結果纍纍的奉獻
哥林多後書九章6至15節
6少種的少收,多種的多收,這話是真的。
7各人要隨本心所酌定的,不要作難,不要勉強,因為捐得樂意的人是神所喜愛的。
8神能將各樣的恩惠多多的加給你們,使你們凡事常常充足,能多行各樣善事。
9如經上所記:他施捨錢財,賙濟貧窮;他的仁義存到永遠。
10那賜種給撒種的,賜糧給人吃的,必多多加給你們種地的種子,又增添你們仁義的果子;
11叫你們凡事富足,可以多多施捨,就藉著我們使感謝歸於神。
12因為辦這供給的事,不但補聖徒的缺乏,而且叫許多人越發感謝神。
13他們從這供給的事上得了憑據,知道你們承認基督順服他的福音,多多的捐錢給他們和眾人,便將榮耀歸與神。
14他們也因神極大的恩賜顯在你們心裡,就切切的想念你們,為你們祈禱。
15感謝神,因他有說不盡的恩賜!
信息分享
撒下的種子,到了成熟的時候便會豐收。倘若農人撒下很少種子,他的收成便會很少;相反,他撒得愈多,收成便會愈多。收成的多少,全在乎他撒下的種子有多少。
保羅說,我們的奉獻也是一樣。我們捐得少,將來所得的也少。我們若慷慨捐輸,所得的祝福就更多。
此外,他還補充兩個有趣的見解。他在第8至11 節指出,我們若樂於奉獻,神便會保證我們一定有能力去奉獻。許多基督徒都一再證明這點的真實。
許多教會也能印證這點。例如,教會奉獻愈多金錢支持宣教事工或幫助有需要的人,神就會愈多祝福那間教會,供應它的需要。
保羅的第二個見解是,捐獻的人會為自己得蒙神的使用,使他有能力去幫助別人而感謝神。保羅在第12節指出,許多人會愈發感謝神,他們為神給他們奉獻的權利而感恩。至於那些領受捐獻的人,則會為所得的餽贈和捐獻者而感恩。
神不會要我們捐獻過於我們所有的(八12)。祂只期望我們按照自己的能力去捐獻。其實,神並非看我們捐些甚麼,卻是看我們留下甚麼。我們若要作神的忠心管家,也當這樣衡量我們的奉獻──不是看自己捐出多少,而是看自己留下多少。
FRUITFUL GIVING
2 Corinthians 9:6-15
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.”
10 Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness,
11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.
12 For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God,
13 while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men,
14 and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you.
15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
Message
Sowing will in due course bring remarkable results. Where a farmer has sown only a few seeds, he will have a small harvest. Where he has sown widely, he will have a bountiful harvest. The return on his investment depends largely on how much he sows.
Paul said it will be the same in our giving. When we give little, the return will be small. When we give generously, our investment will bring a rich harvest of blessing.
He also added two interesting comments. In v.8-11 he stated that if we give, God will see that we will always have something to live. This has been proved over and over again by many Christians.
Churches too have discovered this. For example, the more a church gives to missionary work and to others, the more God will bless that church and supply its local needs.
Paul's second comment was that there will be real thanksgiving to God because He has been allowed to use you in this way. In v.12 Paul spoke of many expressions of thanks to God. Those who give will thank God for the privilege. Those who receive will thank God for the gift and the giver. God doesn't expect us to give what we don't have. He asks us to give (see 8:12) according to our means, according to what we have, not according to what we don't have.
God doesn't look at what we give, but rather at what we have after we give. That is how we should look at our giving and our stewardship.

