2 Corinthians 9:6-9

⁶ But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

⁷ So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

⁸ And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

⁹ As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”

But [although I am not pressing you to give] this [is true] — he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly, and he who sows in a beneficent, generous spirit, with a view to the blessing of the recipient, shall also reap blessings given in a beneficent, generous manner. Let each one give according as he has purposed in his heart, not out of an annoyed and troubled heart, nor because of necessity, for God loves a cheerful, ready giver. Moreover, God is powerful to make every grace superabound to you in order that, having always an all-sufficiency in all things, you may superabound to every good work, even as it stands written, He [the liberal person] scattered abroad, he gave to those who are poor, his righteousness abides forever. — Wuest, page 430.

sparingly (v.6) = abstemiously, stingily

bountifully (v.6) = “with blessing,” with the idea of benefit

Facts in the spiritual realm harmonize with those in the physical (v.6). Many a farmer has a poor crop because he sows sparingly, and many a Christian suffers inward poverty because of outward illiberality. God loves a cheerful believer; but few people believe it. — Williams, page 905.

purposes (v.7) = prefer, to choose for oneself before another thing, to intend

grudgingly (v.7) = with a sour, reluctant mind

necessity (v.7) = compulsion

cheerful (v.7) = joyful, not grudging, prompt, willing

abound and abundance (v.8) = exceed the ordinary, overflow, to be over and above

sufficiency (v.8) = independence, contentment

The quote in verse 9 is from Psalm 112:9 — He has dispersed abroad, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be exalted with honor.

dispersed (v.9) = scatter abroad

The apostle does not say that God will recompense generous contributors with material things. We cannot use God in this way … but He surely will enrich their lives and make them more rewarding than they ever were.

Whatever we do, we should avoid giving “grudgingly,” or “of necessity,” i.e. because we don’t know how to avoid it. … God knows our hearts and knows whether we do or do not really want to make a sacrifice for Him. This is why Paul goes on to say in v.7, “for God loveth a cheerful giver.” (The Greek word here is hilaros, our “hilarious.”) We have a good example of this in the Macedonians. They gave gleefully, happily. They really wanted to help the poor saints in Jerusalem. — Stam, page 186.