Overflow of many thanksgivings.

2 Corinthians 9:1-5 (ESV) 1 Now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the ministry for the saints, 2 for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them. 3 But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be. 4 Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—for being so confident. 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.

Since Acts 15, Paul has had a mission. He aims to demonstrate to the apostolic church in Jerusalem that the Gentiles are theologically worthy of the gospel of Christ and demonstrate their responsiveness to it through practical generosity.

I understand that the topic of generosity makes many people uncomfortable. But that is exactly why we need to bring it up more often. That is a common thing Jesus did, and the apostles did the same because ultimately, where your money is, is where your heart is.

Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

For Paul, boasting is not about self-glorification but about giving testimony to God’s work. Some pride can come from showing off your victories in the Lord. In that case, it is not truly your victory; it is His victory, and therefore it is His glory. But the boasting belongs to us. 

The goal is to become a display for God’s glory not only for our generation, but for generations to come.

Psalms 145:4 One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.

Psalms 145:6-9 They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness. 7 They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness. 8 The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 9 The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.

Psalms 145:12-13 to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. [The LORD is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.]

For Paul, the Corinthians were a prize to show to others and to inspire them.

It is like a father who never won a sports game but always shows off to everybody the family champion child.

In Paul's case, his boasting about the commitment of the Corinthians could prove to be a shame. The reason was the carnality of that church.

Divisions and quarrels over human leadership preferences (1 Cor. 1:10–12), pride in worldly wisdom (1 Cor. 3:1–4), tolerance of gross immorality (1 Cor. 5:1–2), lawsuits among believers (1 Cor. 6:1–8), and misuse of Christian freedom leading to stumbling others (1 Cor. 8:9–13). Disregard for the poor (1 Cor. 11:17–22), boasted in spiritual gifts while lacking love (1 Cor. 12–14). Some doubted the resurrection (1 Cor. 15:12). 

In 2 Corinthians, their carnality was evident in questioning the gospel authority. (2 Cor. 10:10) They succumbed to false apostles (2 Cor. 11:13, 15) and now fail to follow through on their promised generosity (2 Cor. 9:1, 5).

The Readiness that inspires others should be sustained with Integrity for faithful witnessing.

It is time to put your wallet where your mouth is, to act on your commitments, and to live out what you've preached. Do you remember your beginning of the year resolutions? I don’t. But, I want to respond to God’s opportunities on a new level.

The words and promises of the people in Corinth vv. 2 " ... have stirred up most of "the Macedonians. 

The financial support for Jerusalem saints demonstrates unity between Jewish and Gentile Christians. The Corinthians’ willingness served both as encouragement and as a form of accountability.

Have you ever tried to encourage your little child to greet your house guests respectfully? You rehearsed with them, but during the guest's visit, they disappointed you by not waving as you had trained them to do. 

So Paul sent some of his assistants to prepare the Corinthians regarding the offering.

That teaches us that the best way to give is not under emotional impulse or haste, but to commit with preparation and anticipation. 

It is the beginning of the semester. Have you talked with your children and spouse about your commitment, the next step, and the next spiritual growth level as a family?

 For many years, I was a teacher. While most people are traveling and disconnecting during summer, teachers plan. Why? Because they want to move their students from one academic level to another. 

What is the spiritual level you wish to get to with your family?

(Luke 14:28, ESV) For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?

(Luke 14:31, ESV) Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?

Imagine inviting guests to a dinner, boasting your preparations, and offering them nothing when they arrive. The shame parallels Paul's risk if the Corinthians failed to prepare their gift.

It is a matter of sowing.

2 Corinthians 9:6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

In the Bible, giving is much more a matter of proportion than quantity. The instruction is unequivocal: "each one must give". It doesn't matter the amount; it matters the decision of your heart. The amplified version says:

Let each one give thoughtfully and purposefully, just as he has decided in his heart, not under compulsion.

In Mark 12, Jesus praised a poor widow who gave two tiny coins—worth 1/8 of a cent—because she gave all she had, unlike the wealthy who gave out of abundance.

A little boy once planted three sunflower seeds in his backyard. When his mom asked why only three, he said, “Well, I want to keep the rest safe in the packet, just in case.” Weeks later, he ran out to check, and only three tiny sprouts were pushing through the soil. He looked disappointed and said, “I thought I’d have a whole field!” His mom smiled and replied, “Son, you can’t expect a harvest from seeds that never left the packet.”

Proverbs 19:17 Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed.

This principle is all over the Word of God. God rewards those who act generously toward those from whom they cannot receive anything back.

Luke 14:12-14 He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. 13 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

The math logic of God is that when you give freely, you are not wasting or spending; you are investing. Consequently, you are preparing for a plentiful harvest. Jesus said, "When you give to the one who cannot repay you, you will be blessed." Do you believe that?

all sufficiency in all things at all times

2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

Sufficiency (αὐτάρκης - austárkia): independence from want, spiritual contentment. Often, we equate “sufficiency” with financial independence, but in Paul’s world, αὐτάρκης was a virtue meaning contentment regardless of circumstances—a fruit of God’s grace, not human self-sufficiency. It comes from within — a mind that remained unshaken by poverty, pain, or fortune.

Paul’s idea of sufficiency was: “I have no lack, for God makes His grace abound to me.”

Philippians 4:11-13 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Understand that the source of all good things is God. He supplies in abundance so that we can abound in every good work. Abound: appears twice, indicating an overflow of both grace and works.

Then Paul quoted Psalm 112.

Psalms 112:1-3 1 Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments! 2 His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.3 Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.

Psalms 112:9 He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn is exalted in honor.

A man once complained to his pastor, “I don’t think I have enough. My car is old, my house is small, and my neighbors all seem to have more.”

The pastor grinned and asked, “Do you have food in your fridge?”

“Yes.”

“Clothes to wear?”

“Yes.”

“A roof over your head?”

“Yes.”

“Then,” the pastor said, “congratulations—you’re already richer than 75% of the world!”

“I guess I’ve been measuring with the wrong ruler.”

Overflow of thanksgiving

The concept of overflow/abound occurs 7 times.

The concept of overflow/abound occurs 7 times in 2 Corinthians (1:5; 3:9; 4:15; 8:2; 8:7; 9:8; 9:12).

Paul uses it to describe:

Abundance of suffering and comfort in Christ.

The surpassing glory of the new covenant.

Grace is spreading to more people.

Joy and generosity despite poverty.

Excelling in faith, knowledge, and giving.

God’s grace supplies sufficiency for every good work.

Thanksgiving overflowing to God.

2 Corinthians 9:10-12 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.

A wealthy man displayed his extensive land holdings, claiming he owned everything around him. The pastor placed a hand on the man’s shoulder, pointed upward, and asked, “How much do you own in that direction?”

In verse 10, Paul refers to Isaiah 55.10

Isaiah 55:10-11 10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

Isaiah 55 addresses the people of Judah during the Babylonian exile. Judah had lost the temple, the land, and their sense of national identity. They were surrounded by pagan powers and tempted to doubt God’s covenant promises. But just as rain never fails to bring growth, God’s covenant promises would surely bring restoration, joy, and righteousness.

Let’s learn to thank God not only when the provisions arrive but also for the promises we've received. He spoke it, so it will surely come to pass.

Just as in Isaiah’s day, God promised to provide for His people in exile, Paul reassures the Corinthians that God will provide for their generosity. Isaiah’s metaphor of seed (for future provision) and bread (for present sustenance) to affirm that giving does not lead to lack. Generosity is not a risky loss but participation in God’s abundant, covenant-keeping provision.

2 Corinthians 9:12-15 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

A Christian business owner once set aside a portion of his profits to fund scholarships for seminary students. At first, he worried it might affect his company’s stability. Yet each year, not only did his business remain steady, but it actually grew. One day, a friend asked, “How do you keep giving so much without running out?” The man smiled and said, “Because I’m not the source. God keeps refilling the seed bag.”

Haggai 1:2-9 2 “Thus says the LORD of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the LORD.” 3 Then the word of the LORD came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, 4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? 5 Now, therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways. 6 You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes.

7 “Thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways. 8 Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the LORD. 9 You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the LORD of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house.