2 Corinthians 9 - Set Your Heart

I pray that God gives you a generous harvest.  A high yield.  That is what this chapter is about.

I’m mindful today about setting my heart for the day.  I know that we begin to live when we start walking with God (Proverbs 9:6).  If you are not walking with Jesus Christ just yet I pray that today is the day you decide to give your life to God.  It’s a new day.  The Bible tells us that we are but a breath.  Our lives are short, no longer than the width of our hands (Psalm 39).  It’s good to remember that.  It gives us perspective.  We can heap up wealth, but ultimately it is useless.  Our only hope is in Jesus Christ.

Decide in your heart what to do for the day.  How generous with other people will we be?  What will we eat?  What will we watch and read?  How hard will we work?  How will you exercise and discipline your body?  When will you go to bed?  Decide to be faithful to God and a man or woman of integrity.  Take on the day with certainty in Christ.

We see here that it is biblical for the church to collect and send an offering to other churches.  And to do it in a transparent and honorable way.  Such a ministry gives glory to God and brings blessing upon blessing.

So why do we do it so rarely?  Well, because we’ve institutionalized control over what we do.  We are accustomed to government and church organizations “doing” everything for us.  Many in the church have no clue what the church's finances are.  We don’t know whether there is sacrificial giving or taking from leadership.  Without understanding and information, it is impossible to develop trust.  We see in the previous chapter scrutiny over the churchmen visiting the Corinthians.  That’s good.  Scrutiny is good, nay, biblical.  Do that!  And like Paul, vouch for each other.  Recommend godly people for important ministry work.  Time is short.  Help someone today.

        We also see in this section the power of eagerness and enthusiasm.  Nothing can hold back the contagion of Holy Spirit-led enthusiasm and love.  It will move mountains.  But we have to solve the problem of deceit and deception around church finances.  We don’t develop genuine enthusiasm because we don’t trust our leaders and we do not know the needs of our sister churches.  There is a straightforward fix here.  But it will take courage; men, and women of integrity, to bring godly reform.

There are so many scam artists, hucksters, fraudsters, and false teachers.  How many vacation homes do the televangelists have?  How many jets do they need as they pressure the audience to give them more?  It’s insane.  God, please help your Church.  May we see revival and multitudes come to Jesus Christ.  May we see integrity and honor in the Church.

We have to deal with the elephant in the room.  There is a lack of accountability for the nonbiblical functioning of many churches.  Instead, we see portly, prideful, confident, rude, and defiant men.  Rebels against God.  These little princes have no clothes.  Many in the church today are moving to churches that humbly preach the Word of God.  We don’t need the bright lights and fancy soloists.  We are thirsty for Truth, the Good News of Jesus Christ, and genuine discipleship.  We see through the schemes of Satan.  As Psalm 37 says, we don’t have to worry about the wicked or envy the proud.  Leave God to do things His way.  The lies and spin of the wicked will catch up with them in God’s timing.

We see here that Christian giving must be done willingly, not grudgingly.  We must each decide in our hearts how much to give.  We must never give reluctantly or in response to pressure.

Lord Jesus, please reform our hearts, our families, and our communities.  Help us to love each other well.  Help the men of the church today to step up and love our wives well.  May the wives respect their husbands and reflect your glory and goodness in all they do.  May we know the needs of our brothers and sisters and may we cheerfully give.  Please help us to wise up, to smarten up.  May we be wise and innocent.  We know that we must plant generously to get a high yield, a generous crop.  Father, you provide everything we need.  And you remember every good deed that we do.  Please bless your church to be obedient to and worthy of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Our son, Benjamin, at Moraine Lake (west of Calgary, AB).