Galatians 9

9 Paul here quotes from Psalm 112:9. When a man gives generously to the poor, his righteousness endures forever.

10 God supplies both the seed and the bread. All things come from God’s grace. As much as we give to others, that much more will God increase [our] store and enlarge the harvest of [our] righteousness. In other words, when we give to others, God will give us both material ²²and spiritual blessings in return.

Let us always remember how great God’s power is (Ephesians 3:20-21). From a tiny seed, God can make a great tree. But we have to let go of that seed; we have to bury it in the ground. If we keep that seed in our pocket, no tree will come from it. In the same way, a small boy once gave away five loaves and two fish to Jesus, and Jesus turned them into a feast for five thousand men! (see Mark 6:35-44).

11 We will be made rich in every way. To the degree that we ourselves are generous toward others, God will make us rich—both spiritually and materially—in every way.

Why will God make us “rich”? He will make us rich so that we can then be more generous, so that we can be generous continuously. The moment we stop being generous, God will stop making us rich!

Paul tells the Corinthians that through us your generosity will result in thanks giving to God. That is, when Paul and his colleagues bring the Corinthians’ offering to Jerusalem, the believers there will thank God for the generosity of the Corinthians.

12 It is necessary to thank other people for their gifts to us. But it is even more necessary to thank God for their gifts, for their generosity. Because all generosity arises out of the grace of God. God gives both the “seed” of generosity and its “harvest.”

13 Through this service (the offering), the Corinthians are giving proof of their obedience that accompanies [their] confession of the gospel. Obedience must always accompany our confession of faith; otherwise, our confession will be shown to be false. To obey the gospel is to give help to our brothers and sisters in need (see James 2:14-17). Such obedience is the proof that our faith is real.

14 Because of the surpassing grace (the grace of generosity) that God has given to the Corinthians, the hearts of the believers in Jerusalem will go out to the Corinthians. The Jewish Christians of Jerusalem and the Gentile Christians of Corinth will be drawn to each other in love. This is why Paul considers this offering to be so important.

15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift—the gift of His grace! But what exactly is the gift of God’s grace? Above all, it is Jesus Christ. All of the grace and blessings of God come to us in Christ (see John 3:16; Romans 8:32; Ephesians 1:3 and comments). Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another (1 John 4:11).