MAY 8, 2022
AN EXHORTATION TO LIBERALITY (PART III)
INTRODUCTION:
1. Since this passage is intimately connected to the preceding, let us do a brief review of Chapter 8.
a) Paul began by setting before the Corinthians the liberality of the Macedonian churches in order to further encourage their own liberality. (Versus 1-7)
b) He reminded them of their good beginning, and of their good purpose of a year ago, urging them to perform the doing of it. (Versus 8-11)
c) He acknowledged that clearly they had the ability, yet he would have them to act out of a willing heart, so that their abundance might supply the wants of others. (Verses 12-15)
d) Paul, determined to avoid all occasion of reproach, associated other faithful men with himself in the charge of the money entrusted to him. Titus and two other men of approved character received Paul’s personal commendation. (Verses 16-23)
e) Since these men were messengers of the churches, he urged the church to prove their love and justify his boasting about them in their conduct toward these men. (Verse 24)
2. He exhorted them to receive Titus and his two companions with confidence, for indeed, as he here continues in Verse 1, it is superfluous to write about the collections.
I. HE EXHORTS THE CORINTHIANS NOT TO FALSIFY HIS BOASTING OF THEIR LIBERALITY. (VERSES 1-5)
A. PAUL HERE GIVES AN ELEGANT REVOCATION OF THE ARGUMENT HE HAD DWELT UPON IN THE FORMER CHAPTER. (VERSE 1)
1. The Greek particle (gar) here translated “for” might have been better translated “but,” as it is in other places. (See
I Pet. 4:15; II Pet. 1:9)
2. The sense is this: “But, for me to multiply words to persuade you to minister to saints in need, it is superfluous.”
3. By this art, which has the force of another persuasive argument, he expresses his confidence that they will not disappoint his good opinion of them.
B. HE GIVES THEM THE REASON WHY HE JUDGED IT SUPERFLUOUS TO WRITE TO THEM IN THE MANNER WHICH HE HAD. (VERSE 2)
1. Because they had a forward mind of themselves, and needed not to be persuaded by so many arguments.
2. This the Apostle tells them that he knew. He had already expressed this confidence. (Ch. 8:10) He apparently knew this, not only from themselves, but from the reports of others who came from them. He had boasting of them for their forwardness and charity to the churches of Macedonia and Achaia.
3. He tells them that their good example had kindled a fire in others in those parts where he was. “Your zeal hath provoked very many.”
4. Paul used the example of the churches of Macedonia to provoke the church at Corinth to greater liberality. Now, he is telling the Corinthians that their example had provoked the churches of Macedonia.
5. It is good when Christians can provoke one another to good works.
6. Quite possibly the Macedonian churches were stirred up to give richly beyond their power by the Corinthian’s example; (Ch. 8:2-4) while the churches of Macedonia became an example of cheerful giving to the Corinthians. (Ch. 8:11, 12)
C. HE URGES THEIR READINESS WHEN THE MESSENGERS ARRIVE, LEST HIS BOASTING BE IN VAIN. (VERSE 3)
1. They had shown their readiness a year ago. They had determined to make a liberal collection. Therefore this was merely a reminder.
2. As he had said in the first epistle, he would have the work done so that there be no need to gather their alms at the last minute. (I Cor. 16:2) This idea is signified here by their being ready, not that readiness of mind, which he spoke about before. (Ch. 8:11, 12)
D. HE WOULD NOT THAT HE SHOULD BE EMBARRASSED BEFORE THE SAINTS OF MACEDONIA TO WHOM HE HAD BOASTED OF THEIR WILLING LIBERALITY. (VERSE 4)
1. Such an event ought to cause them to blush.
2. It would also cause Paul to blush, whose honor and reputation was tied to theirs. He stresses that “we,” not “ye” should suffer embarrassment.
E. HE JUDGED IT PRUDENT TO SEND THE CHOSEN MESSENGERS AHEAD, TO GATHER THEIR BOUNTY. (VERSE 5)
1. The same reason is given as he had before stated. (I Cor. 16:2)
2. The word “bounty” in the Greek signifies blessing, which also agrees with the Hebrew dialect. (I Sam. 25:27;
Gen. 33:11)
a) These gifts are a part of God’s blessing upon him that gives. (Psa. 24:5)
b) The giving of them is a recognition of how much God has blessed us. (I Cor. 16:2)
c) They express the blessing, or well-wishes of the giver upon the recipient.
d) They are a real doing good, i.e. a real blessing to the persons receiving them.
e) In giving, we bless God with what He has given to us.
3. Paul would have the previously promised bounty to be ready as a matter of BLESSING, and not as of covetousness. The meaning is that he would have them to give heartily as a matter of blessing, and not begrudgingly.
a) Sometimes we are guilty of giving covetously, wishing we could keep the gift for ourselves.
b) A covetous giver thinks all is lost that is given to charity, but the Apostle will now correct that mistaken notion
II. PAUL ENCOURAGES THEM TO GIVE BOUNTIFULLY AND CHEERFULLY AS A LIKELY MEANS TO INCREASE THEIR STORE. (VERSES 6-11)
A. THE BOUNTY THAT IS GIVEN CHEERFULLY IS NO MORE LOST THAN THE SEED WHICH IS SOWN IN THE GROUND. (VERSE 6)
1. Not only is the seed not lost, but it will return perhaps thirty, sixty, or even a hundred fold. (Mark 4:8) 2. In the parable just alluded to, the abundance of the crop depended upon the goodness and preparedness of the soil. It is not so with this spiritual crop. It is not the goodness of the ground, but the willing liberality of the sower with his seed. (See Matt. 10:40-42)
B. THE GIVING THAT GOD BLESSES IS THAT WHICH IS DONE WILLINGLY AND CHEERFULLY. (VSE. 7)
1. As God puts it into one’s heart, and as that one has purposed in himself, so let him give.
2. It was the joyfulness of the Macedonians in giving that made them a true example of Christian liberality.
3. Notice, it is God Who takes notice of our giving. “God loveth with a cheerful giver.” This let the Corinthians know that God concerned himself with what they gave, and the attitude in which they gave.
4. We must ever remember that with respect to Christian giving, as with all good works, our motives are of the utmost importance with God. The only giving that can be considered cheerful is that which is motivated by love – love for God, and for His people.
C. BY OUR TRUE CHRISTIAN CHARITY GOD IS MADE OUR DEBTOR, AND HE IS NO INSOLVENT DEBTOR. (VERSE 8)
1. This he confirms from the promise taken out of Psalm 112:9, where it is further added, “his horn shall be exalted with honor.”
2. See also Prov. 11:24; Mal. 3:10; Heb. 6:10
3. The friends which a man makes with his mammon of unrighteousness shall receive him into everlasting habitation. (Luke 16:9) A man’s riches cannot remain forever, but his reward is in the distribution of them, shall remain forever.
D. THE APOSTLE ISSUES A PRAYER TO THE GOD OF PROVIDENCE THAT HE CAUSE HIS GRACE TO ABOUND IN THIS MINISTRY. (VERSE 10)
1. The Apostle is no doubt thinking of Isaiah’s words as he forms this prayer. (Isa. 55:10ff)
2. It is God Who gives us the seed to sow, and it is He who makes it to grow and multiply.
3. That increase which is most blessed is the fruit of our righteousness.
E. THROUGH THEIR ENRICHMENT THE SAINTS WOULD BE BLESSED, AND GOD WOULD BE GLORIFIED. (VERSE 11) These two things are of the utmost importance.
1. Christian charity, as we have seen, blesses both the giver and the receiver of the bounty. (Blessing)
2. This results in thanksgiving to God Whose marvelous grace is responsible for every part of this ministry. (See Ch.4:15)
3. More important than are receiving blessing is that God receives the glory.
III. THIS MINISTRY, BEYOND PROVIDING FOR THE NEEDY, SHALL RESULT IN MULTIPLIED THANKS- GIVING UNTO GOD. (VERSES 12-15)
A. TRUE CHRISTIAN CHARITY IS A DEMONSTRATION OF GOD’S GRACE, FOR WHICH HE IS DUE ALL OF THE PRAISE. (VERSE 12)
1. He moves the hearts of the benefactors to show His kindness to the needy. He, as we have before noted, has provided the giver with his bounty from which to give to those in need. His Spirit teaches the joy of giving, which makes giving its own reward. But, beyond that, His providence repays the blessing many fold.
2. Thus, many thanksgivings abound unto God, not only from the recipients of the gifts, but also from those who have the joy of bestowing them.
3. Have we so experienced the grace of giving? Do we know how to give as unto the Lord, desiring to bring praise to His Name?
B. TRUE CHRISTIAN CHARITY TESTIFIES (TO THE GLORY OF GOD) OF OUR SUBJECTION TO THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. (VERSE 13)
1. The sense is, Many thank God, glorifying Him on account of the evidence offered by this service to their obedience to the Gospel. It is a matter of great thanksgiving when we see evidence of the grace of God in others.
2. They also thanked God for the liberal contributions made to them and to all men generally.
C. TRUE CHRISTIAN CHARITY IS REWARDING, IN THAT, THE SAINTS ARE MOVED TO PRAY FOR THEIR BENEFACTORS. Who can possibly estimate the value of this blessing?
D. GOD IS TO BE THANKED FOR HIS UNSPEAKABLE GIFT. (VERSE 15)
1. Christ himself. The Gospel. These are truly deserving of epithet unspeakable.
2. The grace of brotherly love and Christian charity, which was wrought in the hearts of these Corinthians by the Spirit of Christ and the Gospel. This too is an unexpectedly precious gift of God.
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