2 Corinthians 9:6 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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2 Corinthians 9:6

Comments

Paul moves at this point to the matter of spiritual factors in giving. There are similarities between this saying and certain of the proverbs, such as Proverbs 11:24 and 19:17, but also differences. Some say that this is a proverb of Paul’s day, but more likely it is a proverb of his own.This is not to be understood as the Prosperity Gospel teachers interpret it: ‘God will enrich you financially in proportion to your giving’. Of course you must look after your human needs, and provide for yourself and your family responsibly. But what you reap by your giving is spiritually reaped, not materially. We sow our money and we reap a spiritual benefit. If we look after ourselves frugally we will not pamper ourselves, but we will reap character and great assurance. As Christ says about our treasure, whether on earth or in heaven: ‘There is your heart also.’ If we have more than we need, we give and then we reap, but sadly so many never reap, because of a lack of love for God’s cause.‘But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.’ Well that is obvious. It is the illustration of the farmer. If he is mean in his sowing, if he sows the seed in the spirit of one who thinks he is losing something or is throwing something away, then he will get a poor yield. But if he sows generously, then he will get a good yield. And this is a principle of Christian stewardship also. The farmer, of course, does not consider the seed as being lost because it has left his possession and been buried in the ground. He sees it as a gain in many ways.

Application

Sometimes believers with assurance problem may do little to speed forward the cause of God. We must consider carefully what causes we give to and give responsibly. Are they aligned with the principles of the gospel? Are they furthering the kingdom of heaven? Or are they cutting corners, diverting too high a proportion of what is given into their own coffers? We can’t give bountifully to that, knowing that good is going to come from our gift.

There is a great responsibility on church offices also who manage the church funds. Hence we don’t buy unnecessarily expensive Sunday school vehicles. They may be very important vehicles for the Lord’s work, but they are not on road very much, so it is better to buy lots of older ones if that is possible.

When we sow in stewardship, whether for relief of others, or for the Lord’s work, or whether we are sowing in terms of time and energy in Christian service and witness, we must not see it as something we have parted with. That time, that energy, those means are sown, and they bring forth fruit, if they are sincerely sown with good will. Calvin has a wonderful passage on this. He says when you give a gift, the old nature, the flesh, protests – but that is mine, it says. I am going to lose it, I shall not see it again, that is mine. Well then, says Calvin, answer the flesh with your reason and say to your flesh, from your mind, from your reason – Yes, you may say I am losing this but in 2 Corinthians 9.6 God says I am not losing it, I am sowing it. And it will reap a harvest, and he will bless it in ways I cannot imagine. So answer the flesh and do not let it hinder the gift, the giving.

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2 Corinthians 9:6 Commentary and Bible Study