Friday 10th September 2010
2 Cor 8:7 But just as you excel in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us – see that you also excel in this grace of giving
In this passage Paul talks about the “grace of giving”. The Grace of giving is not something that manifests in a meeting when an offering is taken, it is a more permanent enablement of the Spirit that enables you to live life as a giver, so emulating the nature of your Heavenly Father. Paul’s use of the word “Grace” shows us that living a giving lifestyle is only something that the Spirit can enable us to do; it’s not something that comes naturally.
Biblical giving isn’t just about money; it’s about having an attitude of generosity in all things. It’s about having a desire to improve others lives, it’s about serving, it’s about self sacrifice – putting ourselves second and others first – sometimes it’s about sharing resources, but much more, it’s about being available to God, to be used in helping to minister to and build the lives of others. Jesus said, “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” Matt 20:28. Jesus was full of the Grace of giving, He was God in action, helping, healing, comforting, and building the lives of those around Him. When He left after three years, He left a group of people who would never be the same. They had been impacted and changed by the Grace of giving that rested on His life.
The Grace of giving is about blessing and being a blessing. We regularly seek God’s blessing on our lives and have full confidence in asking because we know that the Father loves to give, He loves to bless. When we reach out for the Grace of giving and begin to live the giving lifestyle we find ourselves being mysteriously conformed into the Father’s image by the Spirit. We begin to see what we could not see before – it’s as though our eyes are opened to see what the Father sees. We see over here someone needs encouragement, over there, someone needs consoling. All around us there are people with needs, some of them are minor, some are more significant, most just need the encouragement that comes from knowing that God cares enough to send someone along who can add their agreement to the prayers they are praying.
In the Book of Acts, we see a Spiritual revolution taking place. In the midst of this, people start selling their possessions, bringing what they have and laying it at the Apostles feet. They had been touched by the Grace of giving. This giving though, had a context. Tens of thousands of people were in Jerusalem to celebrate the feast of Pentecost. These people had travelled from all over the known world. When the Spirit fell, many of them were Born Again and filled with the Spirit. Some went home, but most stayed. There was suddenly a pressing need within the fledgling Church community, and motivated by the Spirit people responded. They opened their homes, they provided a place to sleep, they cooked meals, and did what they could so that everyone could continue to be touched by the power of God and have the opportunity to listen to the teaching of the Apostles. Some decided to stay permanently, so they sold their houses and land back home and overwhelmed by the people’s generosity in Jerusalem, they gave the money to the Apostles to distribute so that the whole body of believers could be helped. This was an extraordinary time and people’s lives were changed forever. There was tremendous togetherness, because of the Grace of giving.
The Church as a community needs the Grace of giving. We need to experience a togetherness inspired by the Spirit, a sense of shared responsibility that enables the growth and development of all. This Grace builds Kingdom reality – it’s what the Kingdom of God is all about – a community of redeemed people experiencing righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom 4:17) .
Lord, we need this Grace in our lives and in our Churches. Rain down upon us more of your Grace and enable us to live together in such a way that we can fulfill your command Jesus, to love each another as you have loved us. (John 13:34)
Hey you two beautiful people!!!!!Speaking of giving, you are giving every day through your devotional Can’t wait ’til you come in November(although we all know that when you come to Duluth….we get SNOW!Lots of love from Judy the piano player(or one of them anyway) at Glad Tidings…now the River.