2 Corinthians 9. The point is this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver (9:6-7).

The Apostle Paul continues his commentary on giving generously from the previous chapter. The focus in this chapter is on the attitude behind the act of giving itself. As with all the other outworkings of a person’s faith in God, generosity begins in the heart of the giver. One could say that generosity is like a fruit of the Holy Spirit working inside us, a mix of love and goodness and kindness that pours out from within us.

Paul writes, please do not give reluctantly or under compulsion. Do not give because you feel like you must, do it because your heart has been changed by God and living generously is now a part of who you are in Christ.

What creates this heart change within us? We don’t start out naturally generous in life; we start out like two-year-olds screaming “mine” over toys (or like seagulls screaming “mine” – for my Finding Nemo fans). It is first the presence of the Holy Spirit within us.

Secondly, our generosity comes from an understanding of this truth: God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work… He who supplies the seed to the sower and bread for food, will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way (9:8-11).

It is God who has given us all that we have. He has been generous to us, and He is the source of all things. If we understand this truth, we are enabled to give generously because we understand that God is able to meet our needs. In fact, this passage indicates that God will reward those who are generous by repaying them bountifully with blessings – not for our hoarding, but for us to continue being generous. Whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

Think today about the disposition of your heart. Would you say you have a generous heart? Is that evidenced by how you share your resources with others? If your heart is not particularly generous, ask the Lord to help you understand the economy of generosity in the kingdom of God… and to create a generous spirit within you.