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9:1 There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the saints. 2 For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. 3 But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be. 4 For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we--not to say anything about you--would be ashamed of having been so confident. 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.

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Paul boasted to the Corinthian church about the Macedonian churches’ works. He’s also been boasting to the Macedonian churches about the Corinthian church’s desire to give.

He’s pretty slick! Once he got the Corinthians fired up to help the Palestinian churches, he used that to motivate the Macedonian churches to help, and then used the Macedonians’ response to motivate the Corinthians to follow through on their commitment. Finally, Paul suggests that some Macedonians may come along with him to Corinth and emphasized how embarrassing it would be if after all that boasting they didn’t have the collection ready.

In some ways, Paul seems manipulative here. I have to admit that. But he is drawing on the commitment each church made in their own hearts and through their own will. If he had somehow extorted them or ordered them to give, that would have been a different matter altogether. But he didn’t. He is simply strongly encouraging them to carry out the commitments they made.

In 1 Corinthians 16:1-4, Paul wrote “Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem. If it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me.”

In that passage (v. 2), he didn’t want the collection to be made because of his own presence.

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9:6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 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.

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Farming is a great analogy to convey the purpose of giving. Christian giving is an investment, as is sowing seeds. The more you sow, the more you will reap. This first and foremost means that giving away your money will allow you to reap spiritual rewards. The giving is spiritual, and so are the primary rewards. However, God will ensure when you cheerfully give according to your heart, that you will have all that you need.

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9:9 As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." 10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

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But look at this! You are promised here that if you give financially, God will not only take care of your financial/physical needs, but He will also continue to increase your ability to give!

Prosperity, or Word-Faith, preachers have a field day with these verses. After all, taken out of context, they directly say that God will make you rich. All you have to do is give (and then they pass the collection basket.)

Let’s be clear. This entire section of 2 Corinthians 8 through 9 have nothing at all to do with the collection plate. Nor are they even remotely related to tithing. If this is surprising (which would be understandable, because every sermon or Sunday School Class on these verses that I’ve attended is about that) then please re-read these two chapters. Not a single indication or connection to either tithing or giving money to your local congregation in an offering plate.

This section (which comes to an end in the next paragraph) is about generosity to other Christians. Give freely according to your heart and God will prosper you. You don’t give to get, you give to assist others who have fallen on tough times. God’s blessings will follow, but that isn’t the reason you do it.

If you want to study up on what the New Testament teaches about Christians putting money into collection plates to help support the church buildings they meet in, pay salaries for staff members, and buy new expensive equipment, please turn in your Bible to 2nd Opinions 3:18-4:12.

There are none.

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9:12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

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Here is the clincher – the ultimate reason for it all. Your giving will cause men to praise God! What else matters? Nothing!