Daily Nugget:
Paul boasted of the giving of the churches of Macedonia (vs. 1). They were poor people, but they gave liberally (vs. 2).
One of the reasons they gave to Paul and the ministry was that they first gave themselves to the Lord (vs. 5). The key to their generous giving was that their hearts were set to please the Lord with whatever they could do or whatever they had.
This submissiveness to the Lord has always been a stumbling-block to so many Christians. It is often the reason so many do not give. The Bible commands (Malachi 3:8-10) that every Christian should give at least 10% of what the Lord allows them to earn or make to Him. This is called “tithing”. Many have refused to tithe, showing God that they will not submit their giving to him (and then they wonder why their finances are not blessed and why paying bills is always a struggle).
It is not that God needs anyone’s money. He created this earth. God certainly knows where the largest diamonds are, or where there is a gold nugget the size of a Volkswagen. What He does need is to see that He is more important than the green stuff He allows us to earn. Too many stingy Christians prove immediately where their first concerns are — in the green “gods” they have in their wallets.
The poorer churches in Macedonia may not have had much money, but they had obedience and dependence down pat. They learned that they could not out-give God and that He would take care of them. What a lesson we should all learn, and show we learned it by sacrificially giving to our local ministry to keep its doors open and helping reach others with the Good News we have been allowed to hear. This world and the ministry could certainly use more people that loved God more than their possessions.
Today’s Thought: Give until it — helps!
Today’s Reading: II Corinthians 8
1 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
6 Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.
7 ¶ Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.
8 I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.
9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
10 And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.
11 Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.
12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
13 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:
14 But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:
15 As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.
16 ¶ But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.
17 For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.
18 And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;
19 And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind:
20 Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:
21 Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
22 And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you.
23 Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.
24 Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf. (KJV)
