2 Chronicles 21; Obadiah; 2 Corinthians 8

From the archives, November 29, 2009.

“And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will.” 2 Corinthians 8:5 NIV

Observation

Paul speaks of generosity in Macedonia. How in their extreme poverty, they were richly generous. In fact, he writes they went beyond their ability and pleaded for the privilege of sharing.

Application

God’s economy is far different from the world’s. I’m so very grateful to have experienced rich generosity–from people who’ve gone the extra step in helping, from people eager to share. Their generosity has left a lasting impression on me and spurs me on. But when I read this passage, I see the source of their giving: the Lord. How can I not offer up the same excellence?

Prayer

Father, thank you for turning my thinking around. In a time when I’m tempted to hold on to my possessions even tighter, you tell me of the Macedonians’ generosity in times of severe trial. They gave of themselves first to you and then to your will. In that light, how should my giving be any different? Help me to see you in my giving. Amen.

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Exodus 31; John 10; Proverbs 7; Galatians 6

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.     Galatians 6:9-10  NIV

 

Sometimes conviction comes upon me slowly over time in a whisper.   Other times it hits with all the subtlety of a sonic boom, and Galatians 6:10, figuratively speaking, just broke the sound barrier.

Do good.  Got it.  No problem.

Especially to…

Really God?  Believers?

I’ve read through the entire Bible more than once so I’ve certainly read this multiple times, but this command has apparently managed to escape my notice to date.

Don’t mistake me for a great evangelist, because I’m far from it.  I witness occasionally, but I have yet to experience the joy of leading someone (other than my children) to Christ.  Yet, it is with unbelievers that my heart lies.  It is to them that I try to direct any good works, hoping that perhaps God will use me to draw them to Him, hoping that they might yet escape the fate that otherwise awaits them.

When it comes to my church family, the focus is different.  We worship together, we grow in the Lord together, we encourage and edify one another.  Are they the targets of practical acts of good?  Yes, but not often and not in any truly remarkable way.

Reading Galatians 6:10 this week immediately brought a recent event to mind.  A gentleman in my church had a medical emergency that kept him from his job for a couple of months last fall.  His job doesn’t come with the benefits some of us enjoy — no pay for sick days.  His is the only income for his family, so they were in a genuine financial crisis.  Word got around and many in our church family helped them as they were able.  He eventually returned to work, and the help we provided was apparently sufficient to see them through.

Today’s reading also includes Exodus 31, in which God informs Moses of the skilled craftsman He had prepared to produce all the articles of worship He had commanded to be constructed.  I may not have remembered Galatians 6 well, but I do remember what happens a few days from now in Exodus 36.  The people gave so generously to the construction of the tabernacle and sanctuary that Moses actually made them stop giving.

I can’t help thinking that I (and my church family) struck out last fall.  We helped this family through, and they issued a heart felt thanks for our efforts.  During their crisis though, they never came to the congregation and said we’d given too much, that we should cease.  I can’t help but think that such an announcement, and only such an announcement, would have indicated we had fully met the command to “do good to all people, ESPECIALLY to those who belong to the family of believers.”

Dear Lord, you’ve commanded that while we are to do good to all people, our finest acts should be bestowed upon our brothers and sisters in the faith.  You command this “as we have the opportunity.”  My neglect of your Word has allowed me to pass up such opportunities all too often.  I pray that now that you have made me attentive to this command, that you’ll send more such opportunities, and that I will embrace them to your fullest satisfaction.  Likewise, when I am in need, please pour out on me a spirit of humility so that I may allow my church family to keep this command by doing good to me.  Finally, please continue to draw my attention too all the other commands I’ve neglected or have remained unaware of.  You alone know what they are, but we both know the list is long.  I pray this in deepest appreciation of your patient grace, Amen.

Michael   (mmattix)

Exodus 21, Luke 24, Job 39, 2 Cor. 9

For God is the one who gives seed to the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, He will give you many opportunities to do good, and He will produce a great harvest of generosity in you.  Yes, you will be enriched so that you can give even more generously.  – 2 Cor 9:10-11a NLT

Mrs. Bartos was wrong!

Mrs. Bartos was my second grade teacher.  She taught me that if Johnny has 6 apples and he gives 4 of them away he has 2 apples left.  I learned Mrs. Bartos’  lessons well and excelled at math.  At the time, I didn’t think to ask her if she considered 2 Cor. 9 when she made her assertion about Johnny’s fruits.  It was probably a good thing I didn’t.  Because I was the kind of obnoxious kid that would have insisted that based on God’s math, the number of apples Johnny had left was closer to 37 than to 2.

Paul is telling us that when we are cheerful givers, we are “enriched so that we can give even more generously.”  I have had real-life experience with seeing God provide when I have given with a glad heart.  Sad to say, I have also seen the opposite.  When, out of fear, I have held back my generosity, I have even less to give.   There seems to be two competing principles here at work.   

1. The poverty principle states “Hoard what you have, lest you be left with little.”  
2. The prosperity principle states “Give cheerfully from what you have and it will be multiplied in return.”

It reminds me of the difference between small-pie people and big-pie people as described in Ken Blanchard’s book, Gung Ho.  Blanchard writes: 

“… some people are small-pie people.  They spend their whole lives convinced there is only so much pie to go around.  They sit down at the table and start to fight over who gets what, worried someone else is getting more than their share.  They love boundaries and fence posts to protect their territory.  Big-pie people assume there’s lots for everybody.  More than enough.  They’ve got an expanding pie.  They trust anyone in the family to divide up the pie.  No need for fences when the field is bigger than everyone could possibly need.”

Lord, thank you that we serve a “big-pie” God; one who wishes to lavish his blessings on us when we generously provide for a needy world.

Greg (gmd40187)

2 Corinthians 5-8

Scripture

“And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will.” 2 Corinthians 8:5 NIV

Observation

Paul speaks of generosity in Macedonia. How in their extreme poverty, they were richly generous. In fact, he writes they went beyond their ability and pleaded for the privilege of sharing.

Application

God’s economy is far different from the world’s. I’m so very grateful to have experienced rich generosity–from people who’ve gone the extra step in helping, from people eager to share. Their generosity has left a lasting impression on me and spurs me on. But when I read this passage, I see the source of their giving: the Lord. How can I not offer up the same excellence?

Prayer

Father, thank you for turning my thinking around. In a time when I’m tempted to hold on to my possessions even tighter, you tell me of the Macedonians’ generosity in times of severe trial. They gave of themselves first to you and then to your will. In that light, how should my giving be any different? Help me to see you in my giving. Amen.

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