2 Corinthians 9

Notes

Ver. 1. But the pious generosity and compassion of your own tempers renders it altogether superfluous to suggest any other arguments for enforcing your liberality on this occasion. 2. For I sufficiently know your forward inclinations to it, which made me boast to the Christians of Macedonia that ye and your neighbours in Achaia had begun your collections a year ago; and the fame of your fervent zeal herein hath raised a noble emulation in the breasts of many. 3, 4. But notwithstanding my confidence in you, I thought proper to join in sending Titus and his two brethren to you, that your money may be collected and just ready for us whenever we call for it, lest if any of the Macedonian brethren come along with me, and find your collection not completed, it should expose both you and me, who have boasted of you, to shame and reproach. 5. I therefore thought it necessary for your and my own honour, and the common credit of Christianity, to entreat these brethren to come beforehand and inform you when ye may look for us, who are to receive, carry, and distribute it, that your bountiful contribution may be fully ready, and appear a grateful acknowledgment of God's kindness to you, cheerfully given, without any importunate instigation on our side. 6. And though the quantity to be given must be left to your own consciences, yet remember that, in allusion to the niggardly or plentiful sowing of seeds in the earth, God will ordinarily proportion his kind blessings to the straitness or liberality of your charitable contributions. 7. In view of this, let each of you give what he thinks proper in his circumstances, and that cheerfully, not like persons who grudge to part with it, or wish to be excused; for the infinitely bountiful God takes pleasure in them who give with an open hand and heart, and cheerfully improves every opportunity of making their condition comfortable. 8, 9. And this all-sufficient God, who delighteth in mercy, is able to make a liberal disposition, as well as all other gifts and graces, to abound in you, that ye, being content with what ye have, and plentifully supplied with everything pertaining to life and godliness, may be still more and more engaged in such charitable work, and thus attain to the inspired character of the merciful man, who, by his liberal distributions to the poor, procures himself lasting honours before God and men. 10. May therefore God, whose blessing maketh rich, and who multiplies grain to the sower, and supplies the necessity of liberal persons, and inclines them to supply others, give you always whatever is needful, restore your present liberality a hundred-fold into your bosoms in both spirituals and temporals, and enable you more and more to abound in all the fruits of righteousness! 11. May he plentifully enrich you with every blessing of time and eternity, and make you more and more inclined and able to abound in such disinterested liberality as may engage many souls in thankfulness to God for raising up by our means such instruments of supplying their wants! 12. For the proper distribution of this collection will not only be an ample relief to the poor Christians of Judea, but will redound to the honour of God, through the manifold thanksgivings of those who are supplied and other friends of Christ: 13. While by this experimental proof of your brotherly affection the receivers of your charity, and even they who hear of it, will adore and bless God for your unfeigned submission to the authority of Christ in the gospel, and your affectionate and liberal love to his poor members. 14. And it will even turn to your own advantage, as the receivers will pour forth their prayers to God, that he may abundantly recompense your kindness with all blessings, spiritual, temporal, and eternal. 15. Yea, indeed, my own heart joins in their praises as well as their prayers. Blessed be God for this free and bountiful alms, which turns out so inexpressibly to his glory, and your own and others' good, and for the unutterable gift of his grace in making you both able and willing to honour him with your substance, and in filling the receivers with such abundant gratitude to him and to you; and, above all, thanks be to God for Jesus Christ, to whose authority ye have thus shown such subjection, and through whom all the rich blessings of grace and glory come to you, and who, in his person, offices, relations, fulness, and work, is such a transcendent and all-comprehensive gift of God that no created heart can conceive or tongue express its contents, excellencies, extent, or value.

Reflections.—It is honourable to be so forward in acts of charity as to need no excitement. But the most liberal may need directions relative to the extent, time, or manner of their donations; and whatever charity we give should be with prudent consideration and bountiful cheerfulness, without any grudging. It is the most advantageous method in which we can dispose of our wealth. It honours God, and entails his gracious favour and rich recompense, secures the prayers of the relieved, and thus brings lasting profit and honour to ourselves. It is a mercy for our world that God gives some ability and inclination to give, and others a heart, in a Christian manner, to acknowledge their kindness; but unspeakably gracious that God thus loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son for and to sinful men!