II Corinthians 9:1 For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:
2 For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.
3 Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready:
4 Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.
5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.
We know that Paul was the writer of this letter. We also know that God is the Author of the entire Bible. God knows how slow we are to get the truths He speaks. Thus He repeats things that have already been stated, so that we would get it. That is what God is doing here in verse 1. Paul should not have needed to write about the ministering of the saints. Saints are servants of the Lord. They demonstrate that by their attitude to one another.
In verse 2 God pointed out the mind of the Corinthian saints. Since they were saved, they were predisposed to be a blessing to other saints. Paul had boasted of their forwardness to the saints in Macedonia. Notice that the Corinthians had a forwardness in their minds. It is important to have a right mindset.
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Christians need have a renewed mind. That renewed mind needs to translate into actions. That was important in Corinth during the days of Paul and it is equally important to us. Paul noted that the Corinthians had been ready to give a year ago, but they never followed through on what they had thought good to do.
In verse 3 Paul reminded them that his words were not empty words. He sent the brethren to help the saints to follow through on what they had been committed to in their minds. Paul did not want his boasting of them to be in vain. He wanted them to act upon what they had earlier stated. God expects His children to follow through on what they say they are going to do. God is a faithful God. He keeps His Word. God expects His children to keep their word. We need to be careful not to make promises we cannot keep. God never makes a promise He cannot keep.
In verse 4 Paul continued to encourage the saints. He wanted them to be prepared for the brethren who were coming to collect the gift that was promised and needed. Paul did not want to be ashamed of boasting that the Corinthian saints were God-fearing people who would give to the work of God just as other saints did. Paul wanted God’s Work to go forth. It is important for all saints to be involved in that work. It is a good work. It is a worthy work.
In the Bible we never see the gimmicks of the false teachers used. The false teachers did not get their ideas from the Bible. They got them from the world. The world offers things if you give them certain things. God offers eternal life to the lost. When a person gets saved their heart is changed by God. God also changes their minds. He tells the saved to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
In verse 5 Paul again reminds the saints that he exhorted the brethren who were coming to them. The brethren had important work to do. They needed to be godly men who were trustworthy. They needed to go to Corinth and help the saints there to follow through with what they had promised to do. God does not expect what we cannot give. He expects us to give of the bounty that He has provided us with.
God wanted the saints to understand where their bounty came from. He did not want them to be hesitant to give to the work of God. He wanted them to give generously for His glory. When a person’s heart is right with God, he will be directed by the Spirit of God to do what God desires. That person will not regret obeying God. He will see the value of honouring God with the bounty that He has bestowed upon him.
The Corinthian saints were not poor, materially. They had a problem with spiritual growth. They needed encouragement to honour God as His children. God does not expect the world to fund His Work. He expects His children to glorify Him and show the world the benefit of knowing the true God.
Our governments are always looking for a way to tax us more. They are greedy and very poor stewards of the funds they take from us. They always want more. With the more, they do not improve the roads or keep crime down. They just pay their buddies and themselves. They have many excuses as to why things are not improving for us poor paupers. If it wasn’t for the money they are hoping to get from us, they would not give us the time of day.
God is not like that. He proves that He cares for us. He sent the Lord Jesus Christ to die on the cross of Calvary for our sins. He wants us to know His peace and blessing. His offer of salvation provides forgiveness of sins and eternal life for all who will trust in Him. No one can honestly say he has been cheated by God.
Those who are called to be ministers of God are motivated by the love of God. The world does not understand that love. That is clear from the fact there are few who trust in God. Most people ignore or reject the true God for various reasons.
It is important to have the mind to do right. It is important to put thoughts into action. Giving to the work of God is important. The work of God is the most important work. God could do it all without us. The Bible tells us the heavens declare the glory of God. The Bible also tells us that He sent a raven to feed Elijah for a time. God can accomplish all that is needed by Himself but He has chosen to enlist saved men and women, boys and girls to tell others of the importance and necessity of true salvation. The proclamation of the Gospel requires financial means. Those who are truly saved do not waste those means. Too many use the pretence of serving God as a means of become wealthy. God knows all about that and He will help protect His children from being deceived if we will listen to Him.
Pastor Bartel