6. He which soweth sparingly<\/em> ] “He calls it sowing,” says Chrysostom, “in order that we may learn by the figure of the harvest that in giving we receive more than we give.” Cf. Gal 6:7-9<\/span>; also Pro 11:18<\/span>.<\/p>\n bountifully<\/em> ] Literally, with blessings<\/strong> ( in benedictionibus<\/em>, Vulg.). In both cases the Greek word is the same.<\/p>\n But this I say – <\/B>This I say in order to induce you to give liberally. This I say to prevent your supposing that because it is to be a voluntary offering you may give only from your superfluity, and may give sparingly.<\/P> He which soweth sparingly – <\/B>This expression has all the appearance of a proverb, and doubtless is such. It does not occur indeed elsewhere in the Scriptures, though substantially the same sentiment exciting to liberality often occurs; see Psa 12:1-3<\/span>; Pro 11:24-25<\/span>; Pro 19:17<\/span>; Pro 22:9<\/span>. Paul here says that it is in giving as it is in agriculture. A man that sows little must expect to reap little. If he sows a small piece of land he will reap a small harvest; or if he is niggardly in sowing and wishes to save his seed and will not commit it to the earth, he must expect to reap little. So it is in giving. Money given in alms, money bestowed to aid the poor and needy, or to extend the influence of virtue and pure religion, is money bestowed in a way similar to the act of committing seed to the earth. It will be returned again in some way with an abundant increase. It shall not be lost. The seed may be buried long.<\/P> It may lie in the ground with no indication of a return or of increase. One who knew not the arrangements of Providence might suppose it was lost and dead. But in due time it shall spring up and produce an ample increase. So with money given to objects of benevolence. To many it may seem to be a waste, or may appear to be thrown away. But in due time it will be repaid in some way with abundant increase. And the man who wishes to make the most out of his money for future use and personal comfort will give liberally to deserving objects of charity – just as the man who wishes to make the most out of his grain will not suffer it to lie in his granary, but will commit the seed to the fertile earth. Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it again after many days Ecc 11:1<\/span>; that is, when the waters as of the Nile have overflown the banks and flooded the whole adjacent country, then is the time to cast abroad thy seed. The waters will retire, and the seed will sink into the accumulated fertile mud that is deposited, and will spring up in an abundant harvest. So it is with that which is given for objects of benevolence.<\/P> Shall reap also sparingly – <\/B>Shall reap in proportion to what he sowed. This everyone knows is true in regard to grain that is sowed. It is also no less true in regard to deeds of charity. The idea is, that God will bestow rewards in proportion to what is given. These rewards may refer to results in this life, or to the rewards in heaven, or both. All who have ever been in the habit of giving liberally to the objects of benevolence can testify that they have lost nothing, but have reaped in proportion to their liberality. This follows in various ways.<\/P> (1) In the comfort and peace which results from giving. If a man wishes to purchase happiness with his gold, he can secure the most by bestowing it liberally on objects of charity. It will produce him more immediate peace than it would to spend it in sensual gratifications, and far more than to hoard it up useless in his coffers.<\/P> (2) In reflection on it hereafter. It will produce more happiness in remembering that he has done good with it, and promoted the happiness of others, than it will to reflect that he has hoarded up useless wealth, or that he has squandered it in sensual gratification. The one will be unmingled pleasure when he comes to die; the other will be unmingled self-reproach and pain.<\/P> (3) In subsequent life, God will in some way repay to him far more than he has bestowed in deeds of charity. By augmented prosperity, by health and future comfort, and by raising up for us and our families, when in distress and want, friends to aid us, God can and often does abundantly repay the liberal for all their acts of kindness and deeds of beneficence.<\/P> (4) God can and will reward his people in heaven abundantly for all their kindness to the poor, and all their self-denials in endeavoring to diffuse the influence of truth and the knowledge of salvation. Indeed the rewards of heaven will be in no small degree apportioned in this manner, and determined by the amount of benevolence which we have shown on earth; see Mat 25:34-40<\/span>. On all accounts, therefore, we have every inducement to give liberally. As a farmer who desires an ample harvest scatters his seed with a liberal hand; as he does not grudge it though it falls into the earth; as he scatters it with the expectation that in due time it will spring up and reward his labors, so should we give with a liberal hand to aid the cause of benevolence, nor should we deem what we give to be lost or wasted though we wait long before we are recompensed, or though we should be in no other way rewarded than by the comfort which arises from the act of doing good.<\/P> <\/p>\n 2Co 9:6<\/span><\/p>\n He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\n The way and worth of genuine beneficence<\/strong><\/p>\n 1. <\/strong>Bountifully (2Co 9:6<\/span>).<\/p>\n 2. <\/strong>Deliberately (2Co 9:7<\/span>). A spurious charity gives from impulse or pressure.<\/p>\n 3. <\/strong>Cheerfully (2Co 9:7<\/span>).<\/p>\n 1. <\/strong>In its issues.<\/p>\n (1)<\/strong> It confers happiness on the man who practises it. He will be blessed in his deed.<\/p>\n (2)<\/strong> It ensures the blessing of the Almighty.<\/p>\n (a) <\/strong>He sees that the man of charity shall lose nothing by his contributions (2Co 9:8<\/span>).<\/p>\n (b) <\/strong>He sees that his beneficent deeds shall be blessed for ever (2Co 9:9<\/span>). A good deed is a seed that will go on multiplying for ever.<\/p>\n (3)<\/strong> It alleviates the distress of mankind (2Co 9:12<\/span>).<\/p>\n (4)<\/strong> It is promotive of universal worship (2Co 9:12-13<\/span>).<\/p>\n 2. <\/strong>In itself (2Co 9:15<\/span>). What is the gift here? Has Paul a special reference to Christ? Be it so. The value of that gift was the love which it incarnated. (D. Thomas.<\/em>)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Liberal charity stated and recommended on the principles of the gospel<\/strong><\/p>\n The Scriptures abound in a great variety of the most beautiful images and figurative allusions.<\/p>\n 1. <\/strong>This is a character formed and perfected under the influence of supreme regard to God and the Redeemer. Beneficent love to men is at once a natural consequence and proof of knowing the love of God, and loving Him.<\/p>\n 2. <\/strong>The man of liberal charity is one who gives cheerfully according to his ability.<\/p>\n 3. <\/strong>True liberal charity is wisely divided amongst many, and proportioned to the objects upon which it acts. It is not, it cannot be confined to near relations, intimate friends, or particular favourites. The principle which gave it birth extends its influence in every possible direction.<\/p>\n 4. <\/strong>That may well be called liberal charity which is designed to promote the greatest possible good.<\/p>\n 1. <\/strong>The truth of this great and gracious promise will be felt in inward enjoyment and spiritual improvement.<\/p>\n 2. <\/strong>Add to this the blessing and prayers of those who receive your help.<\/p>\n 3. <\/strong>The promise in the text holds up, as a farther inducement to liberal charity, a richly varied and extensive prospect of good to the world.<\/p>\n 4. <\/strong>That he who soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully in a future and eternal state.<\/p>\n Let me now entreat your attention to the practical improvement of the subject.<\/p>\n 1. <\/strong>In the first place, then, it may direct us in forming a just judgment of our own characters.<\/p>\n 2. <\/strong>Must not the consideration of this approved character lead us to study and admire that religion from which it receives all its excellence? (R. Balfour.<\/em>)<\/p>\n Verse 6<\/span>. He which soweth sparingly<\/B><\/I>] This is a plain maxim: no man can expect to reap but in proportion as he has sowed. And here almsgiving<\/I> is represented as a seed sown<\/I>, which shall bring forth a crop<\/I>. If the sowing be liberal, and the seed good, the crop shall be so too.<\/P> <\/P> Sowing<\/I> is used among the Jews to express almsgiving<\/I>: so they understand Isa 32:20<\/span>: Blessed are ye who sow beside all waters<\/I>; i.e. who are ready to help every one that is in need. And Ho 10:12<\/span>, they interpret: Sow to yourselves almsgiving, and ye shall reap in mercy<\/I>-if you show mercy to the poor, God will show mercy to you.<\/P><\/p>\n Whereas covetous persons think all lost which they give to charitable uses, the apostle correcteth their mistake, by letting them know, that it is no more lost than the seed is which the husbandman casteth into his ground, which bringeth forth thirty, sixty, or sometimes a hundred-fold; though with this difference, that whereas the husbandmans crop dependeth upon the goodness and preparedness of his ground, it is not so with this spiritual crop; a man shall not reap according to the nature of the soil in which he casts his seed; for he that giveth to a prophet or to a rightcerts man, in the name of a prophet or a righteous man, (though he may be mistaken in the person to whom he so giveth), yet shall he receive the reward of a prophet and of a righteous man. But this spiritual sower shall receive according to the quantity of seed which he soweth: he that soweth niggardly and sparingly shall reap accordingly; he that soweth liberally shall reap liberally: from whence we may be confirmed, that the rewards of another life will not be equal, but bear some proportion to the good works which men have done here. <\/P> <\/p>\n 6. <\/B>I say<\/B><\/I><\/B>ELLICOTT and otherssupply the ellipsis thus: “But remember<\/I> this.” <\/P> bountifully<\/B>literally,”with,<\/I>” or “in blessings.<\/I>” The worditself implies a beneficent spirit in the giver<\/I> (compare 2Co9:7<\/span>, end), and the plural<\/I> implies the abundance<\/I> andliberality of the gifts. “The reaping shall correspond to theproportions and spirit of the sowing” [BENGEL].Compare Eze 34:26<\/span>, “Showersof blessing.”<\/P><\/p>\n But this I say<\/strong>,…. This the apostle would have the Corinthians take notice of, and well consider, it being what he could aver for truth, by observation and experience; that as in things natural, so in things of a moral and spiritual kind,<\/p>\n he which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly, and he which soweth bountifully<\/strong>, or with blessings,<\/p>\n shall reap also bountifully<\/strong>; or with blessings; as a man sows, so shall he reap; the one is in proportion to the other. Sowing and reaping are here used in a metaphorical sense. The former signifies doing acts of beneficence and liberality. So it is used in the Old Testament, and in Jewish writings; see Ec 9:6<\/span>. The interpretation of the latter text, give me leave to produce out of the Talmud e as follows, and which will serve to illustrate this of the apostle’s.<\/p>\n “Says. R. Jochanan, in the name of R. Benaah, what is that which is written, “blessed are ye that sow beside all waters, that send forth thither the feet of the ox, and the ass?” blessed are the Israelites, for when they are employed in the law, , “and in acts of beneficence”, their evil concupiscence is delivered into their hand, and they are not delivered into the hand of their evil concupiscence: or, as it is elsewhere f said, such are worthy of the inheritance of two tribes, Joseph and Issachar; as it is said, “blessed are ye that sow beside all waters”, , “and there is no sowing but alms”; or, by the word “sowing”, nothing else is meant but doing of alms, as it is said, Ho 10:12<\/span> and there is no water but the law, or nothing else is meant by water but the law, as it is said, Isa 55:1<\/span>. And as to these words, “that send forth thither the feet of the ox and the ass”, it is a tradition of the house of Elias, for ever let a man place himself by the words of the law, as an ox to the yoke, and an ass to the burden.”<\/p>\n There is a good deal of likeness between sowing the seed in the earth, and doing of alms, or acts of beneficence. The seed that is sown is what is selected and reserved out of the stock expended or sold off, which if not done, there would be no provision for futurity; so that which a man gives for the relief of the necessitous, is what he lays by him in store of what God has prospered him with; in doing which he may hope for a fruitful harvest, whereas otherwise he could expect none: as seed is cast from, and scattered about by the sower all over the field; so what is given to the poor, it is parted with unto them, and spread among them, everyone has a portion; and it looks like a diminution of a man’s substance, and as if it would never return with any advantage; though it does, as in a natural, so in a metaphorical sense. The sower casts and scatters his seed with an open hand; was he to gripe it in his fist, or only let go a grain of corn or wheat here and there, he would have but a poor harvest; so the cheerful giver opens his hand wide, and bountifully supplies the wants of the needy; who, as the sower casts his seed on the empty field, so he bestows his bounty on indigent persons, on all men in want, especially the household of faith: and, as when he has done, he harrows the ground, and covers the seed under the earth, where it lies hid, and is very unpromising for a while, and yet be exercises faith, hope, and patience, with respect to an harvest; so the generous benefactor does what he does in as private a manner as may be; and though for a time his good deeds may seem to be attended with little prospect of reward, yet in the end they certainly shall; for as a man sows, so shall he reap: if he sows, that is, gives nothing, he shall reap nothing; if he sows but little, he shall reap little; and if he sows much, he shall reap much; and that of the selfsame kind which he sows; as he is liberal in things temporal, so shall he prosper and succeed in the same; see Pr 3:9<\/span>.<\/p>\n e T. Bab. Avoda Zara, fol. 5. 2. Zohar in Exod. fol. 2. 4. f T. Bab. Bava Kama, fol. 17. 1.<\/p>\n Charity Urged.<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/I><\/span><\/P> <\/TD> A. D.<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN> 57.<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/P> <\/TD> <\/TR> <\/TABLE> 6 But this I say,<\/I> He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give;<\/I> not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8 And God is<\/I> able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things,<\/I> may abound to every good work: 9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. 10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your<\/I> food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) 11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. 12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; 13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your<\/I> liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;<\/I> 14 And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be<\/I> unto God for his unspeakable gift.<\/P> Here we have,<\/P> I. Proper directions to be observed about the right and acceptable manner of bestowing charity; and it is of great concernment that we not only do what is required, but do it as is commanded. Now, as to the manner in which the apostle would have the Corinthians give, observe, 1. It should be bountifully; this was intimated, v.<\/I><\/span> 5<\/span>, that a liberal contribution was expected, a matter of bounty, not what savoured of covetousness; and he offers to their consideration that men who expect a good return at harvest are not wont to pinch and spare in sowing their seed, for the return is usually proportionable to what they sow, v.<\/I><\/span> 6<\/span>. 2. It should be deliberately Every man, according as he purposes in his heart,<\/I> v.<\/span> 7<\/span><\/U><\/I><\/span>. Works of charity, like other good works, should be done with thought and design; whereas some do good only by accident. They comply, it may be hastily, with the importunity of others, without any good design, and give more than they intended, and then repent of it afterwards. Or possibly, had they duly considered all things, they would have given more. Due deliberation, as to this matter of our own circumstances, and those of the persons we are about to relieve, will be very helpful to direct us how liberal we should be in our contributions for charitable uses. 3. It should be freely, whatever we give, be it more or less: Not grudgingly, nor of necessity,<\/I> but cheerfully, v.<\/I><\/span> 7<\/span>. Persons sometimes will give merely to satisfy the importunity of those who ask their charity, and what they give is in a manner squeezed or forced from them, and this unwillingness spoils all they do. We ought to give more freely than the modesty of some necessitous persons will allow them to ask: we should not only deal out bread, but draw out our souls to the hungry, Isa. lviii. 10<\/span>. We should give liberally, with an open hand, and cheerfully, with an open countenance, being glad we have ability and an opportunity to be charitable.<\/P> II. Good encouragement to perform this work of charity in the manner directed. Here the apostle tells the Corinthians,<\/P> 1. They themselves would be no losers by what they gave in charity. This may serve to obviate a secret objection in the minds of many against this good work who are ready to think they may want what they give away; but such should consider that what is given to the poor in a right manner is far from being lost; as the precious seed which is cast into the ground is not lost, though it is buried there for a time, for it will spring up, and bear fruit; the sower shall receive it again with increase, v.<\/I><\/span> 6<\/span>. Such good returns may those expect who give freely and liberally in charity. For, (1.) God loveth a cheerful giver (v.<\/I><\/span> 7<\/span>), and what may not those hope to receive who are the objects of the divine love? Can a man be a loser by doing that with which God is pleased? May not such a one be sure that he shall some way or other be a gainer? Nay, are not the love and favour of God better than all other things, better than life<\/I> itself? (2.) God is able to make our charity redound to our advantage, v.<\/I><\/span> 8<\/span>. We have no reason to distrust the goodness of God, and surely we have no reason to question his power; he is able to make all grace abound<\/I> towards us, and abound in us; to give a large increase of spiritual and temporal good things. He can cause us to have a sufficiency in all things, to be content with what we have, to make up what we give, to be able to give yet more: as it is written (Ps. cxii. 9<\/span>) concerning the charitable man, He hath dispersed abroad. He hath given to the poor. His righteousness,<\/I> that is, his almsgiving, endureth for ever.<\/I> The honour of it is lasting, the reward of it eternal, and he is still able to live comfortably himself and to give liberally to others. (3.) The apostle puts up a prayer to God in their behalf that they might be gainers, and not losers, 2Co 9:10<\/span>; 2Co 9:11<\/span>. Here observe, [1.] To whom the prayer is made–to God, who ministereth seed to the sower,<\/I> who by his providence giveth such an increase of the fruits of the earth that we have not only bread sufficient to eat for one year, but enough to sow again for a future supply: or thus, It is God who giveth us not only a competency for ourselves, but that also wherewith we may supply the wants of others, and so should be as seed to be sown. [2.] For what he prayeth. There are several things which he desires for them, namely, that they may have bread for their food,<\/I> always a competency for themselves, food convenient,<\/I>–that God will multiply their seed sown,<\/I> that they may still be able to do more good,–and that there may be an increase of the fruits of righteousness,<\/I> that they may reap plentifully, and have the best and most ample returns of their charity, so as to be enriched in every thing to all bountifulness<\/I> (v.<\/I><\/span> 11<\/span>),– that upon the whole they may find it true that they shall be no losers, but great gainers. Note, Works of charity are so far from impoverishing us that they are the proper means truly to enrich us, or make us truly rich.<\/P> 2. While they would be no losers, the poor distressed saints would be gainers; for this service would supply their wants,<\/I> v.<\/span> 12<\/span><\/U><\/I><\/span>. If we have reason to think them to be saints, whom we believe to be of the household of faith, whose wants are great, how ready should we be to do them good! Our goodness can not extend unto God, but we should freely extend it to these excellent ones of the earth,<\/I> and thus show that we delight in them.<\/P> 3. This would redound to the praise and glory of God. Many thanksgivings would be given to God on this account, by the apostle, and by those who were employed in this ministration, v.<\/I><\/span> 11<\/span>. These would bless God, who had made them happy instruments in so good a work, and rendered them successful in it. Besides these, others also would be thankful; the poor, who were supplied in their wants, would not fail to be very thankful to God, and bless God for them; and all who wished well to the gospel would glorify God for this experiment,<\/I> or proof of subjection to the gospel of Christ,<\/I> and true love to all men, v.<\/I><\/span> 13<\/span>. Note, (1.) True Christianity is a subjection to the gospel, a yielding of ourselves to the commanding influence of its truths and laws. (2.) We must evince the sincerity of our subjection to the gospel by works of charity. (3.) This will be for the credit of our profession, and to the praise and glory of God.<\/P> 4. Those whose wants were supplied would make the best return they were able, by sending up many prayers to God for those who had relieved them, v.<\/I><\/span> 14<\/span>. And thus should we recompense the kindnesses we receive when we are not in a capacity of recompensing them in any other way; and, as this is the only recompence the poor can make, so it is often greatly for the advantage of the rich.<\/P> Lastly,<\/I> The apostle concludes this whole matter with this doxology, Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift,<\/I> v.<\/span> 15<\/span><\/U><\/I><\/span>. Some think that by this unspeakable gift he means the gift of grace bestowed on the churches, in making them able and willing to supply the necessities of the saints, which would be attended with unspeakable benefit both to the givers and receivers. It should seem rather that he means Jesus Christ, who is indeed the unspeakable gift of God unto this world, a gift we have all reason to be very thankful for.<\/P><\/p>\n Sparingly <\/B> (<\/SPAN><\/span>). Late and rare adverb made from the present middle participle <\/SPAN><\/span> from <\/SPAN><\/span>, to spare. It occurs in Plutarch (Alex. 25). <\/P> <\/p>\n Bountifully [ ] <\/SPAN><\/span>. Lit., with blessings. Compare 1Co 9:10<\/span>, “plow in hope [ ] <\/SPAN><\/span>.”<\/P> <\/p>\n ENCOURAGEMENT TO GIVE<\/strong><\/p>\n (Liberality Is Blessed Of God)<\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n 1) “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly,”<\/strong> (touto de ho speiron pheidomenos) “This thing I assert (that) the one sowing sparingly,” as an habit pattern; and I am not pressuring you to give, 2Co 9:1<\/span>; yet, remember what I wrote, 1Co 16:1-4<\/span>. There is loss in giving sparingly to the needy poor, Pro 19:17<\/span>; Pro 22:9<\/span>.<\/p>\n 2) “Shall also reap sparingly,”<\/strong> (phedomenos kai therisei) “Shall also reap sparingly,” as a result of his habit pattern of sparse sowing; Pro 11:24-26<\/span>; The unfaithful in little matters would be also in the much, therefore untrustworthy, Luk 16:10-11<\/span>.<\/p>\n 3) “And he that soweth bountifully,”<\/strong> (kai ho speiron ep’ eulogiais) “and the one continually sowing for blessings, bountifully.” Luk 6:38<\/span>. Charity and honesty sown to ones fellowman reaps for one the trust and trusteeship of multiplied increase.<\/p>\n 4) “Shall reap also bountifully,”<\/strong> (ep’ eulogiais kai therisei) “Shall also reap for blessings,” the heaped up bounties of his liberal or bountiful sowing. This extends to the spiritual realm as well as the physical, Ecc 11:1-2<\/span>; Ecc 11:6<\/span>.<\/p>\n God gives prosperity to those who obey him in word and deed, even in giving to the poor, alms giving, and benevolence, Gen 24:21<\/span>; Jos 1:8<\/span>; Psa 1:3<\/span>; Isa 48:15<\/span>; 1Co 16:2<\/span>.<\/p>\n 6. Now the case is this (719) He now commends alms-giving by a beautiful similitude, comparing it to sowing. For in sowing, the seed is cast forth by the hand, is scattered upon the ground on this side and on that, is harrowed, and at length rots; and thus it seems as good as lost. The case is similar as to alms-giving. What goes from you to some other quarter seems as if it were, diminishing of what you have, but the season of harvest will come, when the fruit will be gathered. For as the Lord reckons every thing that is laid out upon the poor as given to himself, so he afterwards requites it with large interest. (Pro 19:17<\/span>.) <\/p>\n Now for Paul’s similitude. He that sows sparingly will have a poor harvest, corresponding to the sowing: he that sows bountifully and with a full hand, will reap a correspondingly bountiful harvest. Let this doctrine be deeply rooted in our minds, that, whenever carnal reason keeps us back from doing good through fear of loss, we may immediately defend ourselves with this shield — “But the Lord declares that we are sowing. ” The harvest, however, should be explained as referring to the spiritual recompense of eternal life, as well as to earthly blessings, which God confers upon the beneficent. For God requites, not only in heaven, but also in this world, the beneficence of believers. Hence it is as though he had said, “The more beneficent you are to your neighbors, you will find the blessing of God so much the more abundantly poured out upon you.” He again contrasts here blessing with sparing, as he had previously done with niggardliness. Hence it appears, that it is taken to mean — a large and bountiful liberality. <\/p>\n (719) “ Or ie di ceci;” — “Now this I say.” <\/p>\n Appleburys Comments<\/strong><\/p>\n Generous Giving 2Co. 9:6-15<\/span>. But this I say, He that soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Let each man do according as he hath purposed in his heart: not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound unto you; that ye, having always all sufficiency in everything, may abound unto every good work: 9 as it is written,<\/p>\n He hath scattered abroad, he hath given to the poor; 10 And he that supplieth seed to the sower and bread for food, shall supply and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness: 11 ye being enriched in everything unto all liberality, which worketh through us thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministration of this service not only filleth up the measure of the wants of the saints, but aboundeth also through many thanksgivings unto God; 13 seeing that through the proving of you by this ministration they glorify God for the obedience of your confession unto the gospel of Christ, and for the liberality of your contribution unto them and unto all; 14 while they themselves also, with supplication on your behalf, long after you by reason of the exceeding grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.<\/p>\n Comments<\/p>\n He that soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly.Now Paul enlarges upon what he had said about bounty and extortion with the illustration of sowing and reaping. Sowing sparingly explains his remark about extortion, for the one who holds back the seed instead of putting plenty on the ground is like the miserly person who would hold back his wealth rather than look to blessing that comes both to him and those whom he might help through generous giving. On the other hand, the one who anticipates a bountiful harvest by scattering an abundance of seed is like the generous giver who will be blessed in his giving as well as benefitting those to whom he gives. It was Paul who reminded the elders of the church at Ephesus about the words of the Lord Jesus who said, It is more blessed to give than to receive (Act. 20:35<\/span>). James denounced the miserly rich and warned them about the miseries that were about to come upon them. He said, Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and your silver are rusted; and their rust shall be for a testimony against you, and shall eat your flesh as fire. Ye have laid up your treasures in the last days (Jas. 5:1-3<\/span>).<\/p>\n Let each man do according as he has purposed in his heart.Because giving has a double blessing, first to the giver and then to the one who receives each one was to decide in his own heart what he would do before making the gift. Guidelines had already been given by the apostle by which the decision was to be made. He added still others at this point.<\/p>\n not grudgingly, nor of necessity.It was not to be done out of sorrow in parting with his coveted wealth; it was not to be of necessity, that is, not being forced to give rather than suffering the embarrassment of not joining with the generous people who were making up the liberal offering for those who were in want.<\/p>\n Since giving is to benefit the giver, the leaders of the churches should avoid methods of forcing people to give as if God were poverty stricken and had to have their help. These are they who give grudgingly and painfully and constantly complain that the church is always after money.<\/p>\n for God loveth a cheerful giver.God has demonstrated that He has bountifully given for the benefit of all mankind. He did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all. Paul asks, How shall He not also with Him freely give us all things? (Rom. 8:31-32<\/span>). All this, God gladly gives in bountiful measure; He loves the cheerful giver.<\/p>\nFuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
I. <\/strong>The way.<\/p>\n
II. <\/strong>The worth. It is the most valuable thing in the universe.<\/p>\n
I. <\/strong>Let us begin with calling your attention to the character here represented–He that soweth bountifully, in other words, the man of liberal charity.<\/p>\n
II. <\/strong>Let us now attend to the richness of his reward, expressed in the promise added, that he shall reap also bountifully. Need I here caution you against considering what shall be said on this part of the subject as holding out any deserved recompense to personal merit?<\/p>\nFuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible <\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Scripture<\/p>\n
His righteousness abideth for ever.<\/p>\n