Generosity Encouraged

Background Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9
Lesson Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:1–15

Introduction

When we are born again, we “put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Eph. 4:24). Though some people may be generous without being born again, all true Christians will be generous by God’s inspiration. We recognize that everything we have comes from God, and we will not use God’s gifts selfishly or think we have earned them. We are not free to use them as we please. “Freely ye have received, freely give” (Matt. 10:8). “Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth” (Eph 4:28).

Key Verse

That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate (1 Tim. 6:18).

Lesson Scripture

Studying the Lesson

In the first epistle to the Corinthians, Paul clearly taught the followers of Christ to liberally give as He would direct them (1 Cor. 16:1–3). On the first day of the week they were to put something aside in store from that wherein God had prospered them. Paul no doubt told them about the needs of fellow brethren and exhorted them to donate to the treasury so there would be funds available as the opportunity arose to help.

This is an important principle of God. Embodied in this principle is the truth that what we have is not our own. We are only stewards. This truth was manifested in the early church as they freely shared their material possessions. (See Acts 2:44–45). This does not mean that we cannot own anything, but that what we have is not only for ourselves but for sharing as the Lord directs.

In our lesson scripture today, Paul encourages the Corinthians to be ready to help less fortunate brethren wherever there is a need. He had told them earlier about the poverty of some brethren and expected that they would be ready to help as the opportunity came to them. He appears to be concerned that they would, because of covetousness, give sparingly; rather, he encouraged them to follow his exhortation to give liberally.

Practical Truths for Today

Who has title to the things that I call my own? Do I consider them as mine, or do I see them as given to me to use for the good of others? We may have our name on a deed for our real estate, but that simply makes us responsible to God for it. We may feel that we have earned the things we have; contrarily, God has given us everything that we have and use. We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. Our attitude toward the things we possess reveals our spirit. When we have a vision of our utter helplessness and are truly thankful that we have obtained salvation through the blood of Jesus, the things of this world lose their value. We will not find it hard to share.

This humble spirit lays the foundation for us to share with the less fortunate whatever we have wherever we have opportunity. We cannot repay the debt we owe to God for the priceless gift of salvation, but we can show our thankfulness by being generous in every way, giving our time, talents, and material goods for the benefit of our fellow men. The Lord’s requirements are that we “look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others” (Phil. 2:4). Jesus has promised that a drink of cold water given in His name will be rewarded (Mark 9:41). Though we may not have abundant wealth to share, there are many opportunities for us all to practice generosity. Unselfish giving is the only way to live a blessed life.

Father and mother should be diligent to teach almsgiving to their children. They teach it both by their example and by instilling in their children the principle that we share what we have. When teaching children to share their toys, we can easily see human nature in them at a very young age by the way they cling to the things they call their own. This is a picture of our natural selfishness. We must deny ourselves if we want to be happy and have God’s blessings on our lives.

How do we know how much to give to please the Lord? The Old Testament tithing was forthright; they were to give ten percent of everything that came their way. When that requirement was met, it appears that the rest was theirs to use. We are living in the time when the Holy Spirit directs our lives, and He will inspire us to give generously. Jesus clearly taught that the amount was not what mattered: “And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had” (Luke 21:3–4). To experience the joy of generous giving as well as to see the grateful heart of those who receive the gift are rewards greater than all the wealth of the world.

The Scriptures teach that to whom much is given much will be required (Luke 12:48). Some will need to give much more than the tithe to be free before God. We all need to realize that someday we will give an account of all that has come to us in life. Will the record show that we have generously shared with our fellowman? Or will we be judged as Amos writes of those who fared sumptuously: “Woe to them that are at ease in Zion . . . that put far away the evil day . . . that lie upon beds of ivory . . . but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph” (Amos 6:1–6).

In North America, we live in a time of abundance. Some say, however, that surely with all the payments we have, we are not required to give much. We need to carefully consider what spirit motivates us when we commit ourselves to pay for so many things that we hardly find funds to share with others. Though misfortune may come our way and we truly find our financial resources short, often we are short of funds because we have used them for luxurious living and are now paying for what has already been used. God has a better way for us: “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom” (Luke 6:38).

Questions

1. How literally can we take the promise that we will have plenty for ourselves if we are generous with others?
2. Are we experiencing that it is more blessed to give than to receive?
3. Discuss: We can all find something to give. When we give with a generous heart, is the gift important to God?
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Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).