Scripture

God will generously provide all you need. then you will always have you need plenty left over to share with others.

Observation

Paul has been boasting to the believers in Macedonia about the generosity of the Corinthians. Their enthusiasm to help the church in Jerusalem stirred up the Macedonians.

Now Paul is sending some brothers, including Titus, to make sure that the church in Corinth is ready to contribute. But Paul wants it to be a willing gift, not one given grudgingly.

A farmer who sows a few seeds gets a small crop, but a farmer who plants generously will get a bigger crop. God god loves cheerful giver, and He will provide for their needs and enough to share.

Application

When we are surrendered to God’s purposes, He supplies what we need. Not only that, He gives us enough to share with others as well.

This is the mystery of God’s economics. The world tells us that we need to look out for our own needs and gain as much as we can for ourselves. God says that if we submit to Him and help others, then He will supply all that we need. In fact, our generous God supplies enough for us to be generous too.

This goes way beyond tithing. Tithing is supporting your local church and paying back for the spiritual support you receive. God wants us to support missions, help the poor and homeless, give to our neighbours, and so on. We must practise generosity in every part of life, being givers rather than takers.

As we give and give and give from the joy of following Jesus, we discover that you cannot out-give God.

Prayer

Thank you Lord for these promises about giving generously. Please help me to give freely at every opportunity. Amen.