Giving in 2 Corinthians 8-9

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 9:1 that it is "superfluous" for him to write to the Corinthian church "about the ministry for the saints", despite spending a whole 2 chapters of his letter doing just that!

But despite him using a lot of words I have often found 2 Corinthians 8-9 a little confusing because I have never quite understand how he was seeking to get the Corinthians to give to the Jerusalem church. He doesn't directly command them to give (8:8) and doesn't want to compel them (9:7) but instead he wants them to give willingly and cheerfully (9:5,7). But the route he takes to produce their cheerful giving seems strange to me.

He seems to employ a number indirect encouragements to them be generous. Firstly, he inspires/shames them by the example of the poorer Macedonian churches (the 'Northerner's' as my pastor helpfully described them). He draws a parallel between their giving and Jesus' giving of himself for them (8:9). He also explains that their giving will be an outward proof their love (8:24); stating that he confidently believes that they do already have that love (not far off the charity collectors in the city centre whose opening gambit is often "you look like you care about animals"). He then warns them that they'll be humiliated along with him if they haven't come through with the goods by the time the Macedonians arrive (9:4). But then he seems suspiciously un-trusting when he says he is sending Titus and others to check they get started immediately (9:5). Finally, he seems anticipate the American televangelists and appeals to greed when he says that if they give generously they'll "reap bountifully" as a result (9:6).

Feeling confused about this mixture of encouragements, I've been wondering if there is any underlying structure to Paul's thought on why Christians should give generously? Also, given he seems unlikely to be a believer in the prosperity gospel, I've wondered how Paul understands the harvest that Christian givers will receive? What does it consist of? Is it received now, or in the life to come?

1. The gift of giving

The first and last verses of the section give some indication of the answer to these questions. Paul explains that "the grace of God" has been "given among the churches of Macedonia" (8:1). The first act of giving that Paul mentions in this chapter is a gift given by God. If you trace the word "grace" and what God is described as giving through the two chapters you find that what has been given by God is all the elements of generosity: the caring desire (8:16), the ability to give (9:8) and the act itself (8:4-5). God is able and willing to give Christians "all things" so that they "abound in every good work" (9:8). We are "enriched in every way to be generous in every way" (9:11). God "supplies seed to the sower" so that it can be thrown away.

Paul is not just saying that God has given us money, time etc so we should be free in giving what we have been given. He is saying that these things have been given as part of the larger gift which is that of giving. Giving is not just a response to receiving good (although it is that), or a means of obtaining good (although it is that as well), it is itself a benefit to the giver (8:10). That is why the Macedonians begged "earnestly for the favour [or 'grace'] of taking part in the relief of the saints" (8:4). So while it is easy to think of giving as a either a work we do in gratitude, or as a necessary burden to bring about something good, we shouldn't view as such a poor thing.

I remember being struck when reading Martin Luther's Treatise on Good Works because of his frequent expressions of joy at just how many good works there are for us to do. I would like as few demands on me as possible, but Luther seems to find it wonderful that I will never reach the end of my to-do list:

How splendidly God shows us all good works so near at hand, in such a variety and so continuously that we need not ask for good works to do and could well forget all those works devised by men the showy, far-flung works, such as making pilgrimages. (p.180, Treatise on Good Works, in Selected Writings of Martin Luther ed. T.G. Tappert)

Luther comments that we are blind to the opportunities to do good that surround us everywhere. But if we opened our eyes we would see we could be "rich...in good works in a short time" and that opportunities to do good works "are abundantly present in all places, in all walks of life, and at all times" (p.181, ibid). If only we saw the opportunities to serve as a privilege and a treasure we had been given!

If God is so generous in his giving that means we don't stress that we can't do any good until we are in 'the place God wants me', 'a church which uses my gifts' or 'a job that fits the skills I've been given'. Neither do we need to worry that we don't have any talents that would be useful, the money to make a difference, or the words to say in that situation. We need to hear that "God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work" (8:9)! ...although, of course, if our 'concerns' were only excuses then we may be disappointed to learn they not obstacles to us giving.

In conclusion, Paul is saying firstly that we should recognise giving as a wonderful gift, and secondly, we should not worry that we will exhaust our opportunities to give by running out of money, energy or time because God will keep providing all you need to be continually giving.

2. Thanksgiving to God because of the giver

Once we sift out the references to receiving the gift of giving (and all the subsidiary gifts that entails), I found it clearer what the result of our giving is.

In the first place Paul says it is "of your righteousness" (9:10) and a "righteousness [that] endures forever" (9:9). Considering the context of the quote from Psalm 112, Paul's repeated references to the Corinthians externally proving their love, and how he and others will evaluate them by their giving, it seems Paul is talking about how the knowledge of their righteous giving will last. It is a harvest of other people's thoughts and praise - something Paul is often quite unashamed about saying we should care about. He himself is concerned that he appears "honourable [...] in the sight of man" (8:21).

But, that honour in the sight of others is only good if it is in the right context. As the Corinthians' giving is itself a gift, the right context is of thanks to God who gave the Corinthians the heart and ability to give. "Thanksgiving to God" who is the the ultimate giver, is the ultimate purpose behind giving (9:11-14). The needs of people are being met by giving, but that is not the end of the story if they then thank God for the giving they have received.

However, this God-centred desire to seeing God praised may seem to be in conflict with Paul's other concern that the Corinthians' have a good reputation. We may think of the line in the hymn which prays that "As I seek the lost to win / [...] they forget the channel / Seeing only Him", and think the Corinthians should want to be forgotten. But in Psalm 112 and 2 Corinthians seeing God as the ultimate giver is actually the only way that the channel will ever be remembered. Like all our salvation, it is united to Christ as the head that we do not become nothing but endure. Paul displays this in his relationship with Titus. You cannot come away from 2 Corinthians unaware of Paul's affection and respect for Titus. But this only serves to honour God more as Paul thanks God for him (8:16; cf. 7:6).

But it must be remembered that it is God's glory is what Paul longs for more than anything, and it is a challenge to share that passion. There are lots of good reasons to give, but like the Macedonian churches we should give ourselves "first to the Lord" and his glory, "and then by the will of God" to others (8:5).

So at the end of this rambling post I hope you can see with me that, as is so often the case, Paul's exclamation at the end of his section of thought sums up his central concerns throughout. At the end of chapters 8-9 Paul shouts with a passion I pray I can share:

"Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!"

[NB. My Pastor preached on 2 Corinthians 8-9 last Sunday and you can listen to his sermon. I am gladly leaning on him, as well as some conversations with friends since; but as you may be able to tell I've also been wrestling with this passage a bit myself this week so any shortcomings are probably mine. If you can see that I've got the wrong end of the stick or missed something important then please let me know.]