Q & A's: Giving Bountifully?

When we give freely to others with a cheerful heart, should we also expect to receive bountifully? 2Corinthians 9:6-8

2nd Cor.8:24] Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.

The Apostle Paul teaches the Corinthian Saints about selfless love and charity unto others here in chapter 9, but as he mentioned in verse 24 of chapter 8 it is his desire that they would show forth Selfless Love unto others, and this show of love is to the edifying of the Saints, and this show of love is designed to edify the Saints, but most often times it is looked upon as supplying for their necessity only, and not to edify so that they too will learn the Selfless Love of God themselves.

2nd Cor.9:1] For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:

[2] For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.

[3] Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready:

[4] Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.

The Apostle Paul 'boasted' of the Saints to the other Saints that these Saints had begun to learn the love of God. And Paul desired that they're active love would produce an "abounding" Grace and charity unto the other Saints. This does not mean that God is going to bountifully bless these Saints, but what it means is by their charity being given to others, that act of charity wouldn't turn edify, and teach the other Saints that same selflessness as these Saints learned from Christ's selflessness for us.

[6] But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

[7] Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

[8] And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

And the issue about sowing and reaping is not of a Godly blessing unto the Saints, but it is a charity for charity if you will, meaning these Saints would act in charity and their example would now abound to the other Saints. And being a cheerful Giver is one that desires out of selflessness to give, and this type of charity is something that is from the heart and not because of any certain type of day, or circumstance. God loves a cheerful Giver, his love is selfless, and he desires that we too would desire to give regardless the day, the time, but that our heart truly out of love desires charity.

And most often times this verse is used in the churches as a ‘motivation’ to give ro the church, but if the church taught Selfless Love unto Saints, they would not have to use these verses each Sunday to get people to give unto the church, that is not being a cheerful Giver if someone has to ask you each week to give. This is not how Paul taught the Corinthian Saints about selfless giving, notice in the verses below Paul teaches that if the Saints are not operating upon the Selfless Love and charity of Jesus Christ, Paul is not going to act as their ‘tutor and governor’ and force them to give by any other method, but by the Living Word of the Living God living within them to do so. And this type of love ought to ‘simulate’ God’s selfless love as we “let love be without dissimulation.”

2nd Cor.11:9] And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.

2nd Cor.12:13] For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.

[14] Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

[15] And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.

[16] But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.

Rod Jones