September 1 | 2 Corinthians 8:1-7

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DAILY READING

2 Corinthians 8:1-7

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REFLECTION

Giving with Grace

by Elaine Pierce

See that you excel in this grace of giving (2 Corinthians 8:7b)

Paul is thanking the churches in Macedonia for their financial generosity, despite their dire poverty. They wanted to give, they were glad to give, and they saw giving as an act of grace. Of course you've heard the phrase "give until it hurts, " but I don't think in this case it was hard for them to give. Their gifts might not have been large, but they gave out of a true generosity of spirit and in gratitude for what God had done and was doing in their lives.

Giving is such a charged subject. No one wants to hear sermons on giving, I am told. We squirm in our comfortable pews. We don't want to talk about money. And yet we know that giving is part of God's plan to bring us closer to him. We know that all we have is his, and yet we jealously hold onto our money, for fear if we give too much we won't have enough left for what we really want to do. Somehow we fear that God won't honor our giving.

Look at that verse again - see that you excel in this grace of giving.

When you write that check to your church, or when you see it listed on your bank statement as it is automatically deducted from your account, take a moment to thank God for the opportunity to grow in grace. Just as we grow in the fruit of the spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness ,goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control - so let's strive to grow in generosity in giving. And what a blessing that will be to the body of Christ both here in Columbus, in Ohio, in our nation, and around the world.

PRAYER

Lord, I want to be a cheerful giver just like these poverty-stricken Macedonians, and yet I hold onto my money tightly. Help me to grow in the grace of giving, and to give with a grateful heart. All I have comes from you, and I give it back to grow your kingdom. Amen.