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Daily Devotions

2 Corinthians

2 Corinthians 
Day 
Day 127

"Prepare your generous gift beforehand..."

Text: 2 Corinthians 9:5

PRACTICAL PREPARATION

The Corinthians had been moved to give significantly to minister to those in need. That was good and commendable. However, practical preparation was also necessary!

“Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren
to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand,
which you had previously promised, that it may be ready
as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation.”
2 Corinthians 9:5

1. “Therefore I thought it necessary”

a) Much wisdom is displayed here.
b) It must have come from years of personal experience.
c) Much thought was given to see the project through, from start to finish.

2. “To exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time”

a) This was the advanced team.
b) Traveling in those days was not an easy thing to plan.
c) The advanced team would have to be there in Corinth much earlier.
d) The team had been exhorted by Paul to help the Corinthians fulfil what they had promised.

3. “And prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised”

a) The generous gift (“the lavish gift” in 2 Corinthians 2:20).
b) In this verse it is described as something “praiseworthy” (Greek “eulogian”).
c) This gift had been promised by the Corinthians.
d) Paul was not soliciting fresh funds. He was urging them to fulfil their promise.

4. “That it may be ready as a matter of generosity”

a) The concept of giving in this context:
i) Paul mentioned their gift twice: “Your generous gift,” “Your generosity”.
ii) This was not a coerced gift.
iii) It was a gift that the Corinthians wanted to offer.
b) The spirit of giving must be maintained. The same generous spirit must prevail!

5. “And not as a grudging obligation”

a) This was something that Paul wanted to prevent from happening.
b) What may have started out as an expression of generosity must not become an obligation that is fulfilled grudgingly. The gift would lose its essential meaningfulness!