2 Corinthians 9:6-10 (NKJV) But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.” Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness,
God uses us, the body of Christ, to express His love to people inside and outside the church. Jesus has love and compassion for the lost, the sick, the little ones, and the needy, and He desires their salvation. Therefore, we can contribute to these causes and support preachers and missionaries. The gospel was given to us freely by the love of God through Jesus’ death on the cross, but the ministry of the gospel requires financial support.
The church must be well-positioned and financially sound to fulfil its calling. We are building the church of the living God, just as the Old Testament saints built the Tabernacle as a temporary place of worship. Like the Old Testament saints, New Testament believers are called to give freewill offerings for a sacred cause.
In the opening passage, the Apostle Paul was preparing the members of the church in Corinth to collect the offering they had promised to give to the church in Jerusalem to assist the poor there. The Corinthians initially reacted passionately, stirring the interest of other regional churches to contribute. However, they were slow to respond in collecting the promised offering due to disagreements between Paul and the church in Corinth. People can be easily offended and swayed by their feelings, prone to justifying their excuses and dishonouring their words. Therefore, to help us overcome, the Apostle Paul laid down these principles:
- Be willing to give freewill offerings with joy.
- Freewill offering is like a seed sown to the ground to produce a harvest, but there will be no harvest if no seed is sown, and how much we have sown will determine how much we will reap.
- God will supply, multiply, and ensure we are provided abundantly, having all sufficiency to do more good works after we have proven faithful by giving freewill offerings.
- God will be glorified through our freewill offering to the cause He has called us to sow into.
It is easier to give freewill offerings when we acknowledge that we are stewards of His resources. In addition, we must also apply faith to the truth that God will provide us with more when we are faithful and good stewards and administrators of God’s finances. We are the body of Christ, and the Holy Spirit lives in us. Therefore, He will prompt us to act on His behalf, and God will only supply and multiply to us after we have faithfully sown into the areas He has instructed us.
Sermon Series: Christian Generosity
祂资源的好管家
哥林多后书 9:6-10 “少种的少收，多种的多收”，这话是真的。 各人要随本心所酌定的，不要作难，不要勉强，因为捐得乐意的人是神所喜爱的。 神能将各样的恩惠多多地加给你们，使你们凡事常常充足，能多行各样善事。 如经上所记： 他施舍钱财，周济贫穷； 他的仁义存到永远。 那赐种给撒种的，赐粮给人吃的，必多多加给你们种地的种子，又增添你们仁义的果子；
神使用我们——基督的肢体——来向教会内外的人彰显祂的爱。耶稣怜悯失丧的人、病人、孩童和有需要的人，祂渴望他们得救。因此，我们可以为这些事工奉献，支持传道人和宣教士。福音是神的爱借着耶稣在十字架上的牺牲白白赐给我们的，但福音的事工却需要金钱支持。
教会要完成它的呼召，必须在资源和财务上具备良好的基础。我们如今建造的是永生神的教会，正如旧约的圣徒建造帐幕，作为临时的敬拜之所。就像旧约的圣徒一样，新约的信徒也蒙召为圣工献上甘心乐意的奉献。
在这段经文中，使徒保罗正在预备哥林多教会的信徒，好收集他们早先承诺要捐给耶路撒冷教会、帮助那里的贫穷信徒的奉献。哥林多人起初反应热烈，甚至激发了其他地区教会的热情参与。但由于保罗与哥林多教会之间产生了分歧，他们在实际收集奉献时行动迟缓。人很容易受冒犯，也容易受情绪摆布，常常为自己的借口找理由，甚至违背自己的承诺。因此，为帮助我们胜过这些软弱，使徒保罗提出了以下几个原则：
- 愿意喜乐地献上自由奉献，
- 自由奉献就像撒进地里将会结实的种子，我们种下多少种子就会有多少收成，不劳则无获。
- 当我们以自由奉献证实了自己的信实之后，神就会供应、倍增，确保我们得到充足的供应，凡事充足，好行各样的善事。
- 当我们向神所呼召我们参与的事工撒种作自由奉献，神就因此得荣耀。
当我们承认自己是神资源的管家时，自由奉献就变得容易多了。此外，我们也要以信心相信：当我们忠心地管理神所托付的金钱时，祂必会赐下更多。我们是基督的身体，圣灵住在我们里面。因此，祂会感动我们代表祂行事；只有当我们忠心地撒种在祂指示我们的领域时，神才会为我们供应并倍增。
讲章系列：基督徒的慷慨奉献
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