“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” — 2 Corinthians 9:15
Welcome, ☺️
It's interesting how one sentence in an email had me pondering “giving.” I’m glad you’re here. I trust the Lord will use this devotional for His glory and the blessing of those in your life.
When I opened my email recently, one subject line read, “You’ve exceeded your budget for giving.” It was a “warning” from a budgeting app I use. It made me smile, and I thought, Good. How could I ever exceed my “budget” for giving in light of the selfless, immeasurable gift God gave me—His only begotten Son? The obvious answer is, Never!
Isn’t everything in my hands from God? Did I really get hired for my job on my own? Did I provide for my home through my own efforts? Do I truly believe that everything in my life—including my time, health, and material possessions—came from God and belongs to Him?
Challenging questions.
Second Corinthians 9 describes the giver’s heart attitude: willingness, zeal, generosity, and purposefulness. We are not to give grudgingly or out of necessity, but with cheerfulness. Paul also offers us a word of caution: “He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,” and a word of encouragement: “He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” (2 Corinthians 9:6).
God not only supplies what we have to give, but He can also multiply the fruit of our giving. We have a God who loves to bless and abundantly provide!
Giving isn’t only about money. Time is another gift God has placed in our hands.
Sometimes I look at everything I need to accomplish and think, I simply don’t have time to add helping someone else to my day. I begin to consider cutting out my morning devotional with the Lord. Yet when I stop, open His Word, and spend time with Him in prayer, I often find that I still have time to do what needs to be done.
Sometimes the Lord helps me finish everything. Other times, He helps me recognize that something on my list can be done another way—or perhaps another day. He gives me a different perspective on the time He has entrusted to me.
When I give Him the first part of my time, He helps me see how to use the rest.
That’s time multiplied.
Are there saints and people near you who have needs? The obvious answer is yes. Are there poor, orphans, or widows among us? How about those who have given their lives to serve the Lord on the mission field, in camp work, medical work, gospel outreaches, or literature work?
Is there a neighbor who needs help, a meal, or perhaps someone to mow their lawn? Maybe there is someone who needs us to care for their pet while they’re away.
In 1 Corinthians 16:1–2, Paul instructs believers to purposefully set aside funds each week from what God has provided through their work. We are to distribute these funds prayerfully, according to His leading.
With a selfless attitude of giving, the Lord will open our eyes to the needs around us. These are doorways to share what we have been given and opportunities to open doors to share the good news of Jesus Christ.
We can give our time, our material things, our encouragement, and our gifts.
How do those who receive our gifts respond?
As recipients of many gifts through the years, we know the answer. Our hearts overflow with praise and thanksgiving to God for His provision and for answering our prayers. And our prayers always include asking the Lord to bless the giver.
What a beautiful picture of giving: God provides, we give, and thanksgiving rises back to Him.
And it all begins with His indescribable gift, Jesus.
Ponder:
Are you setting aside a weekly portion from God’s provision for you?
How does God want you to share the material things He has given you?
What else has God placed in your hands—your time, abilities, encouragement, or resources—that He may want you to give to someone else?
A Quiet Prayer
Father, please open my eyes and heart to see the needs, and help me give abundantly, just as you have done for me by giving Your Son, Jesus. Amen.
