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- Apr 25, 2006
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19 July 2008
Word on the Web
2 Corinthians 8:8-15
I am not commanding you to give. But I want to see if your love is true by comparing you with others that really want to help. You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. You know that Christ was rich, but for you he became poor so that by his becoming poor you might become rich.
This is what I think you should do: Last year you were the first to want to give, and you were the first who gave. So now finish the work you started. Then your "doing" will be equal to your "wanting to do." Give from what you have. If you want to give, your gift will be accepted. It will be judged by what you have, not by what you do not have. We do not want you to have troubles while other people are at ease, but we want everything to be equal. At this time you have plenty. What you have can help others who are in need. Then later, when they have plenty, they can help you when you are in need, and all will be equal. As it is written in the Scriptures, "The person who gathered more did not have too much, nor did the person who gathered less have too little."
'Those who give will receive' the passage confirms this, it talks of Jesus' sacrifice for us he became poor so we could become rich. God will provide for everyone, but in order to do so people must want to and actively give so wealth can be distributed to the people who need it most. While you are well off give, and when you are not well off you shall receive.
God wants us to want to give, not to do so begrudgingly, he advises on what to do explaining that no gift is too small and anything will be accepted.
You will not be judged on what you do not have, you will be judged on what you do have. In Mark's Gospel (chapter 12:41-44) we read the story of a rich man who gave a large sum and a poor widow who gave two small copper coins, not even worth a penny, in Jesus' eyes the widow gave more than the rich man as he gave only what he did not need, but she gave all she had.
Spend some time today praying for those in the voluntary sector giving time and 'doing' for Jesus.
Lord, Help us to give from what we have and trust God to provide for us in times of trouble and to help those in need.
Written by Claire Coleman
Word on the Web
2 Corinthians 8:8-15
I am not commanding you to give. But I want to see if your love is true by comparing you with others that really want to help. You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. You know that Christ was rich, but for you he became poor so that by his becoming poor you might become rich.
This is what I think you should do: Last year you were the first to want to give, and you were the first who gave. So now finish the work you started. Then your "doing" will be equal to your "wanting to do." Give from what you have. If you want to give, your gift will be accepted. It will be judged by what you have, not by what you do not have. We do not want you to have troubles while other people are at ease, but we want everything to be equal. At this time you have plenty. What you have can help others who are in need. Then later, when they have plenty, they can help you when you are in need, and all will be equal. As it is written in the Scriptures, "The person who gathered more did not have too much, nor did the person who gathered less have too little."
'Those who give will receive' the passage confirms this, it talks of Jesus' sacrifice for us he became poor so we could become rich. God will provide for everyone, but in order to do so people must want to and actively give so wealth can be distributed to the people who need it most. While you are well off give, and when you are not well off you shall receive.
God wants us to want to give, not to do so begrudgingly, he advises on what to do explaining that no gift is too small and anything will be accepted.
You will not be judged on what you do not have, you will be judged on what you do have. In Mark's Gospel (chapter 12:41-44) we read the story of a rich man who gave a large sum and a poor widow who gave two small copper coins, not even worth a penny, in Jesus' eyes the widow gave more than the rich man as he gave only what he did not need, but she gave all she had.
Spend some time today praying for those in the voluntary sector giving time and 'doing' for Jesus.
Lord, Help us to give from what we have and trust God to provide for us in times of trouble and to help those in need.
Written by Claire Coleman
