September 12, 2023
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 2 Corinthians? Here’s today’s reading:
2 Corinthians 9 (NIV)
1 There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the Lord’s people. 2 For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. 3 But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be.…..Continue Reading
7Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
Another encouragement to trust God with all we have knowing we are simply giving back to Him from all He has given us! It all came from Him and so we need to trust Him to provide. I always find the times in my life when I am giving faithfully, not worrying about the fact that the checkbook balance is low, are also the times it never hits zero either! God provides when we are truly faithful and trusting Him with our finances!
II Cor 9. In my experience, there has been stories of struggling congregations, when some, a handful tithe, and the majority do not, will not, or just won’t find the fortitude. Been in some. And the ministry itself struggled to make ends meet. Pastors, staff, not paid nearly enough. In one church we attended, the pastor had to go back to work, part-time ministry only. He eventually resigned.
Deb and I started tithing, after considering Scriptures, within a year that I had accepted Christ. Not easy to do on navy pay, but we did. But it was never about us, it was about contributing to a higher good than we could achieve on our own. That money, for us, belonged to God, we were just custodians.
Not that we flourished, made it double-rich, made it big. Never thought tithing was a charm to make money. We never starved. Always paid our bills, our kids fed and dressed, and warm.
Deb and I praise God. We give God the glory, and always trust our tithes help spread the Gospel. Thanks for letting me share a testimony. Gordy,
I have had the extreme blessings of running a business for 43 years that was established by my grandfather in 1905. At some point I Would like to fill in a lot of details. But I firmly believe the reason this company still exists because it in so many ways blessed so many people. I watched my father help out so many while he drove around in a car with no heat running on 3 cylinders. Not to mention the shop had little heat. Others always came first. To run a business that has been through 2 world wars. Great Depression. My grandfather passing at 41. My great aunt running the business for 18 years till my father came to age. All because Godly people always looked for ways to help others through the blessings they received from a small family business. I have always prayed I could be half the man my father was as he was the most unselfish man I’ve known. So much better to give then receive. Sounds like I have boasted in my family. But I boast all of this in our Lord in all he has done to allow this business to continue in order to bless others. I pray it goes another generation so they may continue to receive the joy of helping others
God gave His Son as a perfect gift to us and desires and commands us to tithe. After all it belongs to Him. We are only His caretakers. By giving with a cheerful heart God will bless us although not necessary with finances. Melodye and I have been tithing for most of our Christian lives but have never had much but always having just enough. We have had many cars break down or even die as we arrived in our driveway over the years. I am not a mechanic but I did basic maintenance. I lost track of how many times this happened over the years. There was also the time that I was driving an company truck and something gave way only about 100 feet from the repair shop that the company had. I was an exterminator for 25 years. Another time when I was in my 20`s. My brother and I were hiking in New Hampshire n the White Mountains. We had been on the trails for 2 weeks and when we got to my car it wouldn`t start. We didn`t know what was wrong. The same time we were praying and trying to figure it out someone approached us and asked what was wrong. His job was a trouble shooter for vehicles. He told us it was the starter. He drove my brother to get the part and put it in free. What a blessing and we did share the gospel. The Lord did that. I was also tithing back then. My car was a 1967 Dodge Dart which never broke down. That car I brought in 1972 a short time before my conversion in September 1973. That car was committed to the Lord when I gave everything to the Lord. That car was used to bring other young people to conferences and rallies in state and outer state, etc. I even let others drive it to New York and Maryland. We were as young people at a training program in upper New York for a couple of months. We were taught the scriptures at night and during the day our job was to find jobs, I think that there were 50 of us looking for jobs at the same time, I was one of the last three to get a job. I was still recovering from a knee injury and I leg had been in a full cast. My leg was very weak. But the Lord blessed me with the perfect job. I was working for a paint contractor and I was painting on third floor on a ladder. This made me use my knees constantly during the day 5 days a week. My car was needed by someone else who needed it to go to construction. Not a problem for this car belonged to my Lord. And this same believer made sure the car was washed regularly and kept clean inside. He was also honoring the Lord. Well enough of these for there have been so many over the years. Mel and I getting the house and property finally which we prayed for many years. God bless us all as we desire and want to please the Lord in everything we do.
What a blessing to hear all your stories of the Lord’s work in your life! We have quite a few God provision stories about cars as well!
One time we were driving on the Tobin Bridge in Boston (very busy, traffic) and the muffler fell off our car (Ford Escort). We pulled over on a ramp that was closed off (a miracle in itself that there was a place to turn off) and prayed. As we just said “Lord” we heard a man say “do you need any help?!” He pulled over as well and told us that our catalytic converter had fallen off and asked if we had any rope or wire. We didn’t. He opened his trunk and pulled shoe strings out of a pair of his shoes and tied up our muffler. So we say that our car was held together by “a shoestring and a prayer”. The story goes on. We were towed to a mechanic Steve’s dad used and Steve’s dad picked us up. Long story shorter, the mechanic told us that the converter was under warranty because we had under a certain amount of miles on the car. Possible $700 part covered, another miracle. Anyway, thanks for reminding me of an old provision from the Lord!
2 Corinthians 9
Mark, that is a tremendous testimony! Few ever become employers. I am always encouraged when men and women of God make a difference in this world!
2 Corinthians 9 God loves a cheerful giver!
As Paul let’s the Corinthians know about what he has told the Macedonians about them, it reminds us that we should be faithful to our commitments in all aspects of life. Paul is never hesitant to be straight forward and just wants to make sure that the Corinthians give in the way they had said they would. Because there are many reasons to give generously. First is because God blesses those who give generously. Second is because God loves a cheerful giver because it reflects faith in Him. Third is because it all starts with Him anyway. We are simply stewards of all the blessings God bestows upon us, so it makes sense we would give Him the portion He asks for. Fourth is because our giving helps others and is an example to others as well. So because we believe that God is able to take care of us in spite of our giving and we thank Him for what He has provided, we decide in our hearts what to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion but because we have every reason to be generous to a God who has been so generous to us.
2 Corinthians 9
Day 1
Titus 2:11-14
“Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness,”
This sentence reminded me of a very simple, yet profound provision from God, which is a garden. He doesn’t just make the plants grow that provide food, but the whole plant has the built-in system for it to continue, year after year, season after season. My garden would probably produce each year…something….even if I never planted anything. There is so much that comes up “volunteer” every year, and even the weeds that we pull or cast aside, most of them are edible. 😀
2 Corinthians 9 done
Let us give cheerfully and God will bless us abundantly. God gives much to us so that we can give much to others. We are grateful and thankful for all his provisions. It feels great to give to others in need, and they in turn, are able to give us the wonderful gift of heartfelt prayer. It’s a win win situation for both the giver and receiver!