Indescribable Gift

August 21

Job 22-24

Psalm 94:16-23

Proverbs 20:29-30

2 Corinthians 9

Indescribable Gift!

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”  2 Corinthians 9:15 LSB

Paul spent all of chapters 8 and 9 discussing generosity and giving.  Apparently, the Corinthians had become slack in their commitment to giving and Paul wanted them to understand the importance and necessity of giving of their time and resources in serving God.  He ended his teaching with, “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”  This might seem like an odd ending, but actually it gives the reason for our giving and the attitude behind a generous heart.  The indescribable gift is the grace of God given to those who accept His forgiveness, salvation and eternal life in Christ Jesus.  It is indescribable because it is beyond our understanding to be able to fully grasp its magnitude and value.  There are no words in the human language that can adequately express God’s gracious gift of His Son.  The depth of sacrifice He made for us is more than we can ever hope to understand much less be able to describe adequately to others.  We don’t deserve the gift and there is nothing we can do to earn it.  All we can do is accept it with humility and gratitude.  It is also indescribable because of the benefits we gain by accepting His gift.  We are dead in our sins with no hope.  We deserve death and hell, but instead He gives us forgiveness and freedom from the penalty of our sins, the Holy Spirit indwelling us to lead and guide us in the path that we should walk, and eternal life with Him forever.  We cannot possibly comprehend the value of those benefits along with many others He has bestowed on all who believe and accept His gift. 

Paul’s words were a reminder of God’s love and provision with the hope of inspiring them to give cheerfully and voluntarily.  He did not want their giving to be a legalistic obligation done grudgingly or out of compulsion.  He understood the dangers of the heavy hand of legalism from his days as a Pharisee and did not want them to fall into that trap.  He wanted them to make the profound connection between God’s indescribable gift to us and the privilege He offers us of participating in His work by generously meeting the needs of others through giving.  Service and generous offering of resources done in love with a spirit of thanksgiving is very different from gifts given out of obligation or with ulterior motives.  A grateful heart is a generous heart.  “By this we have known love, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.  But whoever has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in Him?  Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.”  I John 3:16-18  LSB