Wednesday Devo
Scripture:
2 Corinthians 9:6-9
6 Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 9 As the Scriptures say, “They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”
6 Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 9 As the Scriptures say, “They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”
Commentary:
9:6 sows bountifully. Paul expands a well-known proverb: “You reap what you sow” (e.g., Job 4:8; Ps. 126:5; Prov. 22:8; Jer. 12:13; Matt. 6:26; John 4:36–37; Gal. 6:7). God does not command Christians to give a certain amount, but he provides opportunities to give generously. Those who sow generously will also reap bountifully in terms of bearing fruit for God’s kingdom and in other ways as well (2 Cor. 9:11).
9:7–8 God loves (in the sense of “approves of”) a cheerful giver, an allusion to Prov. 22:8 in the Septuagint (cf. Deut. 15:10; Rom. 12:8). God loves such joy-motivated giving to others because it expresses contentment in God’s gracious giving to the believer (see 2 Cor. 9:14) that makes every good work possible and results in thanksgiving and glory to God (see vv. 11–13).
9:9 distributed freely … given to the poor. The good work of God’s people (v. 8; see 1 Cor. 15:58) corresponds to the description of the man in Ps. 112:9, whose righteousness is manifest in his providing for the poor. endures forever. Such righteousness remains beyond the day of judgment because it originates from and is sustained by the Lord’s righteousness, expressed in giving to his people, which also “endures forever” (Ps. 111:3).
9:7–8 God loves (in the sense of “approves of”) a cheerful giver, an allusion to Prov. 22:8 in the Septuagint (cf. Deut. 15:10; Rom. 12:8). God loves such joy-motivated giving to others because it expresses contentment in God’s gracious giving to the believer (see 2 Cor. 9:14) that makes every good work possible and results in thanksgiving and glory to God (see vv. 11–13).
9:9 distributed freely … given to the poor. The good work of God’s people (v. 8; see 1 Cor. 15:58) corresponds to the description of the man in Ps. 112:9, whose righteousness is manifest in his providing for the poor. endures forever. Such righteousness remains beyond the day of judgment because it originates from and is sustained by the Lord’s righteousness, expressed in giving to his people, which also “endures forever” (Ps. 111:3).
Questions:
- "God loves a person who gives cheerfully." God delights in the cheerful giver because HE is a cheerful giver. God longs to see this characteristic among those who belong to Him. To be generous and give cheerfully is to be more like God. So that means part of the discipleship and sanctification process of becoming more like Jesus is becoming more and more generous. As you look back over your life the past few years, have you grown in generosity?
- As we've said in previous weeks, your attitude in giving is more important than even how much you give. In fact, a cheerful gift is the only kind of gift that God finds acceptable! According to Him, it's all about what's happening on the inside of us. He says be a cheerful giver and never give begrudgingly. Would God consider you a cheerful giver?
Pray:
- That God would continue to help you grow in generosity and maturity.
- That you would learn to be a cheerful giver.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
1. Who is Jesus? I believe Jesus is God because Jesus said He is God and proved it by rising from the dead and appearing to His disciples, His brother James, 500 others at one time and Paul.
(Mark 3:21; John 8:58, 10:30-33, 14:9-11; Acts 9:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:2-3; James 1:1)
(Mark 3:21; John 8:58, 10:30-33, 14:9-11; Acts 9:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:2-3; James 1:1)
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