February 8, 2025
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Deuteronomy and Corinthians? Here’s today’s reading:
2 Corinthians 8 (NIV)
The Collection for the Lord’s People
1 And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own,……Continue Reading
We should give with a joyful spirit, knowing what we have, we only have because God supplies our needs. God only expects us to give relative to what we have, however, we are called to be good stewards of what He blesses us with. If we are not in a position to give because our priorities are spending first and giving after, we must be honest with ourselves where we are putting the resources God has given us. Society makes us feel like many things today are “needs” when in actuality they are just “wants”.
2Cor 8
2 Corinthians 8
Corinthians 8
Christ Jesus gave us all an example of giving, when He came down to earth to be born as a baby. To latter die on the cross and rose the third day. 2 Cor. 8:9 {For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye though His poverty might be rich.} He also gave His example of being a servant by serving others. He made Himself of no reputation. Phil. 2:5-9. We as believers are to follow His example. He is our main example but Christian leaders like Paul followed Him and in return they also give us an example to follow. I am so grateful that we have good leadership in our church that also follow His example. So, in return we are to follow these examples to each other and those that are not believers. May the Lord bless you all.
2 Corinthians 8
Giving is such an important part of the Christian life, and yet an uncomfortable one as well. Our giving helps us recognize that everything we have is God’s and so hopefully we will not be attached to it as if it was ours or this that we really need it. And how wonderful when giving happens without compulsion and just flows from the generosity that the Spirit of God fosters. God should certainly have our hearts first and so giving is an expression of our thanks to Him and our faith in Him. And we should give according to what we have, not according to what we don’t have. To me, that is why the tithe is such a wise starting point because it really is the same for everyone, just the amount being different according to what we have. And it is wonderful when funds are being raised, as is here, for a great purpose and a untied effort amongst many believers. And Paul is very open about why money is being raised and how it is being managed. This type of openness is the responsibility of those receiving and managing the giving as much as or even more than the givers being encouraged to be generous in their giving. It is unfortunate how giving has been misused in certain parts of Christianity and yet how we would be benefited to follow Paul’s example.
2 Corinthians 8
Give with a heart of love, joy and compassion – for God loves a cheerful giver. And he will bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.