Paul has established the why of the giving, now he is going to address the how and the effect.
2 Corinthians 9:1-2[]
1 For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you: 2 For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.
Paul tells Corinth that it is not necessary for him to write to them about their giving because he already knows that they do a good job and has said so to others. The zeal they had for doing good for others in the church has provoked many. I like the way the word provoke is used in scripture in a positive way.
2 Corinthians 9:3-5[]
3 Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready: 4 Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting. 5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.
Titus and this other brother (Luke?) are there to help remind them of the ins and outs of the contribution. Its not about reminding them to give, but just making sure they are properly prepared to address needs that come up. I believe this has to do with firmly establishing the practice as a regular ordinance, not just a one time thing. The idea of bounty here is about overflow, a savings account for a rainy day if you will. He argues here that this storing up for future needs is not about greed but about being prepared.
There are some who argue that collections should only be taken up for specific events at specific times. I believe this passage is contrary to that idea.
Paul is building on 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 and showing that it is a regular event. Coupled with the reason for giving discussed in 2 Corinthians 8 as an act of worship, I think the traditional weekly collection by the congregation is not only authorized, but required.
2 Corinthians 9:6-7[]
6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
A familiar passage concerning the mindset of those who give. This is not about dollar amount, but about why we are giving individually. If we give because we must, then its missing the purpose of the collection.
Also, this is not about giving to get more of the same. The reaping is in blessings other than monetary terms. It is in spiritual terms, the growth of the church. A congregation that gives cheerfully, willingly, abundantly...that is, with the right mindset, will do great things. Individuals within that congregation will also do great things if their minds are in the right place. A stingy congregation with stingy givers has a problem greater than just the number on the board that records the weekly contribution. There is a sickness there than needs to be treated.
2 Corinthians 9:8-11[]
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. 10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) 11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
We know that the seed here is the gospel from Jesus' famous parable. The food here is a metaphor for the bread of life, the gospel, and it is one of the primary purposes of the church of Christ that the gospel be preached.
However, there is more here than just the preaching of the gospel that the monies are to be used for. Having enough in all things needed to do the work, materials, facilities, gas for vehicles, training, a place to have classes for new converts, a place for the congregation to assemble and edify one another to strengthen one another for this work are all parts of this. In other words, God not only supplies what is directly necessary to the preaching of the gospel, but all things that support the preaching of the gospel. It is up to the congregation, and specifically the elders, to make wise decisions about exactly how that money is used to facilitate this purpose. That's why the qualifications of elders include their relationship to money.
2 Corinthians 9:12-15[]
12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; 13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men; 14 And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
However, a metaphor not anchored in reality can mean anything and so has no meaning at all. Remember, the beginning of this idea of giving took root in the physical needs of the church in other locations, the need for food and other material things. So while preaching the gospel is one of the primary reasons the church exists, and one of the primary reasons the contribution is part of our weekly worship, so is being able to supply those in need of physical things. Corinth had already supplied once to the need in Jerusalem and their bountiful contribution to that need was well known.
This, then, is not a rebuke by Paul. This is a compliment and exhortation to keep up the good work. To keep doing what they had been doing as well as a deeper explanation of what they were doing and how God would bless them for it.
In Truth and Love.
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2 Corinthians 9