2 Corinthians 9:1

2 Corinthians 9:1 says, For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:  Paul said that the work of the church at Corinth in ministering to the saints, the believers in Christ, spoke for itself.  He said it would be superfluous for him to write about it.  Our work in ministering to the needs of our fellow believers should be the same.  It should be unnecessary for anyone to write about it because the whole world should be able to see our faith in action.  Verse two adds, For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.  Paul said that they had started a good work and that they needed to continue to follow through with it.  I don't believe that Paul was commanding them to continue but was simply stating that what they had done in the past, or started doing in the past, did not mean that they now did not need to continue.  The same is true for us today.  Paul had boasted to other churches about the Corinthians, and he did not want them to disappoint those who looked to them as faithful followers.  I believe that by boasting Paul meant he spoke highly of them and held them up as an example for other churches.  I don't believe that he was boasting to make other churches feel less important.  Verse three continues, Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready:  Paul said he sent the brethren to tell them that someone would be coming to collect the donation they were collecting to help other churches.  He did this so they would be ready and not let down his faith in them.  We today need to be prepared to deliver on our promises to God.  Verse four states, Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.  Paul said that if the representatives from Macedonia came with him and the church at Corinth was unprepared that the church at Corinth should be ashamed that Paul had boasted of their faith.  Again, if we make promises to God, we should be ready to follow through on them.  If we don't, others may be disappointed in us, but the shame will be ours.  Verse five adds, Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.  Paul said he wanted them to be ready to give freely without coveting what was given.  I don't believe that Paul demanded that they give and was sending someone to see if they were doing so.  I believe that they had freely promised to give, and Paul just wanted to see if they were following through.  We cannot demand that others give, but we can pray that if they do that they do so with a willing heart, as we must do likewise.