1 Corinthians 8:1-9
1 And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own,4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people.5 And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.6 So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part.7 But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in yout—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
8 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
At Faith Wesleyan Church our Pastor preached a few Sunday’s ago about “The Cycle Of New Testament Giving”. It goes like this…
(Imagine a circle that never ends)
THE FATHER—(The Father gives the Son)—>THE SON—(The Son gives the Spirit)—>THE HOLY SPIRIT—(The Spirit gives us life)—>CHRISTIANS—(We give as channels of God’s grace and love)—>OTHERS—(We all give many expressions of thanks to God)—>(THE FATHER)—>
-Through Jesus Christ God pours out the riches of His love and grace into us.
-By the power of His Spirit, we spill out those riches onto others (thru our giving).
- As the blessings of God’s giving flow through us (as channels), more and more people are blessed by the riches of His grace and join us in speaking out thanks to God for what He has given in Jesus Christ!
-The, it starts all over again!
How different from the “common concept of giving”.
GOD—->(strong command GIVE!!!)
CHRISTIAN—>(N0? Yes?)
The New Testament picture of giving is not like that at all.
- It’s not about pressure or demand!
- It’s not even about emotional appear—or the need!
- It’s about “getting in the flow of God’s giving” so that we become channels through which He sends His love and salvation to others!
Once we get this picture fixed in our hearts and minds, we’re able to grasp (and apply) the spiritual principles by which this kind of giving works and is kept alive.
I’ll share the 4 principles of giving in my next post. So what are your thoughts?
