2 Corinthians 9: Don't Forget the Poor

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Every day in millions of mailboxes across the United States, letters with special "non-profit" postage stamps appear, stuffed among catalogs, magazines and flyers from retail stores. Fund-raising through the mail is big business for Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant groups, as well as other charitable organizations.

The apostle Paul assuredly never engineered a million-piece charity appeal- the empire's postal service and the cost of papyrus made such an idea unthinkable. But 2 Corinthians does present a direct appeal for funds (chapters 8-9). Jewish Christians near Jerusalem were reportedly on the edge of starvation. Paul seized on the crisis as a perfect chance for Gentile Christians to reach out in compassion and demonstrate their spiritual unity with Jewish Christians.

In these two chapters, Paul outlines a philosophy of Christian giving, holding up Jesus Christ as a model. He explains the goal of such giving and the proper attitude of the gives. He even applies a little pressure by citing examples of Christians less well-heeled than the Corinthians (8:1-6; 9: 1-5).

This brief passage on giving shows Paul's holistic concerns. While still recuperating from personal trauma, he had agreed to head up a major fund-raising drive on behalf of the needy in Jerusalem. Later, working on that very project, he paused to write the profoundly theological book of Romans. (Romans 15:25-26)/ His scholarship didn't dampen a zeal for practical Christian love; his concern for souls didn't crowd out concern for their hungry bodies.

Reflection

Generosity definitely has side effects. I think one of the lessons that Paul is trying to teach us here is the fact that giving actually enriches and benefits the giver. A gift can serve as an act of worship to God and can inspire other people's faith and thanksgiving.