It’s the special collection after church for a family in need, and you have a 5, a 20 and a 100 dollar bill in your wallet, with plans for Sunday dinner at your family’s favorite restaurant.
You put the 100 in the basket, and as you’re closing your wallet, you open it back up, pull out the 5 and 20 and put them in too, then smile, and head home for leftovers.
Oh, that feels good! Yes, Lord! That’s “rich generosity” (2 Corinthians 8:2).
Here are 5 spiritually positive and powerful outcomes:
- You took a risk of faith and didn’t play it safe, you gave away your meal money and you didn’t starve because God gave you a supply.
- You fulfilled the golden rule of Jesus to love others like yourself, and you gave up something important to you, for something important to someone else.
- You taught your family about God, faith, and making a difference as a light in the dark world.
- You learned how good it feels to loosen your grip of greed and selfishness.
- You emptied your wallet, for God to fill up even more; he doesn’t promise to fill shopping carts or wallets that are full, but empty. So let’s empty them, friends.
In the Bible, we see that sacrificial gifts are never made under compulsion, but out of cheerfulness; never out of fear, but out of faith; never out of obligation, but in response to an opportunity provided by God.
The apostle Paul had asked his Christian friends for help. He highlights their sacrificial giving and says that “they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people” (2 Corinthians 8:4).
Do you know three things these believers would not say about giving for this special project, even during their time of economic crisis?
“Are you kidding? This is a terrible time to give.”
“I love giving, but I have bills to pay and so much else going on right now.”
“Ask someone else, I already give my fair share.”
Sacrificial giving for them was a “privilege” not a burden. Is giving a privilege for you? It is for God!
PRAYER: Dear Jesus, thank you for allowing me the privilege of giving to you in my personal worship and in my offerings at church. Bless me and my Christian friends with growing faith and generosity. Take care of churches everywhere and give them what they need to do your work. Amen.
FURTHER MEDITATION: I preached about this here. Give it a look!
