GWD Open Bible with Sunshine

GOD’S WORD DAILY

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 182                                                             AUGUST 22, 2002

     

JESUS CHRIST:
The Foundation of Our Faith

ABOUND IN LOVE

 
God wants us to excel, super abound in everything; in faith, in utterance, in knowledge, in diligence, in love and in the grace of giving also.

 

2 Corinthians 8:7, 8, 24

Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace [ministering to the saints from your abundance, giving] also.

 

Giving is not required. It is not a commandment of the Lord. God does not say, "Thou shalt give." Giving is an extension of our love for God and His people. As our faith grows, as we excel in speaking the Word, as we apply the Word and experience the promises of God, as we love each other with the love of God, as we increase, super abound and excel in all these things, let us excel, and abound in the grace of giving also.

 

I speak not by commandment, [injunction or decree] but by occasion of [through] the forwardness [Greek: spoude= diligence, earnestness] of others, and to prove [test, examine] the sincerity [legitimacy, genuineness] of your love [agape].

 

Even though it is not required of us, giving proves our love is real and genuine. God so loved He gave. If we see our brothers have need, and have compassion and give, our love becomes evident.

 

Wherefore shew [indicate] ye to them, and before the churches, the proof [the indication, the evident token] of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.

 

God does not command us to give a certain percentage of our income either.

 

2 Corinthians 9:7

Every man according as he purposeth [proposes] in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, [sorrowfully, with sadness] or of necessity [constraint, out of distress]: for God loveth [agapao] a cheerful [hilarious, merry, willing, prompt] giver.

 

There is no set amount other than what you propose in your heart. However, we reap what we sow.

 

2 Corinthinans 9: 6

But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

 

When I first began to give, it was difficult. My paychecks were puny already. I wanted to give. I wanted to trust God in my finances. It seemed like a big deal to give $10. But that's where I started. It wasn't much, but it was a stretch to believe God would bless me and make sure I had what I needed. We never starved. We had years of plenty and years where we had just enough. One thing is sure, God was always with us.

Now, giving $10 is like giving away one penny. I have seen God's provision so much over the years that I do not give it a second thought. It is not a grievous thing. It became easier and easier as we gave from each paycheck. The more we gave, the more we had to give.

As we abound in everything, in faith, in utterance, in knowledge, in diligence and in love, may we abound in giving also. Amen.

 

-Carol Kenreigh

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O God, thou art my God, early will I seek thee. Ps. 63:1

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