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- Apr 25, 2006
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24 July 2008
Word on the Web
2 Corinthians 9:10-15
God is the One who gives seed to the farmer and bread for food. He will give you all the seed you need and make it grow so there will be a great harvest from your goodness. 11 He will make you rich in every way so that you can always give freely. And your giving through us will cause many to give thanks to God.12 This service you do not only helps the needs of God's people, it also brings many more thanks to God.13 It is a proof of your faith. Many people will praise God because you obey the Good News of Christ - the gospel you say you believe - and because you freely share with them and with all others.14 And when they pray, they will wish they could be with you because of the great grace that God has given you.15 Thanks be to God for his gift that is too wonderful for words.
One of my favourite Bible verses is Matthew 6:28-34. It talks about how God has clothed the lilies in the field with such beauty, so how can He fail to make sure we, His treasured possession, worth more than flowers, are too clothed and looked after. When God does something, He does it well. Whether it is conceiving the idea of a lily in all its beauty or seeing to it that we are cared for, He has no half measures. This verse has often got me through times when I have felt like I don't have very much - indeed, as I looked around my home the other day I realised that if someone broke in and robbed the place, I'm not sure I'd notice! However, I know that as I try and pursue (while often failing ... ) my life as a Christian, God will be with me taking care of things.
In these verses, Paul reiterates what is said by Jesus in Matthew's Gospel. "God is the one who gives seed to the farmer and bread for food". The conclusion of this statement is that we should always be able to be generous with what we have - no matter how meagre we think it is. And Paul goes on to say that this act of giving, will not only please God, it will cause others who see us in this very act to praise Him too. What an opportunity to witness to those around us who don't know Jesus, just by this one simple action of giving from what we have and trusting that God has it all under control. Paul says that this attitude of gracious and heartfelt generosity is a mark of our faith because it is in this endeavour that we are in obedience to Christ.
Heavenly Father, thank you that you hold everything in the palm of your hand. Help me to give generously from whatever I have, and to trust that you will take care of the rest.
Written by Nancy Howell
Word on the Web
2 Corinthians 9:10-15
God is the One who gives seed to the farmer and bread for food. He will give you all the seed you need and make it grow so there will be a great harvest from your goodness. 11 He will make you rich in every way so that you can always give freely. And your giving through us will cause many to give thanks to God.12 This service you do not only helps the needs of God's people, it also brings many more thanks to God.13 It is a proof of your faith. Many people will praise God because you obey the Good News of Christ - the gospel you say you believe - and because you freely share with them and with all others.14 And when they pray, they will wish they could be with you because of the great grace that God has given you.15 Thanks be to God for his gift that is too wonderful for words.
One of my favourite Bible verses is Matthew 6:28-34. It talks about how God has clothed the lilies in the field with such beauty, so how can He fail to make sure we, His treasured possession, worth more than flowers, are too clothed and looked after. When God does something, He does it well. Whether it is conceiving the idea of a lily in all its beauty or seeing to it that we are cared for, He has no half measures. This verse has often got me through times when I have felt like I don't have very much - indeed, as I looked around my home the other day I realised that if someone broke in and robbed the place, I'm not sure I'd notice! However, I know that as I try and pursue (while often failing ... ) my life as a Christian, God will be with me taking care of things.
In these verses, Paul reiterates what is said by Jesus in Matthew's Gospel. "God is the one who gives seed to the farmer and bread for food". The conclusion of this statement is that we should always be able to be generous with what we have - no matter how meagre we think it is. And Paul goes on to say that this act of giving, will not only please God, it will cause others who see us in this very act to praise Him too. What an opportunity to witness to those around us who don't know Jesus, just by this one simple action of giving from what we have and trusting that God has it all under control. Paul says that this attitude of gracious and heartfelt generosity is a mark of our faith because it is in this endeavour that we are in obedience to Christ.
Heavenly Father, thank you that you hold everything in the palm of your hand. Help me to give generously from whatever I have, and to trust that you will take care of the rest.
Written by Nancy Howell
