Giving 4 - 2 Corinthians 9:11-15

9:11-12 - There are two purposes to charitable giving, Paul notes, first it “supplieth the want of the saints,” so those who are in need are better cared for. This can be part of the “sometimes God answers prayers through other people,” concept. It would be possible for God to magically create food in someone’s cupboard, and he does that sometimes, making food last longer than it should, but most times he decides to work through other people so that all can be blessed, not just the recipient but also the giver. Paul says the second reason “is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God.” I’m not exactly sure what this means, but part of the reason that I had thought that cheerful giving was important was because it is the opposite of coveting your own property. If you recognize all that you have as a gift from God, then you don’t hold on to it like it defines who you are as a person. The material possessions could come and/or go just as easily depending on the mind and will of God. When we share what we have, then we are expressing gratitude for our blessings. It’s like God saw us suffering because we needed stuff so he gave it to us to relieve our suffering and to make us happy. If we see someone else in need, we are kind of put in the same position as God, we have something that will ease the burden of others. Becoming Christ-like means feeling towards other people the same way God does, having love for and compassion on others. This helps us grow spiritual and emotionally release our hold on the possessions that we have. Service and giving helps us understand within ourselves the value that we can still provide in the world. 9:13-15 - I’m not exactly sure what Paul is saying in the rest of the chapter, but I’m going to make my own interpretation. It seems like Paul’s citing a third benefit of giving, which is for the glory of God to be seen by others. He says that those you serve “glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ.” I like the saying, “no one cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.” People are drawn to causes subscribed to by those who serve them. When celebrities start charities or donate large sums of money, the people who see that and those who benefit from it, usually want to know more about the organization or the cause. What makes people give up their material possessions, time, talents, or energies to help someone else? That behavior goes against the hedonistic human biology and nature that has been governing our existence from the beginning. Human nature is to hoard, take, and defend violently. If someone does something that goes against that nature, that’s unusual, and most times people want to know what the motivations are behind those actions. It’s a process, people aren’t always ready to start giving back to others right away, some need to work past the mindset of not having enough in order to start living their own life of generosity. But the whole, “I give to you because God loves you and wants you to be better taken care of,” goes a long way in planting the seeds of the gospel.