Wednesday, October 14, 2026

2 Corinthians 9:6-15 

6 The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not regretfully or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. 9 As it is written, 
 “He scatters abroad; he gives to the poor; 
  his righteousness endures forever.” 
10 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 for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us, 12 for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God. 13 Through the testing of this ministry you glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ and by the generosity of your partnership with them and with all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you because of the surpassing grace of God that he has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 

I’m like most who have an appreciation for the Thanksgiving holiday, in terms of bringing families together through food and expressions of gratitude. But when it comes to passages like this from Paul, it can be a slippery slope into prosperity gospel and works righteousness if you don’t watch your theological footing. 

If “God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance,” why are people still living in hunger and poverty? Well, the second part of that verse sheds some light, “so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.” Because historically the world hasn’t been great about sharing abundantly when it has an abundance. 

And the inherent reward Paul keeps alluding too for “he who supplies…will be enriched in every way for great generosity” is not the point of God’s relationship with us or one another. But it was for a struggling early Christian ministry in the first century, and that is fair. They needed people to be generous to God and the ministry they had been called to do. Our modern times aren’t much different, and we rely on the generosity of others to do ministry, but what is different is the gratitude we feel that will never be used to manipulate people into generosity like Paul seemed to do so well. 

– Pr. Kyle  

God of the Harvest, we lift up farmers in this season of late nights and early mornings reaping in this year’s yield. Equip each of us to approach the work of ministry, of the spiritual harvest, with a sense of selflessness and trust in you. Amen.