Fundraising is a critical component of any organization, with dedicated individuals tasked with identifying and engaging investors to address financial needs. While businesses rely on shareholders for support, non-profit organizations primarily depend on sponsors and donors to address pressing social issues such as poverty, access to free medical care, and education. Over time, spiritual leaders have increasingly embraced fundraising strategies to promote peace and well-being among communities. Similarly, churches have adopted fundraising as a means to generate resources, often participating in charity events to justify and highlight their financial needs.
Trusting Wealth Rather Than The Grace Of God
Paul was chosen by God to share His love with the Gentiles, and his mission initially progressed smoothly. Around 50 AD, during the final phase of his second missionary journey, Paul visited Corinth after establishing churches in Macedonia—Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea (Acts 16-17). Compared to these places, Corinth stood out as a wealthy city. Believing in the generosity of the Corinthians, Paul promised financial aid to the poor in Jerusalem. Initially, the wealthy Corinthians pledged their support, but later hesitated to fulfill their commitment.
At this critical point, Paul urged the church in Corinth to complete what they had started without delay. Reading 2 Corinthians chapters 8 and 9 reveals a surprising shift in Paul’s focus. He seemed more preoccupied with collecting funds to honor his promise than with spreading God’s love to the Gentiles. How often do we find ourselves in similar situations, losing sight of God’s grace and mission by placing our trust in the rich and influential?
As Paul’s focus shifted, he employed various tactics to extract the promised contributions from the wealthy Corinthians. Interestingly, these strategies have become a model for many churches today in their efforts to raise funds through the Gospel. While Paul temporarily set aside the Gospel to concentrate on fundraising, modern practices often use the Gospel itself as a tool for soliciting funds. Below, we will explore how Paul encouraged people to give generously and examine the arbitrary nature of his arguments.
Drawing Comparisons
Paul begins by highlighting the generosity of the Macedonian churches, even amidst their extreme poverty. Despite undergoing severe trials that left them in a state of destitution, their poverty overflowed into remarkable generosity. In contrast, the wealth of the Corinthians led to stinginess. Paul attributes this difference in attitude to the fact that the Macedonians first gave themselves to God (2 Corinthians 8:5). When we fully surrender to God, we are willing to give all we have, regardless of our financial circumstances.
Today, many churches struggle to inspire people to commit themselves to God, focusing instead on encouraging generous giving. To achieve this, they often highlight the contributions of generous donors, creating peer pressure within the congregation. Similarly, Paul urged the Corinthians to give by pointing to the Macedonians as an example of generosity. However, due to the urgency of collecting funds for the poor in Jerusalem, Paul lacked the time to guide the Corinthians toward spiritual commitment. Instead, he hoped to gain their favor to fulfill his promise.
For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to say anything about you—would be ashamed of having been so confident. – 2 Corinthians 9:4 (NIV)
Fundraising In The Church, The Mother Of Prosperity Gospel
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. – 2 Corinthians 9:6 (NIV)
The man chosen by God to sow His Word among the Gentiles now appears to offer the newly converted believers options to increase their material wealth. Unfortunately, this approach has become a business model for some servants of God, using the Good News as a means to accumulate wealth. This misrepresentation distorts the true purpose of Jesus’ coming to earth, reducing it to a message focused merely on material prosperity.
The flawed reasoning often presented is that since Jesus emptied His heavenly treasures to enrich us, material blessings should naturally follow. If someone does not experience material wealth despite Jesus’ sacrifice, the implication is that the fault lies with them—perhaps due to a lack of generosity. Believers are encouraged to think that by giving generously, they can unlock material riches, likened to sparing a small fish to catch a bigger one. This teaching shifts the focus from spiritual transformation to financial gain, undermining the core message of Christ.
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. – 2 Corinthians 8:9 (NIV)
Paul even taught that God’s love is conditional on generosity, implying that if you are not generous in giving, you will not be loved by Him. In response, critics of the prosperity gospel have taken an equally extreme stance, claiming that God hates sinners. They warn that anyone who says God loves sinners is deceiving people to extract money from them. In both cases, the true purpose of God sending His Son is misrepresented, and the message is twisted into something entirely contrary to its original intent.
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. – 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV)
Receive Blessing According The Measure you Give
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. – Luke 6:38 (NIV)
Jesus did not speak about giving because He needed money but to teach people to give up worldly wealth without hesitation. This accumulated wealth does not add credit to their heavenly account but leaving them aside helps them become citizens of His Kingdom. Jesus became poor to show us that we, too, should embrace poverty of spirit to inherit His Kingdom (Matthew 5:3). However, many have twisted this teaching for personal gain. Even after two thousand years, people have mastered a distorted version of the Gospel instead of understanding Jesus’ true message.
I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. – Luke 16:9 (NIV)
The parable of the shrewd manager is one of the most misinterpreted parables, especially by proponents of the prosperity gospel. Many Christian books on financial management have drawn inspiration from this parable. However, Jesus viewed worldly wealth as a potential hindrance to entering His Kingdom, encouraging its use for purposes aligned with God’s will on earth. Instead of focusing on using wealth to further Kingdom values, many have shifted their attention to strategies for accumulating more of it. Similarly, Paul employed a comparable approach when he assured the Corinthians that their blessings would correspond to the measure of their giving.
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. – 2 Corinthians 9:6 (NIV)
Prayers For Blessings Are Assured
Paul’s teachings to the Corinthians inadvertently placed undue emphasis on the wealthy, which shifted their focus toward accumulating riches rather than giving generously. Their ability to give, stemming from their wealth, earned them favor in the eyes of the beneficiaries, and they began to believe that the prayers of the poor would further enhance their material prosperity.
by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. – 2 Corinthians 9:13 (NIV)
Jesus, however, instructed us that our good works should lead others to praise our Father in Heaven (Matthew 5:16). Salvation comes by grace, not by our deeds (Ephesians 2:8). When Jesus referred to “good works,” He meant trusting and obeying Him. No other actions we perform can truly inspire our fellow citizens to glorify our Father in Heaven.
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15 (NIV)
Paul emphasizes that our generosity can inspire others to give thanks to God on our behalf. He concludes by expressing gratitude to God for the blessings granted to the Corinthians. In contrast, modern practices often involve God’s servants giving thanks for our blessings or healings, which can sometimes create a sense of obligation to repay them rather than focusing gratitude toward God. Furthermore, it has become customary for God’s servants to request prayer intentions, offering to intercede for us. However, this raises the question: can one person truly pray for the countless prayer requests they receive?
But why should we rely on others to pray for us when the Holy Spirit within us intercedes, even when we don’t know how to pray? Scripture teaches that the Holy Spirit prays with us, not merely on our behalf, with groaning too deep for words alongside (Romans 8:26). This is a unimaginable and unique blessing—having God Himself praying alongside us.
With this understanding, our thanksgiving becomes an essential expression of our faith. It completes the cycle of faith by affirming that we recognize God as the sole source of our blessings. When we truly grasp this truth, we will thank Him abundantly, leaving no room for others to thank God on our behalf.
Do Not Mix Up Fundraising With That of God’s Ministry
The key takeaway is this: our focus must remain solely on spreading the love of God, setting aside the modern practices of adopting Paul as a model for fundraising. Social organizations may raise funds through events without compromising their services, but the mission of the Church is different. Our trust should not rest in the wealth or influence of individuals but in the limitless power and provision of God. Let us dedicate ourselves to His work with unwavering faith, knowing that He alone is our source and provider.
Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. – Psalms 20:7 (NIV)
The Jordan Valley 
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