“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

According to Paul, God has given us a gift beyond description. It’s not easy to understand what he meant in the context. Let’s look at this gift from two different perspectives. 

Paul had spent two chapters, according to the artificial divisions imposed on his letter, talking about generosity and giving. He commended the people in the Macedonian churches for their generosity despite their poverty. They contributed to the needs of the saints in Jerusalem during a time of great need. He encouraged the Christians in Corinth, , who had begun to make a collection, to finish what they had started. 

“And here is my judgment about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭8‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

In the next chapter, Paul launched into a detailed explanation of God’s economic system. As He often did, God used a natural law to illustrate a spiritual principle. In this case, He used the law of the harvest…planting seed and reaping a harvest. 

Generous giving is like planting seeds…the more seeds one plants, the greater the harvest. 

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Seeds have two functions. They feed the hungry…for example…wheat seeds make bread. They also produce more seeds to grow more plants to produce more seeds to eat and to sow….an endless cycle of sowing and harvesting. 

However, God is the source of the seeds, so…He should be the one who determines how much we eat and how much we sow. 

“Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

God doesn’t only provide the seed, but he also does something amazing in the heart.  The crop we reap when we “sow“ into the needs of others not only produces more “seed” but it is also yields an ongoing harvest of righteousness. 

In the Bible, righteousness and generosity are often used interchangeably. 

“The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously…I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be a blessing.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭37‬:‭21‬, ‭25‬-‭26‬ ‭NIV‬‬

It seems that generosity produces a change in the heart. Our natural inclination is towards selfishness and greed…ignoring the needs of others and acquiring more for ourselves. Generosity breaks this power in us…the power of “mammon” gives way to a heart of love that gives…which is exactly who God is!

Jesus explained this principle like this…we will serve who or what we love. 

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This is a miracle of grace…an unspeakable gift as Paul declared. A changed human heart, expressed in generosity, is a mirror of God’s heart. 

However, we can interpret this verse in another way. 

“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Paul may be looking at God’s greatest gift…His own Son…as the model of generosity for us to follow. God is always a giver. He gives to His people in every possible way. 

“He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭32‬ ‭NIV‬‬

He even gives to those who hate and reject Him just because He is who He is…

“But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭6‬:‭35‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The point is that God, who gives lavishly out of His abundance because that is who He is, will never stop giving to those who give generously to others. He will keep the current flowing because His economic system works on giving and receiving. Unlike the world’s system, which puts self and selfishness in the centre, God’s system flourishes when others come first. H is greatest gift to sinful humanity is Jesus…who gave Himself for us. 

Can you see, then, that these two perspectives merge into one? God has given us two great gifts through this principle of generosity…the gift of righteousness which confirms the righteousness of Jesus in us  without which we have no standing with God…and the gift of Jesus…who is the foundation  and model of everything God has given to us and has done for us. 

So, we can say, with deep gratitude in our hearts…that we are thankful for God’s gift of Jesus and for the gift of righteousness that He multiplies in us when we give, and that, through our generosity, He confirms His work of grace in us. 

“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬