giving

2 Corinthians 7:1-11:15

7:1Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

Financial giving has been on my mind recently.  Our congregation had our annual giving commitment and harvest offering service not too long ago, and I have realized two great tragedies:

1. our congregation carries an enormous financial debt for the facilities we are using, which (according to my simple calculations) we could be using to support over 1000 children through Compassion International or local missionaries through Gospel for Asia.
2. the majority of our congregation apparently does not tithe or give offerings beyond the tithe (else, we would not be in the aforementioned predicament).

It's amazing how the Lord has blessed the average US citizen with more discretionary income that the majority of the world, yet we suffer from so much financial debt.  It's also amazing to me that it's a social taboo to talk about money and how we should spend it, because it's "my" money.  It's also amazing to me that Christians under Grace could give less than a Jew under the Law.  Well, Paul had a few things to say about giving:

8:9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. 10And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. 11Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.  13Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, 15as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little."

9:6Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." 10Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

I am becoming more and more convinced that the American Dream is the antithesis of Christianity.  We should give so much that it hurts because that's how much Christ gave and because there are Believers around the world who are hurting because we are not giving as we should.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for blessing me so richly.  O Father, I pray that you will empower me to give sacrificially, according to the Holy Spirit's work of Christ's Grace in my heart.  Lord, I pray that you will show me and my wife how to give and that we will lead others to give sacrificially.  I pray that the Church will be characterized by it's sacrificial giving.  May you be honored, and may people be helped practically and spiritually with the gifts that you are giving through us.  I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, who gave His life on the Cross.  Amen.