In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul gave the brethren instructions about the collection (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). These instructions included what was to be done (taking up the collection) and when it was to be done (on the first day of the week). He wrote back to them in a follow-up letter and included teaching about the attitude they should have in giving.
One passage that discusses the attitude we should have when we give is 2 Corinthians 9:6-13. Paul began this paragraph by stating the principle: “He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” (2 Corinthians 9:6). This is a general principle that is true in all aspects of life. The more resources we invest into something, the greater the return. This is not teaching that if we put a large amount of money in the collection plate that God is going to bless us with an even larger sum of money. What this is teaching is that the more we give back to the Lord, the more work the church can do. These are the rewards we should be seeking. Our attitude needs to be to “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). When we put the Lord first, our giving will fall in line. This is what the Macedonians did. Despite their “deep poverty,” they “overflowed in the wealth of their liberality” and gave even “beyond their ability” (2 Corinthians 8:2-3). They were able to do this because “they first gave themselves to the Lord” (2 Corinthians 8:5). We need to have the same determination – to give ourselves to the Lord and put Him and His church first. This will be reflected in our giving.
Paul then went on to tell us of how we are not to give – “grudgingly or under compulsion” (2 Corinthians 9:7). We should not bemoan our obligation to give. The poor Macedonians looked forward to giving (2 Corinthians 8:4). Yet some Christians today find the instruction to give every first day of the week to be a burden. But the problem is not with God’s instruction regarding giving. After all, John wrote, “His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3). The problem is with their attitude. They give “grudgingly.” They give “under compulsion” as if they are being forced to do so.
The prophet Malachi addressed this same attitude among the Jewish people. They would complain about the offerings and sacrifices they were required to make, saying, “Oh, what a weariness!” (Malachi 1:13). Our attitude toward giving should never be that we are doing it simply because we have to. Does God expect us to give on the first day of the week? Yes. That is what we see taught in the New Testament. But we should not have the attitude that we only do this because we have to, even though we would really rather not.
Instead of giving “grudgingly or under compulsion,” we should give cheerfully. That is what Paul meant when he said, “For God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). A cheerful giver is one who understands the privilege it is to be able to take part in the collection. The collection provides the funds needed for the church to do its work. We have the opportunity to be a part of that. Being a part of that work, we have fellowship with the brethren who are engaged in the same work. We can also be cheerful as we look toward the end result of the works being accomplished through the funds collected. The gospel is preached to help the lost hear the word of God “which is able to save [their] souls” (James 1:21). Saints are edified and built up, helping them to “press on toward the goal for the prize for the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). Needy saints also receive aid to help them in their time of distress (2 Corinthians 8:14). All of this should cause one to be cheerful. We need to remember these things to help us to be a “cheerful giver.”
Another attitude we are to have has to do with our recognition of where our blessings originate. James said, “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17). The things that we have come from the Lord. We are merely giving a portion back to Him. Paul reminded the Corinthians of this when he told them, “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed” (2 Corinthians 9:8). By God’s grace, we have been blessed with the ability to give to help in “every good deed.”
In addition to recognizing that our blessings come from God, we also need to remember that God is able to provide for us in the future. Not only has He supplied “seed to the sower and bread for food,” but He “will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness” (2 Corinthians 9:10). God has provided all these good things up to this point and will continue to provide for us in the future. We need to give with this attitude of faith which says we can continue doing the work we are doing because God is going to continue to provide for us. This does not mean we should be reckless with the Lord’s money, use it unwisely, and expect the Lord to continue to bless our cash flow. We must still be good stewards and use His blessings wisely. But we should give with the attitude that God has blessed us with the ability to do this and will continue to bless us in the future.
Paul went on to mention the idea of giving liberally. That is to say, we are to give generously. He told the Corinthians that God would be glorified because of the “liberality of your contribution” (2 Corinthians 9:13). This goes back to the idea of trusting in God to provide. If we do not trust in God to continue to provide for us, we will not give generously. What we do give will be given “grudgingly.” Remember the Macedonians: despite their “deep poverty,” they gave generously, even “beyond their ability” (2 Corinthians 8:3-4). Can that be said of us? Are we of the mindset that we want to give what we can to be able to help do the Lord’s work despite our personal circumstances? We need to have an attitude of generosity when we give.
Another attitude mentioned in the previous chapter is the idea of equality (2 Corinthians 8:13-15). The reason Paul encouraged the brethren in Corinth to give was “not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality” (2 Corinthians 8:13). This is not promoting the idea of communism, where everyone has an equal share and no one has more or less than everyone else. The next verse explained that the Corinthians’ “abundance” would be “a supply for their need” (2 Corinthians 8:14). Equality among Christians means that needy Christians have their needs met. We should be of the attitude that we desire this equality. We should not want to hear of brethren in need. When they are in need, our abundance can help aid them. If this is our desire – to see to it that needy Christians are taken care of – that will be reflected, not only in our generosity as individuals, but also in our contribution as the church may use its funds to help brethren in need.
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