“How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality” (2 Corinthians 8:2).
TEXT — 2 Corinthians 8:1-5
Message
In the Baptist Bible Tribune is found the story of Robert Arthington. He lived in a single room, cooked his own meals, and shared his friendship with students in need. Yet he gave tremendous amounts of money during his lifetime to Christian missions. When he died, his estate was worth about $5m, which he willed to missions. After his death, a letter he had received from a missionary was found in his belongings. It said, “Were I in England again, I would gladly live in one room, make the floor my bed, a box my chair, another my table, rather than the heathen should perish for the lack of knowledge of Jesus Christ.”
From the passage, the churches in Macedonia were commended for giving sacrificially to God’s work and the care of the saints. Their generosity was highlighted by Apostle Paul because they gave to the Lord’s service while in deep poverty. On display here too was their resoluteness and determination in giving. When the Apostle pitied their condition and wanted them excused from supporting the work financially, they insisted that they wanted to do it. It was the giving God accepts because they first gave themselves to the Lord and then to His service.
There is blessing in giving to support the work of God. But there are conditions governing it. First, the giver must have been genuinely saved and committed to Christ’s teachings before serving God’s appointed ministers. Second, the sources of income of those who give are equally important. God is not pleased with the proceeds of iniquity being brought into His sanctuary. Giving for the progress of God’s work is good. But sacrificial giving moves Him to bless us even more.
God rewards the faithful and cheerful giver. And thank God everybody can give. No matter how seemingly small your gift may be, so long it comes from a cheerful heart, God is pleased with it and will certainly reward you.
Thought for the day
God looks at the quality, not just the quantity, of what we offer to Him.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
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I really appreciate God for my life. Thank you Jesus.
I really appreciate God for my life. Thank you Jesus.
God Richly Bless You Man Of God For The Impact The Impact Of The Word Of God On Our Lives As Christians