Terry Storch

Writing about life, leadership, faith, and anything else I find interesting.

Eager Generosity

 

Eager Generosity - 2 Corinthians 9

Spring is coming and sounds like, according to the weather stations, we will see rain for a few days, possibly even a week. I am anticipating and eager to see my lawn after this downpour. That might sound odd, but I have worked hard with the proper weed killer, fertilizer, seed, and nurturing, so I am eager to see how the lawn progresses this Spring. 

It’s interesting when we invest in something how we love seeing the results. I have great anticipation, and eagerness builds up just thinking about my oldest daughter heading off to college soon. I am eager to see her flourish and grow in the new season of life, and I am so excited to see how God continues to grow her, and how she develops into a fully developed adult. 

Paul, in 2 Corinthians 9, connects some of these same feelings of eagerness and anticipation around generosity. For a quick refresher, Paul, in the previous chapter, gave instructions for the church of Corinth to work together and gather up an offering for the church in Jerusalem. The church didn't have much, so they had to save up over time. 

“For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action.” - ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭9:2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Paul highlights their eagerness to help, and how their enthusiasm and attitude has stirred others to action as well. This is a key principle of generosity; our attitude and posture are essential because it can awaken others to action! 

Another key principle we see here is generosity is best leveraged with we are prepared and plan for it. You see, if you want to be a generous person, get ready, plan, and this will help you follow through on your good intentions. 

“But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be.” - ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭9:3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

See the keyword, ready. Plan for it and build inhabits and disciplines to allow generosity to flow. This is something Robin and I have worked hard to do. We have our scheduled tithe and generous giving, but we also have a monthly amount we set aside for spontaneous generosity. When we see a need, we love being able to meet that need. We are naturally selfish people, so having this money set aside helps us freely give and not be greedy. We have a plan, and I encourage you to do the same. 

This next part is one of my favorites in all the Bible, and it connects to the eagerness and anticipatory generosity. 

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” - ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭9:6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Sowing and reaping. Think about the farmer who has 3 options with his seed. He can eat the seed, store the seed, or plant the seed. There is a time to eat, a time to save, and a time to invest. Here we read about the heart of investing our resources, sowing our money generously. I can imagine the farmer, like me, with my lawn, eagerly and waiting with anticipation of his crops. Nurturing the ground and earth, praying for his seed to produce significant yields. This is exciting and should bring great joy. 

“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. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” - ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭9:7-8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Giving and generosity should not be done out of guilt, shame, or compulsion. Here is the planning part, the prayerful part, the part where we decide in our heart what we can do, and what we should do. God LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER! And do not skip the next verse. Paul circles back on the sowing and reaping. God is able to bless you abundantly, and He will provide and abound in every good work. WOW!

“You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us, your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” - ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭9:11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Now Paul is just piling it on, and I love it. We cannot outgive God. And let me end with this significant part.

“This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.” - ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭9:12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How we handle our money reveals our character. Compassion and generosity are never merely about the person receiving our gift. Our outflow and generosity to others is part of our expression of love, gratitude, and thankfulness to the heart of God. Here are Jesus' words in the Gospel of Matthew.

“For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” - ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭25:35-40‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Eager generosity is beautiful. 

other writing
John 20 - The Gospel

John 20 - The Gospel

The Gospel, the Good News! Jesus, Son of God, was born of Mary, lived as the Son of Man, died, and rose to life to rescue the world and bring about a new life. The central message of the gospel. Jesus, the centerpiece! John 19 & 20 cover the brutal death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

In this scene, I can not imagine how the disciples felt. John describes them as overjoyed...but those words just fall short of what I can imagine this moment was like.

John 19 - The Magnitude of the Cross

John 19 - The Magnitude of the Cross

The day of Jesus' crucifixion fulfilled 28 Old Testament prophecies. Scripture was fulfilled! Beyond that, trying to wrap my mind around what happened this day, on the cross, and fully grabbing the magnitude of the cross is mind-boggling.

Sure, we can dumb this down or simplify it to a place where I just don’t believe it is anywhere near accurate. We can get into penal substitution and argue over was God full of love or was God full of wrath and hate that he killed his son. To me, John 3:16 is pretty clear on the love part.

John 18 - Jesus levels an army

John 18 - Jesus levels an army

In John 18, we come to the great betrayal. Judas came with the soldiers, officials, and chief priest and Pharisees. We know the scene. But this morning, I saw something I don’t remember reading and surly don’t remember learning about.

“So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭18:3-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

John 17 - The Lords Prayer

John 17 - The Lords Prayer

John 17 is Jesus looking heavenward and praying to God the Father. So much beauty and mystery in this prayer. One thing that jumps out to me is that Jesus, fully God, and fully man prayed. Jesus is God fully. Why did he need to pray, He was One with the Father, He was God...and yet he prayed. This is so powerful;

“And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭17:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

John 16 - What does it take to believe?

John 16 - What does it take to believe?

By the end of John 16, Jesus had done countless miracles, preached some amazing sermons, transformed so many lives, and developed a close and personal relationship with his disciples. So, when reading these verses, I am just utterly confused on so many levels.

“I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.” Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.” “Do you now believe?” Jesus replied.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭16:28-31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

John 16 - Undervaluing God in Spirit

John 16 - Undervaluing God in Spirit

Jesus’ time on earth is quickly coming to a close, and he finishes up his last sermon or teaching to his disciples as they walk to Gethsemane. This final teaching was a heavy one that no doubt left his disciples with a heavy heart. Jesus said it this way;

“...None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭16:5-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus goes on to say;

John 15 - Constant Growth

John 15 - Constant Growth

We were built for growth, constant growth. From birth, all the way until our death, we were designed by God for constant growth. The problem is, we often can find ourselves stuck in a belief, a phase, or a part of life where we stop growing.

One of the most brilliant investors embodies this understanding. Charlie Munger, at 96 years old, is still learning and growing as a person. I love this quote:

“Knowing what you don’t know is more useful than being brilliant.”
- Charlie Munger

John 14 - The Gift of Peace

John 14 - The Gift of Peace

John 14 opens with Jesus, saying, Don’t let your hearts be troubled. And the chapter closed down with Jesus saying Don’t be troubled or afraid.

A message that needs to resonate with our spirit and our inner self. This was such a good reminder, reading through John 14 over and over. This passage lifted off the screen.

“But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart…

John 14 - Troubled Hearts

John 14 - Troubled Hearts

The world today seems so volatile and chaotic. Everywhere you look, whatever we read and see on TV just seems to be troubling. Last night, I noticed my lovely wife Tweeted this;

“I can’t be the only one who watches the news and is simply embarrassed right now, right? (Dear Jesus, we tap out. Come on back.)”

I find this first humorous, but then I also find it sad. It’s true, watching the news as a Christ-follower is pretty embarrassing. In John 14, we see Jesus…

John 13 - Unselfish Concern

John 13 - Unselfish Concern

Summarizing John, chapter 13, looks like this. The Lords Supper takes place. Jesus washes the disciple's feet. Jesus calls out Judas, and Satan enters him. Night comes, Judas leaves, and Jesus says he must go, and where I am going, you can not come. To cap it all off, Jesus also calls out Simon Peter and tells him that he will deny and completely disown Jesus three times. Whoa, a really full chapter, and historical day.

Nestled in the wrap up of the day is the parting message Jesus leaves his disciples, a message Jesus is sharing with us right now.

 
thoughtsTerry Storch