Leading Through the Giving

2 Corinthians 9:5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.

I don’t know if this is a strange angle to take in this instance….but Paul proves himself to be an encourager/exhorter, leader and one who spurs the Corinthians on to live out their faith…and not stumble.

Paul recognizing the “human condition” and was either losing faith in the Corinthian church or (as I suspect) wished to encourage them as well as the Macedonian church.
There is a huge difference between giving a gift cheerfully or giving it up begrudgingly. The difference is in the way you are led.

I have seen a few building drives…ones that the vision was given to the people, they pledged (over and above the tithe) and then gave sacrificially to for the entire term of the pledge. And then there was a drive…where people had lost faith in the leadership, the vision was non-existent…and in turn, people were not led to give nor given a reason to give sacrificially.

Paul made sure that the 1st Church at Corinthian knew;
1. that they had pledged
2. that it was generous
3. it should be given in the right heart
4. held them accountable

God thank you for your leadership and your vision for ANC. AS we continue to handle your resources…I pray that we will remain faithful in our giving and our stewardship.