1. Context (BKC) about the need to give aid to Jerusalem Christians. The Corinthians had agreed enthusiastically (8:11) to be involved in this service (diakonias) to the saints (cf. 8:4; 9:12–13). They were eager to help (cf. 8:4), a fact that Paul had relayed to the Macedonians the year before, which in turn had spurred the Macedonians on (stirred … them to action). The difference between the Macedonians and the Corinthians, however, lay in their diligence in seeing the project through to completion. Slow starters, the Macedonians finished quickly. But the Corinthians, willing in spirit, needed help in disciplining the flesh (cf. Matt. 26:41; Rom. 6:19).
2. Repeated word
A. Generously
5 Therefore I thought it necessary to urge these brothers to go to you in advance and to arrange ahead of time the generous contribution you had promised, so this may be ready as a generous gift and not as something you feel forced to do. 6 My point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously.
Generous contribution-BDAG act or benefit of blessing, blessing...as benefit brought by humans (Gen 33:11; 1 Km 25:27; 4 Km 5:15.—Cyr. Scyth. uses εὐλογία=‘gift, bounty’ [from humans] without biblical influence
Generously-BDAG Since the concept of blessing connotes the idea of bounty, εὐ. also bears the mng. generous gift, bounty (opp. πλεονεξία) 2 Cor 9:5b; perh. also 5a, s. 3c above. ἐπʼ εὐλογίαις (opp. φειδομένως) bountifully 9:6ab (Philo, Leg. All. 3, 210: ἐπʼ εὐλογίαις=in order that blessed influence might be felt)
something you feel forced to do-NET Grk “as a covetousness”; that is, a gift given grudgingly or under compulsion; BDAG-the context calls for the pregnant mng. a gift that is grudgingly granted by avarice; PNTC-If the Macedonians should appear with Paul and the “blessing” is not prepared, it will appear that the Corinthians are stingy, hoarding for themselves the earthly goods in which they abound
The contrast in v.5 is between the generous contribution that they had promised to give vs being stingy, and greedy and not willing to give what they had promised, and only do so under compulsion.
Therefore, Paul's main focus from v.6 onwards was to exhort them to do what they had promised, i.e. give generously (not withholding). It is not a choice whether to give sparingly or generously, but to materialize what you had promised to do.
This is confirmed by v.8, "And God is able to make all grace overflow to you so that because you have enough of everything in every way at all times, you will overflow in every good work."
B. Cheerfully
7 Each one of you should give just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, because God loves a cheerful giver
The cheerful giver is in contrast to those who gives not reluctantly or under pressure. In this context, they were the one who are stingy and not willing to give. They gave just because they were under compulsion in v.5. In other word, cheerful give is just what they supposed to do. To give according to what they had promised.
(PNTC) There is a danger, then, that Christians in Corinth will be placed under pressure to contribute and will do so with regret or out of the feeling that they are compelled by circumstances or by the apostle and his representatives to present a gift. Paul therefore urges that each one is to give “just as they have determined in advance.” They have been committed to the collection for some time and most likely have considered already what they would give. The need to complete the collection now should not necessarily change those prior decisions
3. Conclusion and reflection: We should give responsibly. Since we promised we should do it. Short of doing so is greedy and hoarding for ourself.
Second, Paul encouraged giving generously and God is the One who enables us to do so. We are only the channel.
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