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Tuesday, August 8, 2017

The Joy of Giving {2 Corinthians 8}

{2 Corinthians 8}

by Lisa Thayer

I have heard that approximately 15% of what Jesus talked about was related to money. 
One of our first good works that comes from the transformation from the grace of God is in how we give.  How we give is a joyful response to the grace of God.  The grace of God works in such a way that it produces joy in our lives, and we are so joyful in our giving that we cannot give enough.

“For it was by grace that you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.  For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”  Ephesians 2:8-10

Just look at verse 2 – they earnestly wanted to give.  Imagine if we were to go to church and say, ‘I cannot wait for the offering.’

These people knew what sacrificial giving truly meant.  They were poor themselves – but they wanted to help.  The point of giving is not so much the amount we give, but why and how we give.  God does not want us to give grudgingly or out of obligation.  He wants us to give out of our dedication to Christ, love for fellow believers and the joy of helping those in need.  And, it is simply the right thing to do.

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When we join other Christian believers to do God’s work, we increase Christian unity and help God’s Kingdom grow.  Do you want your faith to grow or do you believe once it reaches a certain level, you are done?  How about your level of knowledge – are you satisfied with where you are at, or would you like your knowledge to grow?  Many believers set a limit on giving - they give a specific percentage, and that’s it.  There’s even churches that recommend a set amount – do your church envelopes have a scale of giving on them?  But true discipleship includes growing in the mature use of ALL resources, so giving should expand as well as faith and knowledge.  God can give you the desire and enable you to increase your capacity to give.  Don’t miss this opportunity to grow in giving – just ask.

In verses 10-15, Paul challenges us to act on our plans to give.  Here he gives four principles of giving:
  1. Your willingness to give cheerfully is more important than the amount you give.
  2. You should strive to fulfill your financial commitments (your household expenses)
  3. If you give to others in need, they will, in turn help you when you are in need.
  4. You should give as a response to Christ, not for anything you can get out of it.  How you give reflects your devotion to Christ.

I don’t know about you, but I have found that when I want to give, God gives to me so that I can give to others. 


Lastly, as I spend time thinking about Jesus leaving His heavenly Kingdom, and coming to earth, being born in a stinky barn, and being on the run for a few years, never fully using His eternal power.  He became poor for us.  He set aside His glory and His rights to serve us.  To teach us what serving others looks like.  Yet, by doing so, He makes us ‘rich’ because we receive salvation and eternal life.  Giving IS a sacrifice.  I know my attitude has changed throughout the years.  I spent some time expecting to be served in this life.  But eventually my attitude changed and now I have opportunities to serve others.  Every time I leave a volunteer job, the joy and memories I have do not have a dollar value.  They simply bring me a huge dose of peaceful joy.  


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