The David Spoon Experience 9-7-23 Part 1

A) Paul has great confidence in the church at Corinth, but everyone seems to need some checking in on now and then. What he’s saying is that I stuck my neck out in my boasting of you, and I don’t want egg in my face or in your face either. This is more along the lines of “Trust but verify.” This strongly encourages us that if we commit to something, we should be diligent in carrying out that commitment.

B) But again, as if it were written for me personally, Paul stresses what we know and need to be reminded of constantly. We need to offer our gifts and sacrifices with five distinct attributes. The first one is to be generous. Being stingy when we are engaging in Kingdom Giving is an oxymoron and a sin. That offering will not be received. How can we say this? God looks at Cain’s offering with no respect.

C) The second attribute is for us to offer our gifts and sacrifices without a begrudging spirit. To give begrudgingly is to give with the feeling of extracting the funds. It is a gift that betrays the giver's covetousness, 2 Corinthians 9:5 (here R. V. text extortion).

D) The third and fourth attribute is for us to offer our gifts and sacrifices not sparingly but bountifully. This one is easy; we can’t be “cheap” with God by giving Him less than our best. We must offer “whatever we offer” with a spirit of generosity and a desire to share and bless.

E) The fifth attribute is to offer our gifts and sacrifices based on our hearts and not necessarily on a formula. And the sixth attribute is the key. Smile when we give. Or keep it. If we can't be glad and rejoice when we offer it up to God, then He doesn’t want it. The truth is that WE people need it. But God DOES NOT need it.