2 Corinthians 9:6-8 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

This is a wonderfully complete guidance from Paul to the Corinthian believers on generosity, not just to the work of the Lord, but in general. Paul did not come at the subject from the position of the “tithe” or ten percent but rather he embraced the idea of sowing and reaping and sharing the harvest.

Nothing thrills the heart of a farmer more than an abundant harvest. When I was a little girl, the farmers in my village would bring the best of their harvest of crops to the church one Sunday each year and place them on the altar. A special offering was also taken that day. The proceeds of the sale of the produce and that offering would be given for the support of missionaries. There were no rich people in that village but the generosity of the people was contagious and radiated such joy.

Paul also explained that you should give cheerfully as you are able. In other words, there is no requirement to give in a way that creates difficulty for you, nor is it necessary to compete with others as each person’s circumstances are different. And God knows your circumstances.

The third aspect that Paul highlighted is that in your giving, you should consider God. Why? Because “God is able to make all things abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”  Wow! All this sounds to me like Paul has just shared the secret of not just sufficiency but of abundance – a way to lead a life without want, to offload the burden of never having enough, and at the same time being able to help others. Who doesn’t want that?

I like to say “Giving is thanksgiving.” There is no way to repay what God has done by giving his Son to redeem us, but our giving should be an expression of love for his abundant goodness. It is also an act of obedience which makes it possible to “go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation” (Mark 16:15) thereby bringing glory to God.