leaders of the Jerusalem church evidently received the gift gladly, Acts 21:17.’
Most of us are ready and willing to help anyone in need, especially those of the household of faith, Galatians 6:10. We want nothing but the best for all our brethren.
We know the shut-ins are lonely, we know that if the work of the church is to be accomplished, we must give liberally of our means, we know that some brethren stand in jeopardy of losing their souls, and we know that brethren the world over are in need.
The problem, however, with many of us, is that we lack the motivation to meet these needs. Paul knew the Corinthian brethren were ready and willing to help even as far back as a year ago, 2 Corinthians 9:2.
Paul’s concern for the Corinthians was that they would be lax in their promise of helping the needy saints in Jerusalem, 2 Corinthians 9:3. We can have all the good intentions in the world for those in need, until we do something about their need, the need remains, James 2:15-17 / 1 John 3:17-18.
There are great consequences that result when we help those in need.
1. God will take care of our needs, 2 Corinthians 9:8.
2. God will increase the fruit of your labours, i.e., those who are in need will be helped and those who are lost in sin will regain fellowship through our help, 2 Corinthians 9:10.
3. Those we help will glorify God and offer up prayers of thanksgiving on our behalf, 2 Corinthians 9:14. Suddenly, the name of God will be glorified.
Are you ready and willing but lack the motivation to help? Why not look at 2 Corinthians 9, and realise that simply thinking good thoughts about others is not going to help them out of their poverty or sin. True Bible love depicts the saint motivated to action by love.
What message do we send to God and our fellow man when we know of people’s needs and have the means to help, yet we do not? Procrastination tells others that aiding the needy is not a priority in our lives. Christians should be willing to help and not delay!