09/09/2026
๐๐๐๐๐๐ญ๐ก ๐๐๐ก๐จ๐จ๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง ๐๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐ฒ
๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง ๐๐: ๐๐ญ๐๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง
๐๐๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฑ๐ญ: โ๐น๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐ค ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ฟ๐๐๐ ๐ฝ๐๐ ๐ข๐ ๐ถโ๐๐๐ ๐ก, ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐กโ๐๐ข๐โ ๐ป๐ ๐ค๐๐ ๐๐๐โ, ๐ฆ๐๐ก ๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ป๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐, ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐กโ๐๐๐ข๐โ ๐ป๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ก๐ฆ ๐๐๐โ๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐โโ (๐ฎ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐ด:๐ต, ๐ก๐๐๐ฉ).
๐๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง: Paul wants the Corinthians to help their brothers and sisters in Judea. God wants us to give, too. When we give, we show Jesusโ love. Everyone in heaven loves to give. Thatโs why God gave us Jesus. Look at these wonderful words: โGod loved the world [people] so very, very much that he gave his only Son. Because he did that, everyone who believes in him will not lose his life, but will live for everโ (John 3:16).
Giving is part of our work for God. No wonder Paul says that he and his companions were โChristโs [the Saviorโs] servants. God has also given a special job to us. We must explain his message to people so that they understand itโ (1 Corinthians 4:1, EASY). We also are Jesusโ servants. God gave this special work to us, too.
This week, we will look at serving God and giving. These two things were an important part of Jesusโ work. The offerings we give help the church to do Godโs work.
๐๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐ฒ: ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ฑ๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฌ
โ Paul masterfully uses financial language to summarize the gospel. Jesus, who was infinitely ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ก in His pre-existence in heaven, willingly chose to ๐๐๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐ฉ๐จ๐จ๐ซ. He laid aside His heavenly glory, was born into earthly humility, and lived a life of service.
โ Jesus did not become poor just to set an emotional example; He did it so that through His poverty, we might become rich. This does not mean worldly wealth, but the priceless riches of grace, righteousness, and eternal salvation.
โ Before highlighting Jesus, Paul points to the believers in Macedonia. Despite experiencing severe trials and deep poverty themselves, they begged for the privilege of giving to others. Their radical generosity proved that true giving is a matter of the ๐ก๐๐๐ซ๐ญ, not the size of oneโs wallet.
๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ:
๐ฝ๐๐ ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ป๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐ผ ๐๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ก๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐. ๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ ๐คโ๐๐ ๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ป๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐.
๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ฒ: ๐๐จ๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
โ Paul starts his discourse not by talking about money, but by highlighting "the grace of God" given to the Macedonian churches. True giving is always a response to Godโs grace, never an attempt to earn His favor.
โ The believers in Macedonia were in "๐๐ฑ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ฆ๐ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ฒ" and going through a "s๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ ๐จ๐ซ๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง." Yet, their motivation was so pure that they ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ ๐ฐ๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐ก ๐จ๐ ๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ, actually begging Paul for the privilege of sharing in the ministry to the saints.
โ The secret to their incredible motivation was that "๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฒ ๐ ๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฆ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐ฏ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐ซ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐." When a person fully surrenders their heart to God, surrendering their pocketbook or resources becomes a natural, joyful byproduct.
๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ:
๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐ก ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ฆ ๐ก๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐ฟ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ก. ๐บ๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐ ๐ก๐๐ค๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ฃ๐, ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ก๐ข๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐.
๐๐ฎ๐๐ฌ๐๐๐ฒ: ๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ง๐ข๐ง๐
โ Reflecting on how God operates, we see that His giving is defined by systematic planning. The ultimate giftโthe giving of His Son to rescue humanityโwas not a panic response to sin; it was planned "๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ฅ๐" (Revelation 13:8).
โ Paul notes that "๐๐๐โ ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐ โ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐คโ๐๐ก ๐ฆ๐๐ข โ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ โ๐๐๐๐ก". The Greek word used for "๐๐๐๐ข๐๐๐" implies a prior choice or a deliberate plan. True giving does not wait for the emotional pressure of a passing offering plate; it is determined in prayer beforehand.
โ Planning requires evaluating what we actually have. Paul highlights that the Macedonians gave "๐๐๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ข๐ซ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ง๐ฌ". He tells the Corinthians that an offering is acceptable "๐๐๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง ๐ก๐๐ฌ, ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐๐ฌ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐".
โ While God has set a fixed proportion for the tithe (10%), He leaves the percentage of the free-will offering up to us. However, the Bible still expects that percentage to be ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ to how much God has prospered us, which is mathematically impossible to do faithfully without structural planning.
๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ:
๐โ๐๐๐ ๐บ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฆ๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ก๐๐๐, ๐ป๐ ๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ โ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ [๐๐ข๐] ๐๐๐๐๐ โ (2 ๐ถ๐๐. 8:3) ๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐ โ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.
๐๐๐๐ง๐๐ฌ๐๐๐ฒ: ๐๐ญ๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ฎ๐๐
โ Paul states that "๐๐จ๐ ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ฌ ๐ ๐๐ก๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ ๐ ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ซ ". The original Greek word for cheerful is ๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฌ (from which we get the word "๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐ข๐จ๐ฎ๐ฌ"). It describes a state of mind that is joyful, enthusiastic, and completely free from hesitation.
โ The Two Negative Attitudes (2 Corinthians 9:7): Paul contrasts cheerfulness with two toxic attitudes:
1. "๐๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฅ๐ฒ" (๐จ๐ซ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐ฌ๐จ๐ซ๐ซ๐จ๐ฐ): ๐บ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐คโ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ก๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ, ๐ค๐๐ โ๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ก ๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐.
2. "๐๐ง๐๐๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง": ๐บ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ก๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ข๐๐, ๐๐ข๐๐๐ก, ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐๐๐ก, ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ก๐๐๐.
โ Paul uses the law of the harvest to shape the believer's attitude: "๐โ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ค๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐ค๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ, ๐๐๐ ๐คโ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ค๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ฆ ๐ค๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ฆ." A farmer doesn't throw seeds into the dirt with a sad heart; they do it with joy and expectation because they know a harvest is coming.
โ The lesson emphasizes that having a generous attitude is safe because God is able to bless us abundantly. He provides us with enough for our own needs and an excess to continue being generous.
๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ:
๐บ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐ข๐๐ก๐๐๐๐ก๐ ๐โ๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐. ๐ป๐ ๐๐๐๐'๐ก ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ป๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐ก๐๐๐ก๐๐ฆ; ๐ป๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ ๐ป๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐ค๐๐๐๐. ๐โ๐๐ ๐ค๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ค๐๐กโ ๐ โ๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐๐๐ก, ๐ค๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐ฆ ๐โ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐ ๐บ๐๐. ๐โ๐ ๐๐๐ฆ ๐ค๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐ ๐ข๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฆ ๐บ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ก๐๐ฆ ๐ ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ .
๐๐ก๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฒ: ๐๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ
โ In the early church, a massive cultural and religious rift existed between Jewish Christians (in Jerusalem) and Gentile Christians (in places like Corinth and Macedonia). Paul used the financial relief fund as a tangible bridge to heal this divide.
โ Paul explains that giving is not about making one group suffer so another can be at ease. Instead, it is about equality. The abundance of the Gentile churches supplied the physical lack of the Jerusalem church, creating a beautiful balance within Godโs family.
โ The unity was a two-way street. While the Gentiles provided ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ, the Jewish believers responded with ๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐จ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฒ๐๐ซ and spiritual affection for their Gentile siblings.
๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ:
๐ถ๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ค๐๐ฆ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐บ๐๐. ๐บ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ โ๐๐ค๐ ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐บ๐๐โ๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ โ๐๐๐๐ก๐ . ๐บ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ค๐ โ๐๐, ๐ก๐๐.
๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง:
Stewardship is not merely an administrative or financial duty; it is the spiritual fuel that powers the global mission of the church. Conversely, mission is the very purpose for which God entrusts us with His resources.
Through Paulโs letters to the Corinthians, we have seen that true Christian giving is anchored in the ๐๐ฑ๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฌ, who gave up the ultimate riches of heaven so that we might become rich in grace. When our ๐ฆ๐จ๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง is transformed by this grace, giving ceases to be a legalistic chore and becomes an act of worship. This worship is expressed through intentional ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ rather than impulsive emotion, and it is carried out with a ๐๐ก๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ ๐๐ญ๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ฎ๐๐ that reflects the joyful heart of our Creator. Finally, when we pool our resources to support the global work, we achieve a profound ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ that breaks down cultural and economic walls, proving to the world that we are one body in Christ.
๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ค ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ง๐๐ฑ๐ญ ๐ฐ๐๐๐ค!!
