GIVING JOYFULLY

Read: 2 CORINTHIANS 9:6-15

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Bible in a year: Numbers 8-10

The Corinthian church promised to give an offering for the church in Jerusalem. This made Paul proud of them in front of the Macedonian church. Moreover, their good intention also inspired others to do the same good deed. However, the Corinthian church did not fulfill their promise immediately. Therefore, Paul encouraged them to fulfill their promise promptly while motivating them using the law of sowing and reaping.

Nevertheless, Paul did not intend to teach the Corinthian church to give with the motivation of seeking rewards or fishing for greater blessings. Paul emphasized the spirit of giving willingly, joyfully without compulsion. Besides, the Lord will never let His people lack anything. This is not just about worldly matters (material things), but about grace in its entirety (wisdom, joy, and peace). Moreover, the ministry of love through giving impacts abundant thanksgiving to God. For the recipients of our giving will give thanks to God. Through our giving, they also glorify God.

The Lord provides abundance to His people not for them to indulge, but for spiritual purposes, namely various good deeds. This means that behind every blessing that the Lord pours out, there is a task that we must undertake, which is to be a channel of blessing. Thus, the measure of blessing for believers is no longer the amount of wealth possessed, but the amount of goodness done. --EBL/www.renunganharian.net

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THE LORD BESTOWS GRACE TO BE SHARED IN ALL GOODNESS, NOT TO BE STORED OR BOASTED ABOUT.

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