If we live at the same level of affluence
as other people who have our level of income,
we are probably giving away too
little.
(C.S. Lewis)
When we give to God we are taking the gift
out of one of his hands and putting it into the other.
(John Blanchard)
By practising the grace of sharing, a
person is storing up treasure for himself.
Gifts are investments. (William Hendriksen)
In PART 1 (Click HERE) we saw that Paul told the Corinthians God loves
'hilarious' givers.
In PART 2 we will see from 2 Corinthians 8-9 the FIRST of THREE
REASONS why God loves these sorts of givers...
1. Joyful Generosity... is a Mark of God’s Grace
The Macedonian churches were going through a time of intense
persecution that had left them financially destitute. However, despite having
so little, they developed a remarkable attitude towards giving:
And now, brothers, we want you to know about the
grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial,
their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.
For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their
ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege
of sharing in this service to the saints. (2 Cor 8:1-4)
The Macedonian churches were models of cheerful giving:
·
They
gave generously:
despite being on the
breadline themselves.
·
They
gave sacrificially:
even beyond what
they could afford!
·
They
gave eagerly:
they didn’t need to be lobbied by Paul: ‘entirely on their own they urgently
pleaded’ for the ‘privilege’ of
giving to God’s work.
However Paul also makes it clear where the Macedonian’s heart of generosity came from. They were
cheerful givers because the grace of God had gripped their hearts.
For Paul, joyful generosity was one of the signs of growth in grace. As
God’s grace gets more of a grip on our hearts, so the grip money has on our hearts us is loosened and we grow in
generosity!
Which is why Paul goes on to use the example of the Macedonian Christians
to challenge the wealthier Corinthian Christians:
Just
as you excel in everything - in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete
earnestness and in your love for us - see that you also excel in this grace of
giving. (2 Cor 8:7)
And 2,000 years later, we should be challenged by their example as
well.
Joyful generosity is one of the signs that God’s grace has gripped our
hearts.
God has given to us generously, sacrificially and eagerly in so many
ways: both materially and spiritually. And as his grace grips our hearts, we
should reflect his heart by giving to his work generously, sacrificially and
eagerly.
Read PART 1 HERE
Go to PART 3 HERE
