Key Elements of Giving

"Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity. For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do. So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving. Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us —I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving."
2 Corinthians 8:1-7
The churches in the Macedonia region were experiencing great persecution. These churches were comprised mostly of gentiles.  Some of these churches did not even have a proper place to worship. In Philippi they worshipped outside the city gate by the river. The collection that they took up was to help assist the poor Jewish Christians of Judea who had been hit hard by outbreaks of natural famine during the reign of the Caesar Claudius.  Claudius also had expelled all Jews from Rome around 52 likely increasing the population in and around Jerusalem.
The church of Macedonia, though under great persecution by Caesar Claudius gave.  And grave gracefully.  Why?  They was no compulsion.  They were likely the first church given the opportunity to give for the church in Jerusalem.  To a church of Jews.  To people that formerly would have considered the gentiles of Macedonia as dogs.  The church of Macedonia gave because they had been impacted by the grace of God.
God is generous and where His grace is truly experienced in people’s lives the evidence will be a similar love and generosity.  As His children, we will exhibit attributes of the Father.
The appearance of circumstances did not dictate their giving - Grace did!  Jesus’s loving and giving was not dictated by His circumstances.  Grace did!
Giving out of our “source of Wealth” (which is God’s grace) is about being influenced by God to be used by God to fulfill the mission God has called us to as a church.

If grace is consider to be like money, then the Father is the mint.  We are the local bank branches.  We distribute His grace to people near us.  We have no grace of our own.  We only distribute His grace.  When
  • we have been impacted by the grace of God,
  • the evidence will be through love and generosity,
  • our circumstances will not dictate our distribution of grace, and
  • we will be used by God to fulfill His mission.
  1. How has God’s grace impacted you?
  2. Do you allow circumstances to control you giving of grace?

--Zine Smith

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

God Can Use You

Image
NEWS FLASH--we are never disqualified from serving Jesus.  The ways in which we serve may change but if we are a follower of Jesus then we are commanded to share the gospel with others and to love others.  Go into the world and preach the gospel. ( Matthew 28:19-20 )  Love God.  ( Matthew 22:37 ) Love others.  ( Matthew 22:39 )  These are commands we see in Scripture.  They do not say when you're life is perfect then preach the gospel,  when your home is organized and clean then love God, when you have a beautiful prayer journal and spend hours in the Word everyday then you can love others.  No!!!!  They are commands for us to follow in the present moment. I used to be a good girl and have life all put together nicely.  I went to church every Sunday.  I read my Bible everyday and kept a prayer journal.  I taught Sunday School.  I volunteered in my kids classes.  I took meals to hurting people.  I volunteered at every event possible.  My home was clean and organized.  We had m
Read more

Losing My Religion

Image
'My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.' Galatians 2:20-21 'For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.' Galatians 5:1 Defining religion is difficult.  I looked at numerous online dictionaries, and even English and language academics have difficulty describing it.  Since they can't agree, so I will provide my definition: religion is a means that men use to earn God's favor; by general action and sacrifice.  If you've got a better definition, I would love to read it. I went to a beautiful concert of one of my favorite artists on Saturday.  Kirk Franklin.  It was a blast.  After the show, I bought h
Read more

Out of Darkness

Image
"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." 1 Peter 2:9 "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness." Isaiah 9:2 I grew up in the country.  There wasn’t much besides the two miles of woods behind my house and lots of outdoors.  My best friend lived about half a mile down the road.  During the summer we would spend most of the day in the woods behind our houses.  At some point in the afternoon or evening one of our mothers would yell into the woods for us to come home. Emerging from the woods I was always surprised at just how light it still was.  In the forest the darkness was deep well before sunset.  And it had come so gradually that I didn’t realize how dark it had become.  Things had lost their detail and color.  But, just on t
Read more