Catholic Commentary on 2 Corinthians 9

"Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7)

Sowing and Reaping

Paul continues his appeal for the Jerusalem collection. Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. The quote from Proverbs 22:8 in the Greek translation establishes the theological principle: giving is not an extraction of debt but a free expression of the heart that has been enlarged by the grace of God. Compelled giving produces resentment; joyful giving produces more joy. God is able to make all grace abound to those who give, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, they may abound in every good work.

He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply what is sown and will increase the harvest of righteousness. The giver will be enriched in every way for all generosity, which through Paul will produce thanksgiving to God. The ministry of giving not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows in many thanksgivings to God. The Catechism identifies cheerful generosity as a participation in the divine goodness which gives without diminishing itself, and as the practical fruit of the virtue of charity (CCC 1829).

The Indescribable Gift

Paul closes the chapter with a doxology that contextualises the entire appeal: Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift. The indescribable gift is Christ himself, the one in whom all the divine generosity is concentrated. Every act of Christian giving is downstream from the gift that cannot be described, the gift of God's own Son. The cheerful giver is one who has received the indescribable gift and found that it produces an overflow that cannot be contained.

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, God loves a cheerful giver. Not a reluctant giver who is meeting an obligation. Not a calculating giver who is managing a portfolio. A cheerful giver. The cheerfulness comes first: from receiving the indescribable gift, from being enlarged by the grace that abounds toward you. Let your giving this week be proportionate not to your income alone but to your gratitude. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift.

Prayer

Thanks be to God for your indescribable gift. Out of your indescribable generosity toward us, make us cheerful givers. Enlarge our hearts to give as we have been given to. Let our generosity produce thanksgivings to you from those who receive it. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

9
God Loves a Cheerful Giver
(1 Corinthians 16:1–4)
1 Now about the service to the saints, there is no need for me to write to you. 2 For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting to the Macedonians that since last year you in Achaia were prepared to give. And your zeal has stirred most of them to do likewise.
 
3 But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove empty, but that you will be prepared, just as I said. 4 Otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—to say nothing of you—would be ashamed of having been so confident. 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you beforehand and make arrangements for the bountiful gift you had promised. This way, your gift will be prepared generously and not begrudgingly.
 
6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver.* 9:7 See Proverbs 22:8, LXX addition. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written:
 
“He has scattered abroad His gifts to the poor;
His righteousness endures forever.Ӡ 9:9 Psalms 112:9
 
10 Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your store of seed and will increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous on every occasion, so that through us your giving will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For this ministry of service is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanksgiving to God.
 
13 Because of the proof this ministry provides, the saints will glorify God for your obedient confession of the gospel of Christ, and for the generosity of your contribution to them and to all the others. 14 And their prayers for you will express their affection for you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

*9:7 9:7 See Proverbs 22:8, LXX addition.

†9:9 9:9 Psalms 112:9

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