Read
The Money for God's
1I don't need to write you about the money you plan to give for God's people. 2I know how eager you are to give. And I have proudly told the Lord's followers in Macedonia that you people in Achaia have been ready for a whole year. Now your desire to give has made them want to give. 3This is why I am sending Titus and the two others to you. I want you to be ready, just as I promised. This will prove we were not wrong to brag about you.
4Some followers from Macedonia may come with me, and I want them to find that you have the money ready. If you don't, I would be embarrassed for trusting you to do this. But you would be embarrassed even more. 5So I have decided to ask Titus and the others to spend some time with you before I arrive. This way they can arrange to collect the money you have promised. Then you will have the chance to give because you want to, and not because you feel forced to.
6Remember this saying,
“A few seeds make
a small harvest,
but a lot of seeds make
a big harvest.”
7 Each of you must make up your own mind about how much to give. But don't feel sorry that you must give and don't feel you are forced to give. God loves people who love to give. 8God can bless you with everything you need, and you will always have more than enough to do all kinds of good things for others. 9 The Scriptures say,
“God freely gives his gifts
to the poor,
and always does right.”
10 God gives seed to farmers and provides everyone with food. He will increase what you have, so you can give even more to those in need. 11You will be blessed in every way, and you will be able to keep on being generous. Then many people will thank God when we deliver your gift.
12What you are doing is much more than a service that supplies God's people with what they need. It is something that will make many others thank God. 13The way in which you have proved yourselves by this service will bring honor and praise to God. You believed the message about Christ, and you obeyed it by sharing generously with God's people and with everyone else. 14Now they are praying for you and want to see you, because God used you to bless them so very much. 15Thank God for his gift that is too wonderful for words!
Reflect
“God loves people who love to give.” In our culture people often try to motivate us by pointing out the tax benefits of giving. The New Testament perspective is quite different.
God works through people to touch those who need help, and we can be the hands and feet for God to bless others, whether people in ministry or individuals who need a hand (vv 9,10). There are many charities and ministries that need help. We can be an extension of God as we choose to give out of love (v 13). As we avail ourselves to God and strive to reflect his love to others, other people will be motivated to serve God in their own way, or join in on what we are doing (v 2).
God’s heart is for all people to grow in his love. Loving God is costly. Mark describes how Jesus watches with his disciples as a widow gives her last two coins worth less than a penny (Mark 12:41-44). She did not give out of her abundance but out of her love for the Lord. How will she live now? Giving out of poverty is hard. I totally get that. Some of the ways I’ve been blessed most is when people who had less than me have given out of love to me. Some of the most cheerful givers are those who have little.
This passage reminds us that we are blessed as we give out of our love for the Lord. We give not because we have to nor because we are motivated by wanting something in return. “We love [give] because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19), and “gave his life for me” (Galatians 2:20).
Written by Rob Longley and Annabel Robinson.
Respond
Lord, I know that all I have is from you. You have shown me that your love for me is greater than what I have around me to keep me alive. You do not demand that I give but invite me into this living relationship with you. Lord help me to be a cheerful giver. Help me to grow in your love as I give back to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Rob Longley
Although Robert studied at the Alberta College of Art in the early 1980’s, in about 1987 he stopped painting. In the summer of 2010, God told him that he needed to get serious with his art. God is his source of life, inspiration and motivation. His heart’s desire is to worship God through art. Robert believes the purpose for his art is to paint images that will always point back to God.