A Grace To Give...

So here is my opinion on this matter: It is to your advantage, since you made a good start last year both in your giving and your desire to give, to finish what you started, so that just as you wanted to do it eagerly, you can also complete it according to your means. For if the eagerness is present, the gift itself is acceptable according to whatever one has, not according to what he does not have. For I do not say this so there would be relief for others and suffering for you, but as a matter of equality. At the present time, your abundance will meet their need, so that one day their abundance may also meet your need, and thus there may be equality, as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.” (Second Corinthians 8:10-15)

"…you made a good start last year both in your giving and your desire to give… "

The apostle Paul notes that giving is an honorable act in the sight of God. He makes an important statement: “If the eagerness is present, the gift is acceptable.” God, rather than assessing the size of the gift, assesses the state of the giver. Later in Second Corinthians Paul reinforces the point:

Each one of you should give just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, because God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace overflow to you so that because you have enough of everything in every way at all times, you will overflow in every good work. (Second Corinthians 9:7-8)

It seems the implication here is that if we are not happy and eager to give to the work of the Lord, then no aspect of our lives will show the grace of God. Or to put it more succinctly, our lack of love in giving shows the world that the Spirit of God is not resident in us.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…” (John 3:16). Our senior pastor commented on this verse some months ago, and his point bears repeating in this context. God, who owns everything, gave us the thing of which He had only one. Jesus was torn out of the love-fest resident in the Triune God, and was sent to this earth to live and die for people- many of whom who had no love for Him and no sense of His greatness. That is the ultimate gift. That is the ultimate good work, which overflows to this day.

So, in light of His gift of eternal and abundant life to you, God is asking you to eagerly and joyfully give Him a portion of what He has blessed you to receive.

What will your response to Him be?