2 Corinthians 8.2 In
the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme
poverty welled up in rich generosity. – St. Paul
What is worth more: the amount given, or the willingness
to give? There was a lady in Luke 21 whom Jesus commended for giving (and
living) generously – she only gave a pittance, but it was, according to the
words of the Lord: all she had to live on. She emptied her tiny bank account
because it was: all she had. The commendation from Jesus (which I’m pretty sure
she never heard) was for her generosity.
It was a teachable moment for the disciples who labored
under linear thinking: to them the amount given was what was most important to
them. Jesus commented on the lady’s heart: she
gave all she had. Jesus was teaching them that the amount wasn’t the issue;
the heart was.
In Paul’s day, he encountered a similar situation. The
Corinthians were a tough bunch, but they had committed to help the saints in
Jerusalem who were experiencing an economic catastrophe and desperately needed
funds to feed the hungry and take care of themselves. There was a famine and
the saints of God were getting the brunt end: lack and want.
The Churches in Greece and Asia Minor decided (probably
because of Paul’s urging) to send an offering to them to help. So, they
gathered up as much as they could and sent it with Paul’s men to take to
Jerusalem. And Paul reminded the Church in Corinth, not of how much the Grecians gave, but that
they gave. Their extreme poverty welled in in rich generosity. The amount is
never mentioned, only the act of giving generously. It was a teachable moment
for the Corinthians who labored under linear thinking: it only matters how much
one gives.
Generosity is a heart issue. Generosity connects our
faith and our finances. Living generously means giving what we have when we can
for the sake of others, and for the fulfillment of our faith in God who gave
everything for us. It is not begrudging. It is not compulsory; it is a matter
of the heart.
Now we can give
begrudgingly. We can give out of
compulsion; but those diminish the reason why we give. This world has plenty of
grudge and plenty of compulsion (making people feel guilty). The alternative is
faith that as we give, we can trust God to take care of our needs. Circumspection, is that God gives to us so
that we can give to others, so that God can give to us so that we can give to
others, so that God can give to us… It’s the circle, not the straight line.
It’s not what we give, it’s that we give. God, [who] supplies
seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store
of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be
enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and
through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. Living
generously enriches us in every way.
Lord, find in me a generous heart and a willingness to
give as much as I can on every occasion I can. Thank You that You supply seed
to the sower so that all may reap a harvest. Amen.
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