SCRIPTURE
2 Corinthians 8:1-15 (NRSV)
We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that has
been granted to the churches of Macedonia; for during a severe ordeal of
affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a
wealth of generosity on their part. For, as I can testify, they voluntarily gave
according to their means, and even beyond their means, begging us earnestly for
the privilege of sharing in this ministry to the saints — and this, not merely
as we expected; they gave themselves first to the Lord and, by the will of God,
to us, so that we might urge Titus that, as he had already made a beginning, so
he should also complete this generous undertaking among you. Now as you excel in
everything -- in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our
love for you -- so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking.
I
do not say this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love
against the earnestness of others. For you know the generous act of our Lord
Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so
that by his poverty you might become rich. And in this matter I am giving my
advice: it is appropriate for you who began last year not only to do something
but even to desire to do something -- now finish doing it, so that your
eagerness may be matched by completing it according to your means. For if the
eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has — not
according to what one does not have. I do not mean that there should be relief
for others and pressure on you, but it is a question of a fair balance between
your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your
need, in order that there may be a fair balance. As it is written,
"The one
who had much did not have too much,
and the one who had little did not have
too little."
ADVENT DEVOTION
During this CHRISTmas season, many of us are tempted to make our christmas lists. We write down all of the things that we want, or we encourage our children to do the same.
On the one hand, CHRISTmas is about giving. It is about God unselfishly giving us the very best gift God had--His one and only son--as a Love offering for our atonement.
So, when we give during the CHRISTmas season, we are following the example of God and that is a good thing!
But, as we write our lists and check them twice, let us not forget to give to the one who gave so unselfishly to us. What will we "get" God this season?
What does God want? Well, today's devotion reminds us that what God wants is for us to be able to say, "The one who had much did not have too much, and the one who had little did not have too little."
What can we do to make God's wish come true? Will you give water to a child dying of thirst (www.charitywater.org)? Will you give food and an education to a child without the same (www.worldvision.com)? Will you offer a loan to a widow and her children so that they can start a business, change their lives, and bless their community (www.kiva.org)? Will you provide a chick or pig to a family so they can become self sustaining (www.heifer.org)? Will you offer an orphan a home (www.adoptuskids.org)?
How will you fulfill God's CHRISTmas list? Will you love somebody unloveable, forgive an unforgiveable offense, or right a wrong?
There are as many ways to bless God on CHRISTmas as there are human beings. What is important is that each of us give a gift from the heart that will bless our King and His Kingdom of Love.
And let us not give begrudgingly, my friends, but with gladness, generousity, and eagerness! After all, toys, clothes, and music, wear, go out of style, get loss, or become too small, but the gift of LOVE shared by providing enough food, water, clothes, shelter, health care, education, security, love, hope, joy, forgiveness, and/or peace to a child of God, lasts forever.
We are so blessed! And as the old ladies in the church I grew up in used to say, "Child! You are blessed to be a blessing...You can't beat God giving, no matter how hard you try!"
Be encouraged, my friends! You can give a meaningful gift this CHRISTmas that will touch the very heart of our King! Be exceedingly glad!
MERRY CHRISTmas!
PRAYER
Lord, please help me to generously and gladly use the resources you have entrusted into my care to bless someone with less than me. Amen...
Showing posts with label 2 Corinthians 8. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2 Corinthians 8. Show all posts
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Thursday, September 23, 2010
A Fair Balance
SCRIPTURE
2 Corinthians 8:8-15 (NRSV)
I do not say this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love against the earnestness of others. For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. And in this matter I am giving my advice: it is appropriate for you who began last year not only to do something but even to desire to do something - now finish doing it, so that your eagerness may be matched by completing it according to your means. For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has - not according to what one does not have. I do not mean that there should be relief for others and pressure on you, but it is a question of a fair balance between your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance. As it is written,
"The one who had much did not have too much,
and the one who had little did not have too little."
DEVOTION
Ah! I am so convicted by the statement, "The one who had much did not have too much,
and the one who had little did not have too little."
Herein is God's most excellent economy and yet many Christians choose to operate outside of the rules seeking to amass great wealth from the hand of God, but not sharing it out with others.
I am ashamed that although I am a tither, I know that I could do more! Yesterday I went to www.globalrichlist.com and discovered that I am among the top 1% of the world's most wealthiest people!
Even an American family of four on the poverty line, making $22,050 per year, are among the world's top 11% earners.
It is clear to me that I can do more; we ALL can do more to alleviate the suffering of our brothers and sisters around the world--most of whom live on less than $2 per day!
Jesus gives us the most wonderful example of a willingness to give his wealth away! Paul articulated it well when he said, "For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich."
Jesus chose to leave heaven's streets of gold, pearly gates, and opulent throne room, in order to be born in a stable, become a common carpenter's son, have no home to call his own, and ultimately be executed on two pieces of wood.
It is the most amazing story of generosity, grace, and love anyone has ever heard! And it is true!
It has been said that "to whom much is given, much is required (Luke 12:48)!" For those of us blessed with much it is right and proper that we seek the wisdom of God regarding how to share our wealth with others!
In the words of the Apostle Paul, "I do not mean that there should be relief for others and pressure on you, but it is a question of a fair balance between your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance."
Lord, establish balance on your earth and let it begin with me!
Let us pray:
Good and Gracious Lord, please use me as an instrument of your peace and justice. Please help me to give my life and wealth away in service to you. Please forgive me for being greedy and selfish in the past. Please empower me to do more in care of the poor. I pray this in Jesus' Name, Amen.
INVITATION
WAYS YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Friday, July 2, 2010
It's a Privilege!
SCRIPTURE
2 Corinthians 8:1-7 (NRSV)
We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that has been granted to the churches of Macedonia; for during a severe ordeal of affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For, as I can testify, they voluntarily gave according to their means, and even beyond their means, begging us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in this ministry to the saints - and this, not merely as we expected; they gave themselves first to the Lord and, by the will of God, to us, so that we might urge Titus that, as he had already made a beginning, so he should also complete this generous undertaking among you. Now as you excel in everything - in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you - so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking.
DEVOTION
Wow! Today, I am struck by the words, [they were] begging us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in this ministry to the saints.
When was the last time you begged your pastor, or church council, for the privilege to give beyond your means to the church or to a special offering? :-)
I think that it is sad that so many people look downcast when it is time to pass the offering plate on Sunday; I can't even begin to fathom why this would be because our good God has given us every single thing that we have! Since this is true, giving ought to be something we GET to do, rather than something that we HAVE to do.
It seems to me that when we change our attitude about giving, we will find much joy in doing so! When we change our minds about sharing our resources, we will find that our hearts are more in line with the will of God.
Recently a friend of mine said, "To whom much is given, much is required." And this saying is true. God does not ask for equal giving; rather, God requires equal sacrifice!
One time, I was in a stewardship workshop and a pastor out of Washington D.C. described what happened in his church when the offering was announced.
He said that when it was "giving time" pandemonium broke out amongst the worshipers. They began to jump, dance, wave their offering, shout for joy, clap, and cheer as they rushed down the aisle to give their offering to God.
When I was in Ghana, I witnessed something similar. In each church that I visited, when it was time to bring the offering, the people jumped to their feet, and DANCED the offering down the aisle and into the offering plate! Their faithful obedience to God reminded me of the Macedonians who allowed "their abundant joy and their extreme poverty [to] overflow in a wealth of generosity."
Ah! What joy!
After witnessing this over and over again in Ghana I realized that they knew--and/or truly believed--something that I didn't. They knew that it is a blessing to give to God and to the church. They knew it was a privilege to help somebody less fortunate than themselves. They knew that as they gave of their tithes and offerings, God opened up the windows of heaven and poured out innumerable blessings into their lives...
I want to be a CHEERFUL giver like the folks in Macedonia, Washington D.C., and Ghana. I want to beg for the privilege of giving more to God and to the Kingdom of Love. I want to be joyful when the plate is passed knowing that only what I do for Christ will last!
Will you make up your mind to be JOYFUL as you give this Sunday?
Let us pray:
Oh holy God! Thank you for your generosity toward me. Please help me to be generous toward you as well. I want to be a cheerful giver. Please forgive me for being stingy and cranky in the past and please fill me with the Holy Spirit so that I will be joyful in the future. God, I know that you gave EVERYTHING, when you allowed Jesus to die on the cross to save me from my sin and gift me with eternal life. Please help me to respond to your love and generosity, by doing my part to share the good news with others. I pray this in Jesus' Name, Amen.
INVITATION
If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta
Thursday, December 10, 2009
An Eternal Gift
SCRIPTURE
2 Corinthians 8:1-15 (NRSV)
Encouragement to be generous
We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that has been granted to the churches of Macedonia; for during a severe ordeal of affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For, as I can testify, they voluntarily gave according to their means, and even beyond their means, begging us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in this ministry to the saints - and this, not merely as we expected; they gave themselves first to the Lord and, by the will of God, to us, so that we might urge Titus that, as he had already made a beginning, so he should also complete this generous undertaking among you. Now as you excel in everything - in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you - so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking.
I do not say this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love against the earnestness of others. For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. And in this matter I am giving my advice: it is appropriate for you who began last year not only to do something but even to desire to do something - now finish doing it, so that your eagerness may be matched by completing it according to your means. For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has -- not according to what one does not have. I do not mean that there should be relief for others and pressure on you, but it is a question of a fair balance between your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance. As it is written,
"The one who had much did not have too much,
and the one who had little did not have too little."
DEVOTION
During this Advent season there is a lot of emphasis on buying gifts for others. We run to the store to purchase video games, dolls, trucks, and other toys for our children. We whip out our credit cards, running up incredible debt, all in order to purchase things that we truly cannot afford and that other people don’t really necessarily always appreciate anyway.
This is so sad, because whilst we do have the right idea, we’re going about it in the wrong way.
CHRISTmas is all about gift giving! It is about GOD sending Jesus into the world one Christmas morn as humanity’s eternal gift. This “gift” healed our bodies, minds, and spirits—ultimately dying on an old rugged cross, all in order to atone for our sin and make provision for our eternal life.
So, we do have the idea right when we want to mimic God’s generous gift giving, by sharing presents with our family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. But, most of us go about our gift giving in the wrong way by mortgaging our future, our new-year, and our peace of mind by running up thousands of dollars on our credit card bills that we will have to pay off until June!
Lord, have mercy!
It seems to me that many people engage in this type of reckless spending for a host of reasons. Some people do it because the only that way they know how to show love is by buying presents. Other people overspend because they feel like they have to compete with the generosity of others. Still others undertake massive amounts of Christmas debt because they will feel guilty if their loved ones don’t get everything that their hearts’ desire.
Today, Spirit invites us to be at peace. CHRISTmas is not about competition. It is not about guilt, fear, and shame and it is not about amassing credit card debt and all of the anxiety that often accompanies it.
CHRISTmas is about JESUS. It is about appreciating God’s great love for us and it is about sharing God’s love with others.
In today’s scripture reading Paul encourages the Christians living in Corinth to give a gift to a person in need. He reminds them that they can’t share what they do not have; but that they should share what God has given to them with others who are less fortunate than themselves.
This is an extraordinary reminder for all of us in this CHRISTmas season!
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all of us budgeted a portion of our CHRISTmas dollars to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, house the homeless, or give one single toy to a child who otherwise will get none?
As we share our sometimes meager fare with others, we will realize how truly blessed we are! As we see the great need of other people, we will appreciate our great abundance and we will realize that whether or not there are hundreds of gifts under our Christmas trees, we can rejoice in the free gift of Jesus and the blessings of food, water, clothes, shelter, health care, education, and religious freedom.
Today, give yourself permission to be at peace this CHRISTmas season. Put away the credit card and take out the Bible. Share the CHRISTmas story with those whom you love and then covenant together to share your meager fare with someone in great need.
I guarantee that CHRISTmas will take on new meaning as you meet the very real need of others in this holy season.
Won’t you pray with me?
Holy One, I am sorry for taking your love and blessings toward me for granted! I have so much and yet I always want so much more. Please help me to remember that JESUS is the reason for the season and help me to be honest about how much I can truly spend on Christmas gifts for those whom I love. As I am budgeting, please help me to remember to set aside a gift for someone less fortunate than myself. You gave your best when you gave me Jesus; please help me to do the same. I pray this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
THE INVITATION
If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @
http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/2009/03/come-to-jesus.html
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