How God Expresses His Love for UsMuestra

God, the Most Cheerful Giver

God’s Story

Paul invites the Corinthians to open their hearts as wide as he has opened his. The false apostles among them have been trying to persuade them that Paul doesn’t really love them. He expresses the intensity with which he loves them, hoping that they will love him in return.

Paul reminds the believers that God defeated sin and death for their sake. They have been called out of the kingdom of darkness, called to be separate for God. So there is no need to link themselves to people who are living in the ways of death.

Paul celebrates because he has learned through Titus that his letter — which initially upset the Corinthians — eventually led them to repent. “Godly sorrow brings repentance” (2 Corinthians 7:10). Paul assures them that he is pleased.

The Macedonian churches are giving money to help the struggling Christians in Jerusalem, and Paul urges the Corinthians to give too so they can experience the grace that comes with giving generously. Plus, the Jewish believers need to know that the Gentile believers are unified with them — and vice versa. Paul is sending three men, including Titus, back to Corinth to help with the collection and to teach them more about God and his kingdom. He encourages them to give joyfully — not begrudgingly — because “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). Paul promises that God will take care of their needs and multiply the kingdom impact of what they give.

The King’s Heart

God didn’t need the believers in Corinth to give money. He could multiply money like he multiplies bread. He wanted the Corinthians to give money to kingdom work — and he wants us to do the same — because when we do, he gives something to us.

God changes us when we give. He enlarges our hearts and makes us more generous. He loosens our heart’s grip on the idea that everything is ours, and he helps us realize that everything actually belongs to him. Paul says that through this process we will be “enriched in every way” (2 Corinthians 9:11). Not only does God promise to provide for our needs, he will “enlarge the harvest of [our] righteousness” (2 Corinthians 9:10). When we give, God increases the kingdom work he does through us. He is looking for cheerful givers who want to join him in advancing his kingdom.

Insight

This letter of Paul’s to the believers in Corinth often seems choppy, with his points not necessarily flowing in order and his emotions varying. That could be because he verbally dictated the letter at night over several successive days.