September 20, 2026
2 Corinthians 9:6–15 & Matthew 20:1–16
Theme: Giving as a Way of Life
This morning we continue our September stewardship series with two biblical texts that speak directly to the heart of Christian giving. Paul teaches the church in Corinth about cheerful generosity, and Jesus tells a parable that challenges our assumptions about fairness, grace, and God’s economy. These two passages invite us to see stewardship not as an obligation, but as a joyful participation in God’s abundant kingdom.
Paul’s letter to the 2 Corinthians 9:6–15, teaches about the Principle of Sowing and Reaping.
He begins with a simple agricultural truth: “The one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will reap bountifully.” This is not manipulation; it is invitation. Paul is teaching that generosity shapes the life of the giver. When we give freely, we open ourselves to God’s abundance of joy, gratitude, and spiritual growth.
Paul then says something even deeper that, “God loves a cheerful giver.” Not a pressured giver. Not a resentful giver. A cheerful giver. Stewardship is not only about meeting a budget; it is more about forming a heart that trusts God enough to give with joy and take care of everything God has entrusted under our care.
And then Paul continues that, “You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity.” Notice ─ Paul does not say enriched so you can have more, but enriched so you can give more, serve more, bless more. Generosity is not a transaction; it is transformation. This is the kind of giving that builds a church, strengthens a community, and shapes disciples.
In the gospel of Matthew 20:1–16, Jesus speaks about the parable of the laborers.
Jesus’ parable of the laborers in the vineyard is one of the most challenging stories in the Gospels. Workers hired early in the morning receive the same wage as those hired at the last hour. And naturally, the early workers complain. “It’s not fair,” they say.
But Jesus is teaching us something deeper than the timing: God’s generosity does not follow human calculations. God gives freely, abundantly, and sometimes in ways that surprise us.
The landowner says, “Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me?” In other words: God’s grace is God’s to give.
This parable reminds us that stewardship is not about earning God’s favor. It is about responding to God’s generosity with gratitude. In God’s kingdom, the measure is not fairness, it is grace. And grace always gives more than we expect.
In the two passages, Paul teaches us that generosity is a spiritual practice. And Jesus teaches us that generosity is God’s character.
My dear friends, when we give─our time, our gifts, our resources─we are not just supporting a church budget. We are imitating God, whose generosity is extravagant, surprising, and overflowing.
Stewardship is not about what the church wants from you; it is about what God wants for you: A heart shaped by grace, a life marked by trust and spirit that rejoices in giving.
Here at St. Paul’s, we have already shown such faithfulness. Our giving supports worship, pastoral care, outreach, formation, and the quiet ministries that keep this parish alive. But Paul invites us to grow even more, “to excel in this grace of giving.”
As we continue our stewardship month, I encourage all of us to pray about your giving. Not from pressure, but from joy. Not from fear, but from trust. Not from scarcity, but from the abundance of God’s grace. May God transform our hearts to become more cheerful givers who reflect the heart of Christ.
May our stewardship this year be marked by joy, gratitude, and trust—for God loves a cheerful giver, and God’s grace is always more than enough.