Vers. 17, 18. Liberality a Fruit of the Christian Life.

  1. It is not a gift, but the discharge of a just claim.
  2. Paul did not desire a gift only to benefit himself, because he wanted nothing.
  3. Liberality is a fruit of the Christian life by discharging a debt to which we stood engaged.
  4. Liberality is an advantage in the exercise of our patience before the day of trial come upon us.
  5. As God will punish the neglect of this duty, so if we perform it He will count Himself in debt to us.—Farindon.

Ver. 19. Man’s Need supplied from God’s Riches.

I. Look at man’s necessity.

II. God’s wealth.—Its abundance; its excellence.

III. The supply the apostle anticipates for this necessity out of this wealth.

Learn.—1. Contentment with our present lot. 2. Confidence for the future.—C. Bradley.

Our Need and our Supply.

I. Examine the scope of the promise.—There is danger of fanaticism in the interpretation of truth. God promises to supply our need, but not to gratify our wishes or whims. Some of us God sees cannot bear wealth, and so it is not given us; but as our day is so is our strength.

II. The supply.—The supply is not according to our deserts, but according to the riches of His glory. The resources of the Trinity are drawn upon. His wealth is unbounded. He is not a cistern, but a fountain.