2 Corinthians 9 (3)

Pray Psalm 126.6.
He who continually goes forth weeping,
Bearing seed for sowing,
Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,
Bringing his sheaves with him.

Sing Psalm 126.6.
(Truro: Shout, for the Blessed Jesus Reigns)
They who in tears of sorrow sow and cast their seed on every hand,
with joy shall reach their heav’nly home, and bring the harvest of their land.

Read 2 Corinthians 9.1-7; meditate on verses 6, 7.

Preparation
1. How does Paul want us to “sow”?

2. With what disposition of heart?

Meditation
In the context, Paul has giving in mind, specifically, the gift promised by the Corinthians for the material relief of the brethren in Judea. He wanted the Corinthians, willing and zealous for this work, to do it cheerfully and bountifully. He gave no across-the-board guideline but said all should give as the Lord moved them in their heart.

His focus here was on gifts and offerings, but the principle applies to all good works. The more we do good works, doing them in and with the Spirit, the more spiritual fruit we shall realize—righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit, both in those we reach with God’s grace and in our own souls. We must not grow weary of doing good works, or of devising new works that seek the Kingdom and righteousness of God (Gal. 6.9, 10). If we will cheerfully, energetically, and consistently do good and speak truth, our sowing of Kingdom seed will turn this barren world into a glorious wheat field of the Lord. Let us be diligent sowers, be it ever so difficult or sorrowing. And let us take up new endeavors for serving those around us with the grace and goodness of the Lord. If we will, we may expect glory and honor to come to Jesus more consistently, as His grace spreads through us to a grace-starved world (2 Cor. 4.15).

The world desperately needs our sowing. The Corinthians were called to sow bountifully out of the sorrow they had known from Paul’s rebuke. We, out of sorrow for our sins and our feeble efforts thus far, weep with gladness to know that God still entrusts us with good Kingdom seed. Let us daily seek His renewing grace, that we may go in obedience and joy to sow for the Lord’s harvest.

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Do you ever have those days when what you do seems not very pleasing to the Lord?
I mean, how could you be pleasing Him, when you cannot even be pleasing to yourself?
You might even be the tiniest bit angst-ridden and discouraged, as everything seems to have gone woefully wrong, leading you to be a little blue, bordering on mildly depressed.

Well, take heart! “God loves a cheerful giver”! (2 Cor. 9.7)
Yep. We can turn things right around in our own minds by doing good—cheerfully.

Serving, giving, tithing, offering, rejoicing in the Lord for the good of others is a quick trip to joy. It doesn’t change our circumstances; it just changes our minds.

God feels very deeply about the poor. Those poor financially, and those poor in love and care.
So, He has tasked His children to tend to His children.

“For the LORD will greatly bless you…only if you carefully obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe with care all these commandments…” (Deut. 15.4, 5).

And one of those commandments was this one: “If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother, but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs” (Deut. 15.7, 8).

Willingly and cheerfully and completely and bountifully.

“You shall surely give to him, and your heart should not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the LORD your God will bless you in all your works and in all to which you put your hand” (Deut. 15.10).

“Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away” (Matt. 5.42).
“But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?” (1 Jn. 3.17). Well, it doesn’t. That’s why we want to sow bountifully.

“So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity” (2 Cor. 9.7).

How exciting is this? We know how to lift ourselves out of the doldrums, and simultaneously be pleasing to the Lord!  All it takes is a little cheerful giving and bountiful sowing to those in need.

For reflection
1. How’s your “giving”? What did you give of the grace of God yesterday? What will you give today?

2. How is that giving of ourselves to others can lift us out of life’s doldrums? What’s at work in this?

3. Whom will you encourage today to sow God’s grace bountifully in their world?

If we had more faith and love, we should waste less on ourselves, and sow more in hope of a plentiful increase. Can a man lose by doing that with which God is pleased? Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on 2 Corinthians 9.6-15

Pray Psalm 126.1-5.
Pray for revival. Pray that God’s people will sow His grace far and wide, in all their acts of love and words of truth. Pray that God will renew churches everywhere so that a great harvest of souls may be brought into them.

Sing Psalm 126.1-5.
(Truro: Shout, for the Blessed Jesus Reigns)
When God restored our fortunes all, we were like those who sweetly dream.
Our mouths with joy and laughter filled, made Him our constant song and theme.

Then the astonished nations said, “The LORD has done great things for them!”
Indeed, great things our God has done, Whose Name we praise, Amen, Amen!

Restore our fortunes, LORD our King! Let grace like flowing streams prevail.
All they with tears of joy shall sing who sow while yet they weep and wail.

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 is in need of 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.