2 Corinthians 9 (2)

Pray Psalm 33.1-5
Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous!
For praise from the upright is beautiful.
Praise the LORD with the harp;
Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings.
Sing to Him a new song;
Play skillfully with a shout of joy.
For the word of the LORD is right,
And all His work is done in truth.
He loves righteousness and justice;
The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.

Sing Psalm 33.1-5.
(Truro: Shout, for the Blessed Jesus Reigns)
Sing with rejoicing in the LORD, for praise becomes His righteous ones!
With harps and songs raise grateful words, and let new songs of praise be sung!

Joyfully shout! His Word is true; He does His work in faithfulness.
His love prevails the whole world through; the LORD loves truth and righteousness.

Read 2 Corinthians 9.1-5; meditate on verses 3-5.

Preparation
1. Why did Paul send the brethren ahead of the time of his impending visit?

2. What had he been saying about them?

Meditation
We need all the help we can get if grace is to grease the gears of our soul and get us moving on the Yes Path with Jesus. Paul understood this very well.

He reported to the Corinthians that he had been boasting about them, about how, according to Titus’ report, the grace of God was beginning to work among them again. He had especially been boasting of them to the Macedonian churches, which had already made their offering to the needy believers in Judea (vv. 2-4). He did not want the Corinthians to be embarrassed, should some Macedonians accompany him on his visit, so he was sending Titus and two others to get their gift ready and thus to justify his boasting.

What they had been willing to do a year earlier and now were zealous to do, according to Titus, Paul urged them to get busy and do it. They should let the grace of God have its full power in them. Grace made them willing. Grace matured willingness to zeal. And grace would lead to their making a generous gift—from the heart, and without any sense of obligation (v. 5). That grace would rejoice the suffering believers in Judea.

Grace is the lubricant that refreshes our soul so that it moves us to the good works for which we have been saved (Eph. 2.8-10). We must daily, and throughout the day, come to the throne of grace to find mercy and grace to help in all our times of need, which are all the times of our lives. Grace can make us willing and zealous, and grace can move us to doing.

Then, by grace and full of love, we will give God the thanks and praise which are His due.

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162.
“For the LORD gives wisdom…” (Prov. 2.6).
“The LORD by wisdom founded the earth;
by understanding He established the heavens;
by His knowledge the depths were broken up,
and clouds drop down the dew…” (Prov. 3.19, 20).
“Keep sound wisdom and discretion;
so they will be life to your soul
and grace to your neck” (Prov. 3.21, 22).

God’s wisdom, understanding, knowledge, discretion, and grace “can make us willing and zealous” and “move us to doing” His will and work. It also exposes Whom to “blame” (2 Cor. 8.20) for our good works—so “all the thanks and praise which are His due” will be rightfully given to Him.

But to do these good works God’s way, we must “be ready” (2 Cor. 9.3, 5) “in season and out of season” (2 Tim. 4.2). “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven…” (Eccl. 3.1); and we dare not be found “unprepared” and therefore “ashamed” (2 Cor. 9.4).

Without question we are to “honor the LORD with [our] possessions, and with the firstfruits of all [our] increase” (Prov. 3.9). And we should be working hard and diligently, to save our brethren a trip to our house, to exhort us ahead of time to do the good works that we have already willingly and zealously promised to do.
We should just go on ahead and do them. Without the extra nudge.

God instructed us through Solomon:
“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in the power of your hand to do so.
Do not say to your neighbor,
‘Go, and come back, and tomorrow I will give it,’
when you have it with you” (Prov. 3.27, 28).

We have all been blessed beyond measure with earthly and spiritual goods—that we have with us. Goods and kindnesses that need to be shared with others, by and through the grace of God.

What is grace? It is the unmerited divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration and sanctification.
It is a virtue that comes from God; and a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine assistance.
It is the strength that causes us to get up and go and do His will.

This quality of grace should encapsulate our hearts, souls, minds, and strength.
It is the impetus that drives us from willingness, to zeal…to Doing.

For reflection
1. We’re not saved by works but unto them. Explain.

2. What opportunities for doing the Lord’s will do you expect to have today? Are you prepared to do them?

3. How can believers encourage one another to love and good works (Heb. 10.24)?

The duty of ministering to the saints is so plain, that there would seem no need to exhort Christians to it; yet self-love contends so powerfully against the love of Christ, that it is often necessary to stir up their minds by way of remembrance. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on 2 Corinthians 9.1-5

Pray Psalm 33.13-22.
Review your daily schedule before the Lord. Call on Him for the grace you need to be willing, zealous, and busy about doing the work He has appointed for you.

Sing Psalm 33.13-22.
(Truro: Shout, for the Blessed Jesus Reigns)
God from His throne looks down on men; He knows our works and made our hearts.
Let not Your Church, let none depend on strength or skill or human arts.

God watches those who fear His Name, who hope upon His grace and love:
He keeps their souls from death and shame who trust in Him Who reigns above.

God is our Helper and our Shield; upon us let Your grace descend!
We hope in You; to You we yield; we trust in Jesus to the end.

T. M. and Susie Moore

If you’d like to know more about the grace of God, what it is and how it works, order a copy of our book, Grace for Your Time of Need by clicking here. Or you can order a free PDF of the book by clicking here. You can also receive a free PDF Leader’s Guide to help you teach the grace of God to others (click 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.