Bible Study - Productive (5) - Work Your Plan - 2 Corinthians 9:6-13 - March 30, 2014

Bible Study – Productive (5) – Work Your Plan – March 30, 2014

This is lesson five (5) in our series entitled “Productive: Finding Joy in What We Do.”

Our focus scripture is 2 Corinthians 9:6-13.

Our generous giving should glorify GOD and reflect CHRIST’S willful giving of HIS life, through the shedding of HIS blood to pay for the penalty of sin. When those who have been redeemed by HIS shed blood recognize, acknowledge and understand that CHRIST did for them what they cannot do for themselves, it results in grateful hearts.

Work provides the opportunity for Christians and non-Christians alike to have the means to sustain themselves and to give too others. Our focus has been upon Christian giving. Christians give to those in need and to spread the Gospel of CHRIST.

Christians generally give to support financially and physically, the organizations and institutions that spread the Good News of JESUS CHRIST and reach out to others in need. In turn, those organizations generally provide the infrastructure to teach, train, equip and provide the opportunity for Christians to go into the world to share CHRIST with others. JESUS commanded Christians to go into the world. The world is where any Christian is at any given moment. GOD issues specific calls to some Christians to obediently serve HIM in special ways but all Christians are called to obedient service.

Christians are the light of the world and the salt of the earth because they have the light of CHRIST in them. They contain the Good News of salvation through faith in CHRIST. They are assured that they serve their risen Savior which is confirmed and guaranteed by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Our focus for the past two lessons began with 2 Corinthians 8:1-9 where we considered the power for giving. Our scripture for last week’s study was 2 Corinthians 8:10-15 and 9:1-5 focused on the process of giving from the heart in proportion to our ability. This week’s lesson focuses on the Spiritual and physical results of giving as led by the Holy Spirit.

Faithful giving, as led by the Holy Spirit, not only benefits those in need but rekindles the joy in the hearts of those being obedient in their giving. It continues the building of the intimate and loving relationship with GOD through CHRIST which began the day of our salvation. GOD loves obedience and obedience honors GOD.  

This week’s lesson continues with the remaining portion of scripture from last week’s lesson, where Paul continued his message on the principle of giving as we read 2 Corinthians 9:6-15.

Give with the Right Attitude: 

Let’s read 2 Corinthians 9:6-7:

6 Remember this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each person should do as he has decided in his heart —not reluctantly or out of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver.

As you recall from last week’s lesson, the Christians in Corinth had promised to provide a generous gift to support the needy Christians in Jerusalem. The Christians in Jerusalem were dealing with a famine and lack of jobs because they were Christians. Paul wanted the Christians in Corinth to finish their commitment to provide support to them.  

Christians cannot out give GOD. We often think of financial reward when we give as led by the Holy Spirit but that is mute compared to building the right relationship with HIM through obedient service.

In this scripture, Paul used a farming principle. Simply the more a person sows, the more he or she will harvest. The key is to pray about what you need to sow and how much. Once sowed, there are many factors which determine the harvest. Most results of a harvest are beyond the control of the sower and in the hands of GOD. The harvest provides means for the farmer, who in turn provides jobs and the opportunity to give to those in need. As the farmer obediently gives, GOD in turn blesses him or her materially and/or Spiritually. Walking with GOD is always a learning experience and does not always mean smooth sailing. But GOD walks with us and is in control.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Christians must keep in mind that GOD does not look at the quantity but the attitude of their hearts when they give and their obedience. JESUS said it best in Mark 12:41-44:

41 Sitting across from the temple treasury, He (JESUS) watched how the crowd dropped money into the treasury. Many rich people were putting in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and dropped in two tiny coins worth very little. 43 Summoning His disciples, He said to them, “•I assure you: This poor widow has put in more than all those giving to the temple treasury. 44 For they all gave out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she possessed —all she had to live on.”

Giving from our financial resources is part of Christian giving but Christians are to give their time, abilities and Spiritual gifts as led by the Holy Spirit. They are the arms, legs and physical presence of CHRIST and GOD when they minister to others – fellow Christians or those in need, regardless of their relationship to CHRIST.

Christians are to minister as led by the Holy Spirit. Ministering to others can reveal CHRIST to those who do not know HIM as their Savior. Yes, there are those who know how to work the system. That is why Christians need the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Do you recall this occasion recorded in Acts 3:1-11:

1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. 2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; 3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked for alms. 4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. 5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. 7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God: 10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him. 11 And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.

Think about this event. This man was alive, crippled since birth and sat for alms most likely when JESUS went into the temple during HIS earthly ministry. Yet, GOD did not lead JESUS to heal the man. JESUS was obedient to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. If you read further in this scripture, GOD had a purpose in JESUS waiting. GOD had a plan and purpose in the healing of this man because it ministered to so many others after the passion of CHRIST. Waiting upon the leadership of the Father through the leading of the Holy Spirit is challenging. Most of us have the nature such that when we see the need, we respond.

Christians have more to give than material resources.

Look at verse 7, “every person should do as he or she decides.” Once a person decides what and how much to give, the next step is action. A person’s action is NOT to be reluctant or out of necessity. Just giving for the sake of giving does not impress GOD. HE already owns it all and Christians are HIS stewards of a portion. GOD’S desire is for Christians to target their giving as HE directs.  

Rely on GOD’S Ability:

Let’s read 2 Corinthians 9:8-9:

8 And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work. 9 As it is written: He scattered; He gave to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.

When Christians give obediently, GOD makes every grace to overflow to them. Grace is unmerited favor. Grace cannot be earned but it is a free gift from GOD.

Verse 8 in the King James translation uses “always having all sufficiency in all things” where the Holman translation has “always having everything you need.” The word “sufficiency” carries the idea of “a mind contented with its lot. Contentment with what we have and our position in life is a blessing that can come only from our relationship with GOD through CHRIST.

When we are content, we do not have to have stuff just to have stuff. When we live content, we live on less so we can have more to give to others.

Contentment does not take away a Christian’s ambition, instead he or she lives according to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. When Christians are in the right relationship with GOD through CHRIST, they are in HIS perfect will. When a Christian is in the will of GOD, he or she has the peace that passes all understanding and trust GOD to meet his or her needs.

The Apostle Paul quotes from Psalm 112:9 in verse 9:

9 He (the righteous person) distributes freely to the poor; his righteousness endures forever. His • horn will be exalted in honor.

GOD is the example of Christians – HE scattered; HE gave to the poor; HIS righteousness endures forever. The righteous person’s heart is in harmony and relationship with GOD which governs his or her actions.

Received GOD’S Blessing:

Let’s read 2 Corinthians 9:10-11:

10 Now the One (GOD) who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us.

GOD made the seeds which produce the product or fruit, which in turn provides substance for humans. If HE can do what mankind cannot do, then HE can multiply the harvest of the sower. A Christian’s part is to trust and obey. Obedient giving defies human logic when it is done according to GOD’S will and glorifies HIM.

Paul makes a beautiful correlation to GOD multiplying the physical harvest to increasing the harvest of righteousness. He used a statement from Hoses 10:12:

12 Sow righteousness for yourselves and reap faithful love; break up your unplowed ground. It is time to seek the Lord until He comes and sends righteousness on you like the rain.

As the Christians in Corinth used their physical resources to meet the needs of the Christians in Jerusalem, GOD increased the harvest of their righteousness. When Christians empty themselves of the things that cause them to hold back or compromise their trust in GOD, they make room for HIM to occupy more of them. They are becoming more like CHRIST which is GOD’S goal for every Christian. The major war that needs to be won in the lives of Christians is allowing the Holy Spirit to rule the flesh.  

Praise GOD:

Let’s read 2 Corinthians 9:12-15:

12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many acts of thanksgiving to God. 13 They will glorify God for your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with others through the proof provided by this service. 14 And they will have deep affection for you in their prayers on your behalf because of the surpassing grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.

Paul addressed the benefits of finishing what a person has been called to accomplish. In this case, the Christians in Corinth were called and eagerly responded at first to collect gifts to meet the needs of the Christians in Jerusalem but they had failed to complete their goal. They needed to complete their commitment because the Christians in Jerusalem were depending upon their gifts. Plus accomplishing their goal would bring glory to GOD, JESUS and encourage others both Christians and non-Christians. The faithfulness of the Christians would be a positive witness to non-Christians. The Christians in Jerusalem will rejoice and be encouraged because GOD has ministered to them through fellow Christians in Corinth. Meeting the needs of others brings glory to GOD and hope to those in need. When needs are met by fellow Christians, the Spiritual body is functioning in unity with GOD.   

When we are facing difficult times, it is encouraging and brings hope to us when fellow Christians respond to our need. It is Spiritually uplifting and encouraging.  

It is tough to wait upon the leadership of the LORD.

Verse 15 puts into perspective the motivation for Christians to give.

GOD allowed HIS Only Son, JESUS, to come to earth to live and give HIS life for the redemption of those who will place their faith in HIM. HIS shed blood paid, in full, the debt every human owes as the result of sin and its consequence, eternal death. Salvation is a free gift no human can earn by his or her own effort or merit. When we consider the unspeakable gift of CHRIST, our gifts pale in comparison to HIS gift and the un-measureable blessings of GOD’S sustaining grace to those who place their faith in HIM and obediently serve HIM.  Blessings!!!