WOW! What a beautiful chapter about giving. I am blown away but how much it has to say about our hearts and the way God works when we give. It is so easy to get caught up with the dollar signs and commas and all of that, but God goes right to the heart and He talks about the power of our generous giving. And He makes some really cool promises.
9:2 - Your enthusiasm in giving can spur others on to action.
9:6 - Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. - This is really seen as true in life. Those who keep their hands closed only get what is in their hands, but those who live with hands wide open continually receive from God. So many of us want to plant two seeds and have acres of harvest. What you receive back is in direct proportion to what you put in. If you want an abundance of grace and provision and joy than invest yourself in those things first. The truth is every single one of us is getting the true return on the investment we have made. If you don't like the return increase the investment.
9:7 - Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. - I have heard tons of people quote this verse as a reason for not giving. That's crazy. God loves a cheerful GIVER. To not give because you aren't cheerful doesn't please God in any way. The heart of the teaching is to get your heart so right with God and grace and generosity that you are cheerful. It is not to have an out for giving. God would have everyone of us be cheerful in our giving to the point of giving everything. That is what Jesus did. What if Jesus had had your approach to giving when it came to His sacrifice for your sins? Would you be in great shape or would you be in great need? We need to give with hearts absolutely overwhelmed by the gift already given to us. Enough of this not giving because we can't be cheerful about it. Let's change our hearts and not neglect our giving.
9:8 - And God is able to bless you abundantly, SO THAT in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will ABOUND in every good work. - Here is a promise for you. You trust your resources to God and HE will take care of everything. I can tell you I have seen a lot of people who wanted to take care of their own finances and it has ended in ruin. God sees now and around the corner, so there is no fear in giving to God.
9:10 - I love the words increase and enlarge here. We so often worry about the deficit when we give to God in God's way, but here Paul speaking through the guidance of the Holy Spirit says that God does the opposite of what you expect. You expect because you gave something away you will have less, but God increases what you have and enlarges your ability to do what God has called you to do. It is an amazing tie - giving and fruitfulness other places. You might think your giving is an area all by itself, but your giving, and your heart when giving, deeply impacts so many other areas of your life.
9:11 - You will be made rich in every way SO THAT you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. - God empowers us with wealth SO THAT we will share it with those in need. When we are faithful with what we are given God entrusts more to us. I would love to be able to be generous in EVERY opportunity and occasion and Paul says the key to that coming true is to be faithful and generous with what you currently have. So many of us are waiting for things to change before we become generous and God is waiting for our generosity so we can change and help to change others.
Man, this is good stuff. As Americans we struggle with talking about money, because it is such a god to us. As Christians we need to take the stigma away from this and see that God has called us to a blessing and to be a blessing in this area. As we learn to put God in front of our finances we will experience more of the life He always intended for us.
Love, Michael
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