PRINCIPLES OF GENEROSITY
Miles Seaborn
2 Corinthians 9:6-15
INTRO. This passage gives us a whole outline of the
principles of giving and of generosity. Paul is not
so much setting forth a system of giving (he did that
in chapters 8 and 9:1-5). He is dealing with the
attitude of giving.
1. He is reasoning from the very principles of
nature. The very foundation of life itself.
(Proverbs 11:24-27)
2. He is using some interesting words.
"Every man as he purposes"
(1) verse 6: i.e. a fixed - state to
choose beforehand. They had already made
up their minds.
(2) Grudgingly (i.e. from sorrow) Deut.
15:10.
ILL. Of little children coming to
Sunday School weeping when parting
with their pennies - pried from their
hand, an unwilling heart.
(3) Cheerful - (i.e. hilarious) God keeps
on loving a giver who is hilarious with joy
over the privilege of doing so.
I. PAUL INSISTS THAT NO MAN WAS EVER THE LOSER BECAUSE
HE WAS GENEROUS!
Giving is like sowing seed. The man who sows with
a sparing hand can't hope for anything but a
meager harvest; but the man who sows with a
generous hand will in due time reap a generous
reward.
ILL. N.T. practicals book. It is never
afraid of the reward motive. It never says
that goodness is for no good reason or that
life is exactly the same for the man who
obeys God and the man who does not. God's
Word never forgets that something new and
precious and wonderful does enter into the
life of the man who accepts God's commands
as his law. Rewards? Both material and
spirit. They may come at different times -
Job! What can a generous man expect?
1. He will be rich in love. Both to give and
receive. Men always prefer a warm heart to a
cold.
2. He will be rich in friends. "A man that
has friends shows himself friendly!" The
Christian whose heart runs out to people ...
Miles Seaborn
2 Corinthians 9:6-15
INTRO. This passage gives us a whole outline of the
principles of giving and of generosity. Paul is not
so much setting forth a system of giving (he did that
in chapters 8 and 9:1-5). He is dealing with the
attitude of giving.
1. He is reasoning from the very principles of
nature. The very foundation of life itself.
(Proverbs 11:24-27)
2. He is using some interesting words.
"Every man as he purposes"
(1) verse 6: i.e. a fixed - state to
choose beforehand. They had already made
up their minds.
(2) Grudgingly (i.e. from sorrow) Deut.
15:10.
ILL. Of little children coming to
Sunday School weeping when parting
with their pennies - pried from their
hand, an unwilling heart.
(3) Cheerful - (i.e. hilarious) God keeps
on loving a giver who is hilarious with joy
over the privilege of doing so.
I. PAUL INSISTS THAT NO MAN WAS EVER THE LOSER BECAUSE
HE WAS GENEROUS!
Giving is like sowing seed. The man who sows with
a sparing hand can't hope for anything but a
meager harvest; but the man who sows with a
generous hand will in due time reap a generous
reward.
ILL. N.T. practicals book. It is never
afraid of the reward motive. It never says
that goodness is for no good reason or that
life is exactly the same for the man who
obeys God and the man who does not. God's
Word never forgets that something new and
precious and wonderful does enter into the
life of the man who accepts God's commands
as his law. Rewards? Both material and
spirit. They may come at different times -
Job! What can a generous man expect?
1. He will be rich in love. Both to give and
receive. Men always prefer a warm heart to a
cold.
2. He will be rich in friends. "A man that
has friends shows himself friendly!" The
Christian whose heart runs out to people ...
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