Scripture
Vs 2 For I know your eagerness to help … you in Achaia were ready to give;
and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action.
Vs 5 … finish the arrangements … be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.
Vs 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times,
having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
Vs 11 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.
Vs 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves,
others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ …
Vs 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you,
because of the surpassing grace God has given you.
Vs 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
Observation
Paul is encouraging the Corinthians to be prepared to give the generous gift they have promised.
Paul wants them to know there is something bigger going on, though.
This is not a gift that begins and ends with their decision to give money.
Their generosity is the proof of God’s work in them.
Their generosity is a byproduct of gratitude for what God has already done.
But there is also a ripple effect outside of themselves to others.
As a result of their act of faithful generosity …
Others are “stirred to action”.
Others will “give thanks to God”.
Others will “praise God”.
Others will “pray for you” and “their hearts will go out to you”.
But there is a greater “why” behind all of this activity than their “generous gift”.
The first cause of all these actions is “because of the surpassing grace God has given to you”.
God’s grace is the greatest and most “indescribable gift”!
Application
Christians are supposed to be generous. … I am supposed to be generous.
It’s what makes me a “good person, right? … I must be careful with that thought.
Generosity does not make me a “good person”.
Generosity “proves myself obedient to my confession of the gospel of Christ”.
So, generosity does not make me “good”.
Generosity makes me “obedient”.
And what is my gift being obedient to? … A much greater, “surpassing, indescribable” gift! … GRACE!
I cannot give what God has not already given.
Others cannot receive what God does not already provide.
It’s all grace … It’s all gift!
But there is an overflow …
of thanksgiving, and praise to the One who has given.
And an overflow of “hearts” to the ones who obediently give.
Generosity, then, is never a singular, isolated act.
There is a vertical Cause and a horizontal response.
In this way I can see and say it’s “cruciform” … like the cross.
Prayer
Thank you, God, for your Word again
Help me receive the grace within it
Help me see the causes and the recipients with your heart
Keep me prepared to live it
Keep me obedient
In Jesus name.
Amen