This is part of the worship series
"The Joy of Generosity"
Series Introduction
Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3
Week Three
Generous Giving
Scripture
2 Corinthians 9
Call to Worship from Psalm 96
Sing to God—worship God!
For God is great, and worth a thousand
Hallelujahs.
God made the heavens—
royal splendor radiates from him,
a powerful beauty sets him apart.
Bravo, God, Bravo!
Everyone join in the great shout: Encore!
In awe before the beauty, in awe before the might.
Bring gifts and celebrate,
bow before the beauty of God,
then to your knees—everyone worship!
—Psalm 96:1, 4–9 MSG
Confession
“Come now, let us reason together,” says the Lord.
We confess that we envy others. We do not live like Christ who calls us to be content with what we have. Forgive us, Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.”
We covet what belongs to our neighbor. Our lives are driven by our wants.
Forgive us, Lord.
“Though your sins are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”
We begrudge the invitation to give generously and joyfully. We turn away from the needs of others and do not see the difference our caring can make.
Forgive us, Lord.
“I will forgive…and will remember their sins no more.”
—Isaiah 1:18 NIV; Jeremiah 31:34 NIV
Song Suggestions
“As Saints of Old Their Firstfruits Brought” Christierson and Sateren
“As Stewards of a Vineyard” De Vries and Grotenhuis
“I Offer My Life” Cloninger
“Lord of All Good” Bayly and Watson
“The City Is Alive, O God” Reid and Thiman
“We Are an Offering” Liles
“We Give You But Your Own” Walsham How
Meditation
This remarkable passage is a rich mine of material on Christian giving. Paul’s instructions about giving are set against the backdrop of the “great collection,” Paul’s gathering of resources from the Gentiles for the church in Jerusalem. In the previous chapter, Paul introduced the church in Macedonia as a model of healthy, gracious giving. Paul detects an eagerness to give among the Corinthians, but good intentions do not always translate into action. The Macedonians have given generously; now it is time for the Corinthians to do likewise.
As Paul invites the Corinthians to give, he highlights several important truths.
First, Paul is very concerned about their attitude toward giving. To Paul, grudging generosity is a contradiction (2 Corinthians 9:5). Indeed, Paul wants his churches to give cheerfully. In place of the compulsive, guilt-ridden giving that takes place in many churches, Paul demands that we give as Christ, “who for the joy set before him endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2).
Second, Paul wants the church to understand the effect their giving creates. The Greek expression for “generous gift” (eulogia) commonly refers to an act of blessing (v. 5). Paul picks up this theme at the end of the chapter. Not only does giving have practical effects; it also results in praise and thanksgiving to God and builds up the unity of the church. Corinthian giving, says Paul, will testify to the Jewish believers that Gentile faith is real (v. 13). And the hearts of the Jewish people “will go out to” the Corinthians (v. 14), demonstrating the unity in diversity that marks the church of God.
Third, Paul wants the church to understand the divine action that works through their giving (vv. 6-11). The sowing/reaping metaphor is used extensively in Scripture (see Proverbs 11:24-25, 19:17; Luke 6:38; Galatians 6:7). It is tempting, of course, to twist this metaphor into a simplistic health-and-wealth gospel, where financial giving to some kingdom cause assures our own material success. The abuse of this principle by some, however, should not blind us to the reality Paul is teaching here. “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (v. 8). Paul makes no distinction between spiritual and material blessings. He expects that, in a holistic sense, believers will be blessed by God the Giver, even as they bless others through their generous gifts (eulogia). It is not difficult, of course, to find Christians in every congregation today who have experienced precisely this dynamic in their own lives.
Offering Invitation
Truly God is good to us in ways beyond our understanding.
We ponder not how much we shall give, but how much we shall withhold.
Our God says, “The world and all that is in it is mine.”
Our God owns the cattle on a thousand hills, yet
those who bring thanksgiving as their sacrifice,
bring honor to God.
In humble gratitude, let us present our thanks to God.
—Words for Worship, Arlene Mark, ed., Herald Press © 1996. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Revised Common Lectionary
Year A: Season after Pentecost—Canadian Thanksgiving Day
Year A: Season after Pentecost—Thanksgiving Day
