|
DAY 17
I am not commanding you,
but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the
earnestness of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that
though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through
his poverty might become rich.
(2
Corinthians 8:8-9)
Most of us
do not like to be told what we should give. In fact,
when someone tells us what we should do, our sinful nature reacts and
thinks, “You’re not about to tell me what I should do.
I’ll do what I want to do.”
Paul does
not command the Corinthian Christians as to what they should do.
Nor does he command you and me what we should give.
However, he says he wants to test the sincerity of our love.
You say, “I love the Lord.” Talk is cheap.
Your actions should indicate that you mean what you say.
Consider
your Savior Jesus. He is God almighty.
He possesses all power and dominion. Yet He gives
that all up and comes to this earth to rescue a people who are often
thankless and thoughtless. Because of what Jesus did we
are rich. We possess the greatest wealth in the world.
We have forgiveness for all of our sins. We have
the freedom from guilt and the certainty of an eternal home in heaven.
Questions to Consider
1)
Does my
giving reflect my love for the Lord? Or am I just
throwing the Lord the leftovers after I have taken care of myself first?
2)
What is
influencing my giving to the Lord?
3)
Why doesn’t
Jesus’ work for me lead me to be more generous and cheerful in my giving?
Prayer
Savior Jesus, You did not consider the fact
that You are God almighty a prize You had to hang on to.
You willingly humbled Yourself and came to this world so that I might have
the riches of forgiveness and eternal life. Help me to
give as You have freely given to me. Amen. |
