Tuesday after the Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity Sunday
Posted on September 12, 2023 by under
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:6-11 (NKJV)
9:6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 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. 9 As it is written:
“He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.”
10 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, 11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.
Devotion
It may not be too surprising to say that the Apostle Paul had a talent for teaching the Church about various topics. Even in some topics that we may see as difficult, the Apostle Paul is able to bring proper teaching with grace, always pointing back to Jesus. We can thank the Holy Spirit for the Apostle Paul’s talents in this passage since it can be difficult to discuss cheerful giving.
The Apostle does not say, “You ought to give a certain percent of your income.” He doesn’t say, “If you give the Church a $1000 seed offering, all your financial troubles will go away.” Instead, the Apostle relies on the truth that Jesus has saved His people and has given them a new heart that will love the Church and the fellow brethren. Therefore, the Church is instructed to give in a way that is cheerful and not begrudging.
The Apostle then reminds the faithful that the Lord is the one who brings the increase and will provide for His people. This certainly relieves the conscience of the burden of the Law. We instead look to Christ so that the faithful may know how to give in a cheerful way that serves our neighbor.
Collect: Keep, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy Church with Thy perpetual mercy; and, because the frailty of man without Thee cannot but fall, keep us ever by Thy help from all things hurtful, and lead us to all things profitable to our salvation; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
