2nd Corinthians 9 RESULTS OF GIVING Titus and two other brothers were sent by Paul to Corinth to encourage the Corinthians to fulfill the promises they had made. Those three trusted men would be able to wisely represent the spiritual interests involved in the giving of the Corinthian's substance for the benefit of other believers in need, and would cheer them on to act on what they said they would do. Giving to God and to His people is really one and the same thing. We serve God when we serve His people. The grace of giving to God is not seen in the sense of competition as a fleshly challenge or some promotion that has been advertised. A spiritual response to a need that is known will not be that of grudging reticence but a glad privilege.
Previously the believers at Corinth had been used as an example of zeal to the Macedonian saints. Now the reverse is happening. The believers of Macedonia who were very poor, were used as examples to the Corinthian believers as a challenge to rise to the occasion and keep the promise which they made some time before. Enthusiasm at the beginning of a work often prompts people to want to be involved, and they make commitments to support the work. However, between the initial interest and the glory of a successful completion, there are days, weeks, months and sometimes years of hard drudgery in the work. When things are slow and nothing exciting is happening, we are in danger of overlooking our promise of commitment. When we make a commitment, we should fulfill that without having to be pressured to do what we said we would.
The giving Paul wrote about in these two chapters was a service to fellow Christians who were going through very difficult times. Even though they were in a different part of the world, it was still a responsibility the Corinthians had taken on to meet. This kind of giving is called "ministering to the saints," reminding us who God's people are. No matter who they are, where they are, or the circumstances in which they find themselves, they are God's people separated unto Him. To assist them was the right response to meet their need. The gifts to them was described as a "bounty," or "that which is given liberally." This was considered to be a generous gift, not a demand or a response to guilt that was imposed on them. This prompting on the part of the apostle Paul and his fellow-laborers was a challenge to them to act so that both Paul and the Corinthians themselves could avoid shame and embarrassment for neglecting what should be done.
Giving was never intended to be a complicated matter. It was, and still should be, considered a blessing. The guidance for giving and the principles on which we minister in this way, are very simple. When we sow seed in a field, the amount of return we can expect to receive is in direct proportion to the amount of seed we plant. One other thing about a sowing time: when we are sowing the seed of grace-giving, other believers are prompted to sow their seed as well. Like the giving of the Macedonians prompted those in Corinth to give, so what is done as an investment in the work of God now, will bring benefits to many now and will be a blessing to many in the life to come. The blessings of the returns are in direct proportion to the amount given.
Another principle in sowing is not only do we reap what we sow in the measure to which we sow, which is the principle of increase, but the way we give, the principle of intention, is in relation to our motives. Do I give willingly or grudgingly? Do I give out of necessity or am I a "cheerful giver?" To be a joyful giver who is glad of the opportunity to give, is more valuable than the amount of money or substance we give. Cheerful, generous giving reflects on our attitude toward God and our response to what He has given us. God gives us the resources for living and investing in the same way we sow seed in a field. A Christian who holds tight to what he has is really a contradiction to the Gospel he professes. We are enriched and bless others at the same time we are giving. God gives to us so that we can give more bountifully. Out of the abundance of God's grace, He gives from His fullness what is needed to the joyful giver. He makes that abound in fruitfulness because of faith and grace that continues to increase, not decrease. This "service" done supplies present needs and is a priestly ministry. This kind of grace isn't looking for a reason to give, but an opportunity.
This ministry of giving glorifies God and reflects the spirituality and submission of those who exercise it. They express in this way obedience to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and demonstrates love for the saints that is seen by those who look on. In this way those who give and those who receive as well as those who look on and see evidence of Christian love are all blessed. "God is no man's debtor." God's people are united when they become channels of blessing. Love is expressed by their giving and they become united in prayer as they bond together to meet the needs of which they become aware. Cultural and racial barriers are lowered as the grace of giving crosses those barriers. National differences are bypassed when needs are being met by those who care and joyfully give from what they have to further the well-being of God's family wherever they are.
Self-interest does not represent the Lord Jesus Christ. He demonstrated in His life and provision for our deep need, what giving to God is really like. God's giving goes way beyond our ability to describe it. His unspeakable gift is one way the value of giving can be known. It is beyond our words to describe. His giving is unsearchable, beyond our understanding. It is unchangeable and beyond any acts of men. It is undefiled. Beyond our capacity to copy. It is unequalled; way beyond anything men have done. It is unmerited; far beyond what we deserve. It is unlimited - beyond our comprehension. But we can "render unto the Lord," by "taking the cup of salvation" and returning to Him with a sacrificial offering from our hearts. The grace of giving is one way we demonstrate what it means to us to be saved.
2 Corinthians 9:8. “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:” ALL SUFFICIENCY. From God Himself, comes all that is needed; All grace to do what He wills. My part in this grace, is to be sure He is heeded; For every good work to fulfill.
It is not from ourselves that we give what we have, For the Source of all giving is God. It is from the abundance of all that God gave, Through us, God’s grace does abound.
To give of our bounty, and to give from our heart, Provokes others to meet needs all around. Many are ready but need someone to start, And from them will God’s blessings abound.
In using with grace, all that God gave to me,
I am blessed, when from the storehouse of grace; As a “hilarious” giver, I am able to see, God’s blessings abound in this place.
From the sufficiency I have, the needs of others are met, And the giving brings glory to God. The results of such work to which our minds are so bent, Will bring unity to the saints of the Lord.
Overshadowing all this, is God’s “unspeakable gift,” That defies all attempts to define. But this I know personally, I have experienced it, I am deeply thankful for this gift so sublime.
“Gracious God, my Father: it is beyond my ability to comprehend all the blessings that abound from Thy grace. There are times, however, when it is unmistakably clear, that You have been able to use the feeble efforts of this frail mortal man, to bring a good work for the glory of Thy name and the furtherance of Thy kingdom. For this privilege, I am so grateful. To God be all the glory, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”
2nd Corinthians RESPONDING TO CRITICISM It is not the easiest thing to respond to criticism, especially when we think, and may know, it is unfair and based on jealousy or a frame of personal preference different from mine. Paul experienced this from some of the Corinthian believers who seemed to have formed a clique behind the leadership of a false teacher. The way he responded to this was a masterpiece of diplomacy. For the first nine chapters of 2nd Corinthians he had been commending the saints for acting on his corrective ministry and defining areas of ministry in which both he and they were involved. Whenever challenges are made either fairly or unjustly, it is an act of wisdom to not answer too quickly in the heat of the moment. It is important to rightly discern the reason for the criticism before addressing it. The challenge of the false teachers and those who follow them needs to be responded to only when we are sure what the real reason is. Paul did not make this a test of personalities by promoting himself. False teachers do that. He was defending his ministry and his call from God when he replied to their criticism
Paul did not boast about himself and his work. He had boasted to others about the Corinthians believers and hoped that boasting had not been in vain. He was forced to defend himself and his work because of the worldly view of his work by those who wanted to take his work over and turn it into a legalistic sect of the Jews. He had been attacked personally about his appearance and also about his credentials as an apostle. So, he begins the vindication of his calling by appealing to them in the "meekness and gentleness of Christ." He never hesitated to speak about the Lord Jesus Christ in relation to his work among them, but did not speak about himself until now. There was a good reason to do this and yet even now he addressed the matter in a Christ-like way. He found it necessary to make this defense of himself because his apostolic authority was being challenged. False teachers said that Paul's authority was of no value in order to advance themselves. There are such times when we have to defend the work to which we have been called by God. What others may say about it or criticisms laid against it can be ignored as long as there is no following by the believers of the false teachers. But when a divisive spirit arises and the threat of division is on the horizon, then we must rise to the challenge and speak out against that which is false.
If we seek the praise of men or boast about the work we do, we have likely already jeopardized the work to which we were called. We must always GIVE GOD ALL THE GLORY for anything that has been done of positive and eternal value. That is an essential trait of the true servant's heart. Any true servant of God knows that without Him we can do nothing. The outward appearance of a thing or a work does not give the reality of the matter. There is a sense in which we "walk according to the flesh" because of our humanity. Common sense is not a bad thing to have in this regard, but when we "walk in the Spirit" we do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. We do not want to have to be bold and aggressive generally because that is most often a fleshly approach to anything. However, there may be times when we have to vigorously defend our work from false teachers.
When that time comes, we will have to boldly defend the truth that has been entrusted to us, as well as those "sheep and lambs" for whom we are responsible. By recognizing we are in a spiritual warfare, our walk in the flesh, our life, should never compromise the truths we defend by acting in anger, jealousy or aggressive behavior. There is authority recognized when confrontation is done in dignity, integrity, and under the leading of the Spirit. We need the filling of the Spirit when rebuke is necessary. Deceit, subtlety and mere human speculation in order to win an argument are actions the flesh takes. We need to use spiritual weapons in the warfare against the falsehood of human reasoning.
Some of the spiritual weapons at our disposal are prayer for guidance; faith in the Lord to give us appropriate words to speak, and the Word of God to give authority to all that will be said and done. The Holy Spirit gives power to accomplish the purpose of the confrontation. Our hope in Christ motivates us as those who will give account of our representation of Him. Love for God and His people keep any necessary confrontation we may have to face, on a high, respectful level of interaction. There should be a dignified explanation of biblical truth that applies when we focus on the truth instead of on people. Those people the Spirit of God can use have taken their thoughts into "captivity" to yield to the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul was prepared to use apostolic authority against the man who a group of the Corinthian assembly was following.
False teachers can usually be identified because they are not interested in reaching out with the Gospel into any new areas. They want to take over the work others have done. They try to tear down what has already been done. A true teacher will seek to build up the work to the very best of his ability. When he comes to a place where God has been working through other servants, he will support and seek to reinforce that work. Apollos was that kind of teacher. When God calls a person to do a work, it is his responsibility to faithfully preach the Gospel so those people will know how to be saved. Then it is his responsibility and right to teach the Word of God and teach the people "to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you" with the purpose of establishing those believers in the faith. False teachers do not do this. They focus on themselves and on their interpretations and opinions as to how the things of God should be done.
In Paul's letter he had to boldly condemn division that had surfaced in Corinth dividing the saints into cliques who were choosing men to follow. He also had to deal with the problem of immorality that was being accepted by the Corinthians. He had to be firm and dogmatically plain as to what must be done about that situation. The disorderly conduct of some of the believers at the Lord's Supper had to be corrected in no uncertain terms. When he was with them some said he was weak in his body and his words were meek and quiet. In his letter of correction, he wrote words that were strong and there was no question as to what the assembly had to do. Those who are false among us will look for discontented people who think they have been overlooked or are jealous of another person's gift, and stir the flame of division. That kind of undermining of a work will not be stopped with casual suggestions. Comparing those who teach by eloquence or oratorical skills is a common problem. The preaching ability of one compared to that of others is not a requirement for leadership among God's people.
We do not have to pass our judgment on another man because his work is different from ours and is in a different sphere of service. We do have to take care of our own work, not to boast in it, but to protect it from false teachers. Glory from, men is not what commends a work or worker. People praise one another by their own standards so they can feel self-satisfied and complacent. Such are not trustworthy people, nor are they wise. It is the Lord who commends the worker and his work. That will be obvious in the when trustworthy workers fulfill the commission the Lord gave them. Servants who know what they have been called to do are those of singular purpose. They are not easily side-tracked from the goal before them. Their preaching will be sound, both in the Gospel and in their teaching ministry that follows. Such people will carefully adhere to scriptural principles that are easily discerned by those who "try the teaching" with the Bible and God-given wisdom. We compare men and their message by God's standards and men's and make sure that any recognition given is not the exalt man but the Lord Jesus Christ.
The measure of a spiritual ministry can be made when I ask myself, "Am I where God wants me to be, doing what He wants me to do?" We do not need to boast about my work or have anyone else do it. But it is well for me to ask, "Is God being glorified in this work I am doing? Does this ministry have divine approval? Can God commend what is being done here?" When a work is done by authority granted from our Lord, and when there is evidence this ministry is spiritual - not fleshly, and God is using it for His glory alone, then we can be confident that we are doing right when we defend it against those who would try to undermine it or tear it down.
2 Corinthians 10:1. “Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence and base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:” COMBINATIONS. Some things just naturally go together – Stormy winds along with rainy weather. Butter on bread – bees and honey; Debts we’ve run up and the need of money
Love and light can be seen by men, Love motivates and light will show. These two combined will make it plain, The Savior of sinners you truly know.
Faith and works, declare your words are true, When to the way of salvation, you testify. Faith may be hidden, but the works you do Indicate to observers, you are what you say.
Far greater than these, are the combinations, We see in Christ, when He came in the flesh. His grace and truth met each new situation – And fully made clear the extent of God’s grace.
Christ’s meekness and lowliness, are revealed in His Word, As He, among men, brought deity to light. His lowliness of heart – right to the cross – clearly showed, He alone is the Way and the Truth and the Life.
When meekness and gentleness are mentioned together, It indicates something is important to learn. Meekness, not weakness, shows strength with a tether. That balance is gentleness, so that truth may be borne.
With strength of His character and gentleness of heart, Correction can be accepted with thanks. And with grace given to us that our Lord can impart, The combination helps us in Christ-likeness to act.
“Father in heaven, I would like to know, in a real way, the meekness and lowliness of Christ in my life. I know there is a yoke to take on me in order for this to be a reality. I am here and available for this to be a fact in me. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”