2 Corinthians 9 (1)

Pray Psalm 86.16, 17.
Oh, turn to me, and have mercy on me!
Give Your strength to Your servant,
And save the son of Your maidservant.
Show me a sign for good,
That those who hate me may see it and be ashamed,
Because You, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.

Sing Psalm 86.16, 17.
(Andrews: Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven)
Turn to me, LORD; be gracious to me;
grant me Your strength; save Your servant, LORD!
Let me a sign of something good see;
shame all who hate me beneath Your Word.
LORD, be gracious to me, LORD, be gracious to me,
for You help me, sovereign Lord!

Read and meditate on 2 Corinthians 9.1, 2.

Preparation
1. What is the subject of these two verses?

2. What did Paul know about the Corinthians?

Meditation
Nothing good happens in our lives apart from the grace of God. Paul wanted the Corinthians to follow through on a commitment they made a year earlier to take up a collection for the saints in Judea. At that time, they indicated they were willing to do so.

Notice how grace works: They were willing. Only God can make us willing to do what pleases Him (Phil. 2.13). Paul rejoiced in their willingness and even boasted about it to other churches.

Now Titus and two others were coming to collect that gift and take it to Jerusalem. He took this action because, according to Titus’ report concerning matters in Corinth, their willingness had matured to zeal. That’s a grace notch far above merely being willing. Paul wanted to capitalize on Titus’ report concerning their zeal, so he wrote a second letter and gave it to Titus and two others who would receive the gift from the Corinthians and take it to Jerusalem.

And see how these two verses, like the lips of King Jesus (Ps. 45.2), drip with the grace of God. Paul reminds them that their gift is a ministry to the saints (v. 1). He didn’t even need to mention it—“it is superfluous for me to write to you”—because he knew they would do what they had promised. He knew their “willingness” and had boasted about it to the Macedonians (v. 2), which, in turn, moved them to prepare a gift. And he commended their zeal as having had a positive effect on “the majority”, not only in Corinth but beyond.

Grace doesn’t work on our schedule. It takes time sometimes. God’s time. But if we keep seeking it day by day, and spreading the grace God gives us to others, soon enough grace will accomplish its good work.

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
When sanctification is our goal, everything that happens in our life is training for the next thing. In many ways, it is how “we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8.28). We miss much if we only apply this verse to calamities; for it is true of all things that happen, good and bad.

Paul asked Titus to visit with the Corinthians, to check up on their progress from willingness, to zeal, to doing. It was as much a learning opportunity for Titus as it was for those he visited. Paul later wrote a letter of encouragement to Titus, after he had become a shepherd of his own flock. As they had this shared memory of the work in Corinth, these words were a reminder of how grace works: Jesus gave Himself for us, to redeem us from every lawless deed to purify for Himself His own special people, “zealous for good works” (Titus 2.14). “Remember how zealous the Corinthians were?”

“Arise, for this matter is your responsibility” (Ezra 10.4). These are the words Ezra used to encourage the children of Israel to get back on the right path of following God. You were willing, then became zealous, now do what you said you would do.

Nehemiah, encouraged his Jerusalem fellow wall-builders, who were willing to build and zealous to build, with these words: “You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach…Let us rise up and build” (Neh. 2.17, 18).

Throughout the history of God’s people, it seems, either the temple, or the wall, or the church needs rebuilding. So, people of grace—willing and zealous—are always in demand for getting the work done.

“The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this” (2 Ki. 19.31) through us, His people.

We never want to be the recipients of Paul’s words of excoriation: “For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God” (Rom. 10.1-3).

Willingness and zeal without knowledge are merely zealous froth. Our zeal must be grounded in Jesus Christ and the work that He has planned for us to do. “For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2.13).

Ezra, Nehemiah, Paul, and Titus have shown us God’s willing and zealous way.  May we arise to our responsibilities, through God’s zeal, and do them with the utmost grace. Remembering all we have experienced and learned, for good, because we are called according to His purpose to do so.

Perhaps, by so doing, the majority may be stirred up for their own good works (2 Cor. 9.2).

For reflection
1. What would be an example of “willingness” maturing to “zeal” in your life?

2. Where does willingness come from (Phil. 2.13)? What can you do to be more willing to follow Jesus?

3. How does God use us in the lives of others to help them be more willing to obey the Lord?

When we would have others do good, we must act toward them prudently and tenderly, and give them time. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on 2 Corinthians 9.1-5

Pray Psalm 86.7-15.
Pray for patience as you wait for the grace of God to move you forward in your walk with and work for Him.

Sing Psalm 86.7-15.
(Andrews: Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven)
When in my trouble, LORD, I call You,
You answer me; there is none like You!
There are no works like Yours, and all whom
You have created shall worship You.
LORD, be gracious to me, LORD, be gracious to me,
all shall glory give to You!

For You are great, You wondrous do;
You are the only and sovereign LORD.
Teach me Your way, let me give heed to,
with all my heart, Savior, all Your Word!
LORD, be gracious to me, LORD, be gracious to me,
praise Your Name forever, LORD!

Great is Your mercy, LORD, toward me;
You have delivered my soul from hell.
Though dreadful foes and threats arrayed be,
You will Your grace and Your mercy tell!
LORD, be gracious to me, LORD, be gracious to me,
slow to anger, loving well!

T. M. and Susie Moore

The Church in Corinth was in need of revival. But there was much to be done before that would happen. The Church today needs revival, and the same is true for us. Our book, Revived!, can help us to discern our need for revival and lead us in getting there. Order your copy by clicking here.

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter, available by clicking here.