| “But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you —see that you also excel in this grace of giving.” – 2 Corinthians 8:7 (NIV) |
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| EXCELLING in the GRACE of GIVING. Having read a verse about giving it seems logical to start by asking how is your GIVING. Are you a GIVER? Do you give a portion of your income to a local church? Do you give to various charities? Would you consider yourself as one who EXCELS at GIVING? What are your feelings toward GIVING? Does the question about your giving rub you the wrong way? Are you a little sensitive to any talk or questions about your MONEY? Does on the other hand the thought of giving excite you and you look for opportunities to “invest” in others and into God’s Work? As you set goals and priorities for your life, have you established a goal to EXCEL AT GIVING? The setting for our verse to consider is the Apostle Paul is raising money for needy believers in Jerusalem and the appeal had gone out to Corinth and they made a commitment to give. Having heard through the “grapevine” that the Corinthians have not collected the money and the excitement about giving has waned the Apostle is now reminding them to be ready to give when he comes to pick up the gift! In our verse to DATE, he commends them for things they are doing well. There are several things that they are excelling in, but generosity is not one of them. So, he challenges them to EXCEL in this ACT of the GRACE of GIVING, of being GENEROUS. What does EXCELLING in the act of GIVING look like to you? As I think of excelling in giving, I think of the Shunammite family for providing a room for the prophet Elisha to stay when he was in their area. The story is in 2 Kings 4:8-11. They wanted to make sure he had a nice comfortable room. They excelled at giving. Another of many stories we could reference is when God’s people gave abundantly to repair the House of the Lord. The story is found in 2 Chronicles.24:8-11 and it tells how God’s people brought financial gifts in the Chest of Joash. As the appeal went out the people gave in ABUNDANCE. They excelled at giving. The best example ever of giving is none other than Jesus Christ!! 2 Corinthians 8:9 says, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.” Jesus lived giving and He excelled at it. What do you need to do differently in order to EXCEL at GIVING? What is something you need to do right now to EXCEL at GIVING? Our verse to DATE the Word on August 7 (8/7) is 2 Corinthians 8:7. It says, “But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you —see that you also excel in this grace of giving.” (NIV) Continue Strong excelling at generosity, And remember to DATE the Word |