“June 25, 2024 - Enriched by Giving”

Monday, June 24, 2024

Enriched by Giving

Reading:  2 Corinthians 9:6-15
    
    How should Christians give?  “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully”(2 Cor 9:6).  Sowing and reaping mean that we surrender something in the present in anticipation of a future blessing.  We are confident that God notices our sacrifice and will supply our lack.  This makes our giving a joy rather than a drudgery:  “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver”(2 Cor 9:7).  We give of our own goodwill, eagerly and cheerfully. 

    And Paul insists that God blesses givers.  “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work”(2 Cor 9:8).  God’s gifts to us (“all grace”) enables our gifts to others.  He assures us that giving will not prevent us having “all sufficiency in all things at all times.”  God will supply.  “He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.  You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God”(2 Cor 9:10-11).  There is something counterintuitive here.  Giving does not enrich us, yet here we are promised that we “will be enriched in every way.”  We have more when we give away what we have.

    God blesses givers.  God loves a cheerful giver.  We do not give ourselves into poverty.  Yet the enrichment of this text is spiritual—so that we may abound in every good work (v. 8), so that we can be generous (v. 11), and to increase our harvest of righteousness (v. 10).  Giving enriches us when its spiritual blessings outweigh the advantages of keeping our money.  When we are blessed with the opportunity to give, we need eyes to see how it blesses others, glorifies God, and fulfills our purpose.  

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One Thing to Think About:  Do I truly believe that “it is more blessed to give than to receive”(Acts 20:35)?

One Thing to Pray For:  The faith to sow bountifully by giving to others
 

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