2 Corinthians 9:1-5: a reflection

1It is indeed unnecessary for me to write to you concerning the service to the saints, 2for I know your readiness, of which I boast on your behalf to those of Macedonia, that Achaia has been prepared for the past year. Your zeal has stirred up very many of them. 3But I have sent the brothers so that our boasting on your behalf may not be in vain in this respect, that, just as I said, you may be prepared, 4lest by any means, if anyone from Macedonia comes there with me and finds you unprepared, we (to say nothing of you) would be disappointed in this confident boasting. 5I thought it necessary therefore to entreat the brothers that they would go before to you and arrange ahead of time the generous gift that you promised before, that the same might be ready as a matter of generosity, and not of greediness.

As Paul writes about the gift the Corinthians had promised for the needy believers, he urges them to have it ready in advance, so that it might be given freely. He sends brothers ahead to arrange the gift, so that it would be ready as a matter of generosity, and not of greediness. Paul wanted their giving to be a free, prepared act of generosity, not something extracted from them under pressure at the last moment. Preparing their generosity ahead of time would let it flow freely, as a glad gift, rather than a grudging one extracted under pressure.

Notice Paul's concern: that their giving be free generosity, prepared, not grudging extraction under pressure. He did not want the gift squeezed out of them at the last moment, given grudgingly under pressure; he wanted it prepared ahead of time, so that it could be given freely, gladly, as a genuine act of generosity. Preparing their giving in advance would let it be free and glad, rather than reluctant and pressured. The manner of the giving mattered: it was to be free generosity, not grudging extraction; and preparing it ahead of time helped make it so.

That is worth taking to heart, for our giving too is better when it is prepared and free, not grudging or pressured. We can give at the last moment, under pressure, grudgingly, our generosity extracted rather than freely offered; but Paul wanted the Corinthians' giving prepared ahead of time, so it could be free and glad. Prepare your generosity, planning and setting aside ahead of time what you would give, so that it flows freely and gladly, rather than being extracted grudgingly under pressure at the last moment. Let your giving be a prepared, free act of generosity, not a grudging one squeezed out under pressure, as Paul urged the Corinthians to have their gift ready as a matter of generosity and not of greediness; for giving that is prepared ahead of time can be free and glad, while giving extracted under pressure is grudging.

Lord, as Paul writes about the gift the Corinthians had promised for the needy believers, he urges them to have it ready in advance, so that it might be given freely. He sends brothers ahead to arrange the gift, so that it would be ready as a matter of generosity, and not of greediness. Paul wanted their giving to be a free, prepared act of generosity, not something extracted under pressure at the last moment. Show me Paul's concern: that their giving be free generosity, prepared, not grudging extraction under pressure. He did not want the gift squeezed out of them at the last moment; he wanted it prepared ahead of time, so that it could be given freely, gladly, as a genuine act of generosity. The manner of the giving mattered: it was to be free generosity, not grudging extraction. Take that to my heart, for my giving too is better when it is prepared and free, not grudging or pressured. I can give at the last moment, under pressure, grudgingly, my generosity extracted rather than freely offered; but Paul wanted the Corinthians' giving prepared ahead of time. Help me prepare my generosity, planning and setting aside ahead of time what I would give, so that it flows freely and gladly, rather than being extracted grudgingly under pressure. Let my giving be a prepared, free act of generosity, Lord, not a grudging one squeezed out under pressure.