2 Corinthians 9

V. 1-5, Giving with an open heart

The way some things are delivered almost makes them no worth having. Take for instance an apology, an apology can be delivered in a way that makes it worthless. There are times when Jeremiah will do something to Judah, and we force him to apologize. Well he will just walk over to Judah and sarcastically or angerly tell his brother that he is sorry. Well we lovingly correct Jeremiah and let him know that it is obvious that he is not sorry and that an apology like that is worthless. In the opening chapter Paul addresses how the way one gives a gift truly matters. He says in verse 5 that he hopes they give a generous gift in love and not grudgingly. In other words, the condition of your heart depends on whether the gift is received of God.

The old testament is full of God correcting the people of Israel because they gave with the wrong heart. They would simple give because they knew they had to and not because they wanted to. There heart wasn’t eager to benefit God’s kingdom and they only gave out of a since of duty or because they knew it was expected of them. They weren’t giving with the right heart and they weren’t giving their best to God. They were essentially told that they were wasting their time even presenting the gift or offering. God didn’t want their crumbs just like we don’t want a half heart apology from someone. So, consider your heart, it should not ever be a chore or a burden to give to God who gives so freely to us.