Giving Generously

2 Corinthians 8

"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich" (vs 9).

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian believers about how generous other churches - groups of believers - had been in giving to 'in need' believers in Jerusalem. This encouragement/exhortation from Paul included pointing out that those who gave in Philippi, Thessalonica and Berea gave beyond what was expected! What was expected in that they were in poverty themselves! Yet they gave sacrificially and with a desire to give! They weren't feeling guilty, they weren't giving to get in return, they weren't lording it over others...they gave out of their own need!

Paul also shared with the Corinthians that these churches, in a certain way, were following their Savior. Paul elaborates that out of God's grace (which is how the churches gave so generously out of what they didn't have), Jesus Christ became poor so that through His poverty, believers could become rich! It wasn't that Jesus while on earth in His humanity was necessarily poorer than most first century Palestinians - it was that Jesus left the riches of heaven and glory - He set aside His rights and privileges of being...God! - and came to earth. Came to earth to live among us. And believe me, the wealthiest person who has ever lived and will ever live on this earth is less than a grain of sand in all the earth privileged and with rights, compared to Jesus in Glory. Jesus did that so that believers, all who would receive Him, would be come rich - rich as to real life, rich as to eternity, rich as to have everything we need for life and Godliness.

If Jesus had not become poor, if He had not come - Corinthians, you and I would have been/be lost and undone. SO, for those in Macedonia (Philippi, Thessolinica, and Berea) to give sacrificially was a (super) natural act as being receptors of God's glorious grace and riches!

Have you ever given sacrificially? Out of what you didn't have? I haven't...I live frugally, simply, not seeking what Americans would consider luxurious, I don't spend money I don't have (by God's grace I don't have any debt...nor do I have great savings :)), and I get joy out of giving and being generous...as some might consider generous. BUT, I have not given as the Macedonian believers are recorded as highlighted by Paul. I have not given accordingly as the 'widows mite' - "but she, being poor as she is, has given everything she has to live on" (Mark 12:41-44).

I have not given 'being poor, everything I have to live on.' Have you? Like Jesus? Like the Macedonian believers? Like the widow?

"Lord please forgive me and forgive us for ways we have not been as generous as You have called us to be. You reveal, through the Apostle Paul, how giving and generosity is a matter of our hearts, which works out on a practical level. Your Spirit is able, willing, and wanting to reveal to each one of us just how generous Jesus has and is to us, and how generous You would have each one of us to be. The outward manifestation of this giving is not the point, however the heart of the matter is revealed in the outward manifestation. Speak to my heart Holy Spirit. Speak to our hearts Holy Spirit. Fill me, fill us Lord with greater faith and trust in You. Help us to be free...free to give. Thanks for loving us Lord, we love You."