“As it is written: ‘He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever’” (2 Corinthians 9:9).
Paul the Apostle included many Old Testament references within his Biblical letters to the church at Corinth. 2 Corinthians 9:9 provides us with another example as Paul sought to establish a Scriptural basis for his teaching on the subject of financial giving. In this instance, he alluded to Psalm 112:9 to illustrate the eternal benefit that accrues to God’s people as they seek to help those in need.
Paul then expressed his desire for God to bless the Corinthians with greater opportunities as they invested their resources in ministering to others…
“Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God” (2 Corinthians 9:10-11).
One commentator directs our attention to an important aspect of this passage that we should not overlook…
“Paul’s assurances that God ‘will supply and multiply your seed for sowing’ and that ‘you will be enriched in every way’ are not necessarily promises that God will reward generous contributions with financial prosperity for one’s personal enjoyment. Rather, eager giving deepens one’s experience of God’s grace (v. 14), which sets the heart free from a grasping fixation on money and material possessions. Such ‘riches’ enable believers to ‘sow’ even more in generosity toward others, yielding a ‘harvest of your righteousness.'” (1)
So we can look to God to supply us with additional resources as we faithfully invest in His work. To borrow a quote from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, this will enable others to “…see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). However, this passage also brings a cautionary message from Jesus to mind as well…
“Whoever is faithful with little is also faithful with much, and the one who is dishonest with little is also dishonest with much. If you haven’t been faithful with worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? If you haven’t been faithful with someone else’s property, who will give you your own?
No household servant can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be loyal to the one and have contempt for the other. You cannot serve God and wealth” (Luke 16:10-13 CEB).
(1) Sproul, R. C. (Ed.). (2015). The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition) (p. 2062). Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust.