Thursday, June 12, 2003
Thursday, June 12, 2003
You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce
thanksgiving to God through us.
That's pretty tactful. "You're lighting up the scoreboard in every area," Paul is saying, "but one.
Let's try to light it up with our giving as well." Then Paul adds, "I say this not as a command, but
to prove by the earnestness of others that your love is real." Paul is not demanding that they
increase their giving. He hopes that they will see that giving is a natural consequence of
Christian devotion.
(2 Corinthians 9.11
NRSV)
In Paul's second letter to the Corinthians, Paul praises the generosity of the church at
Macedonia. He uses their giving as an example to challenge the church at Corinth. He says
gently to the Corinthians, "Now as you excel in everything--in faith, in utterance, in knowledge, in
all earnestness, and in your love for us--see that you excel in this gracious work also." The
gracious work of which Paul speaks is giving.
Dear God, help me to be generous in my giving, so that lives can be touched with your word of
love. Amen.
