Thanks be to God for His Inexpressible Gift! 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

I. Generosity reaps a bountiful harvest (verse 6) “So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.” 2 Corinthians 9:5, NIV

I. Generosity reaps a bountiful harvest (verse 6) 6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Paul is using this analogy to make it clear that God rewards generosity with the means to be even more generous

II. A “cheerful giver” reaps God’s approval (verse 7) “I began to understand that giving—whether yams or dollars—was…an indication of the direction and the tenor of one's whole life.” Gordon MacDonald, Chancellor of Denver Seminary

III. A contented giver reaps God’s gracious provision “to be generous in every way” (verses 8-11) 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. “all sufficiency” = “the state of having what is adequate” as well as “the state of being content” For example, Paul also uses this word in 1 Timothy 6:6 — “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”

III. A contented giver reaps God’s gracious provision “to be generous in every way” (verses 8-11) God’s provision of abounding grace which enables us to “abound in every good work.” (verse 8) 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

III. A contented giver reaps God’s gracious provision “to be generous in every way” (verses 8-11) God’s provision of abounding grace which enables us to “abound in every good work.” (verse 8) Righteousness and generosity go hand-in-hand in God’s economy (verses 9-11a) 9 As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” “Do not turn your back on the needy, but share everything with your brother and call nothing your own. For if you have what is eternal in common, how much more should you have what is transient!” The Didache

III. A contented giver reaps God’s gracious provision “to be generous in every way” (verses 8-11) God’s provision of abounding grace which enables us to “abound in every good work.” (verse 8) Righteousness and generosity go hand-in-hand in God’s economy (verses 9-11a) 10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.

III. A contented giver reaps God’s gracious provision “to be generous in every way” (verses 8-11) God’s provision of abounding grace which enables us to “abound in every good work.” (verse 8) Righteousness and generosity go hand-in-hand in God’s economy (verses 9-11a) 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way…

III. A contented giver reaps God’s gracious provision “to be generous in every way” (verses 8-11) God’s provision of abounding grace which enables us to “abound in every good work.” (verse 8) Righteousness and generosity go hand-in-hand in God’s economy (verses 9-11a) “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.” 2 Corinthians 8:9

The danger of failing to be generous “A selfish man is never rich. His day is as long as his neighbor’s, yet he has no leisure except for his own amusements, no sympathy or concern beyond his own perplexities, no strength but to fight his own battles, and no money except for his own need; what haunts his mind at every turn is the dread of having too little for himself.” W.M. MacGregor, early 20th century preacher & theologian

IV. An obedient giver reaps thanksgiving to God (verses 11b-14) 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.

Why are they thankful? 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. NIV Thanksgiving is not only about giving thanks for what you've received, but about the thanks lifted up to God over what you give to those in need.

V. “Thanks be to God for His Inexpressible Gift!” (verse 15) How rich are we in Christ? “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 1:3

V. “Thanks be to God for His Inexpressible Gift!” (verse 15) Know the spiritual dangers of sowing sparingly Reap the blessings of sowing bountifully Our spiritual maturity and our giving to the poor go hand in hand “The rich fool with his bulging barns and bumper crop wondered where he could store all his good things to preserve them all for himself. It apparently never crossed his mind that he had plenty of storage in the mouths of the needy.” Dave Garland

“It is not our richness or our poverty that make us serve the Lord, but our willingness. So, we say, 'As long as we have something to eat every day, we have something to give to God every day.'”

Thanks be to God for His Inexpressible Gift!