Prove the Sincerity of Our Love
2 Corinthians 8:7-8,10-15: “Therefore, as ye abound in everything, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and all diligence, and your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.
[8] I speak not by commandment but by occasion of the forwardness of others and to prove the sincerity of your love.
[10] And herein I give my advice: this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.
[11] Now therefore perform the doing of it ; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.
[12] For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
[13] For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:
[14] But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:
15] As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.”
Giving is not for the rich. It is for the faithful who love the Lord. It is a blessing to the giver who blesses others. This was proven in the Churches in Thessalonica. Despite their poverty, they could give and help the Church in Jerusalem.
So different from the Church in Corinth, with their ability to give. Apostle Paul has to rebuke them for committing to help a year ago but has not fulfilled what they have promised.
To encourage the Corinthian believers, the Apostle Paul instructs them, giving several principles to follow to be a cheerful giver. These are the principles:
1.Let us not only abound in spirituality. ABOUND also in (generosity) the grace of giving. (7)
2.Giving proves the sincerity of our love. [8]
3.Whatever we commit to give, we ought to fulfill. [10]
4.Exercise faith in giving and complete what has been committed. Allow faith perform to multiply what God has given us. [11]
5.God does not expect us to give what He has not given through us. Since we give what comes from God, we must give according to God’s power, not ours. [12]
6.Give not because of their obligation and do receive not because we are entitled. God does not want to give to burden the giver and become an entitlement to the recipient. [13]
7.There is Equality and equity in cheerful giving:
⁃Our abundance is designed to bless and provide for others in need. [14]
8.When blessed with abundance, let us not be extravagant and greedy. It is intended for those in need so they, too, will not lack. [15]
In giving, we serve as God’s channel for His blessings to go through. We are simply an open vessel to provide for others. It is God who fills the vessels as He pleases. Let us give to prove our love, not because we have to.
Our Prayer today:
Lord, You have given us so much, including Your life, to bless and use us. We thank You for sharing with us this privilege to give, not because we can but because You want to use us as Your instruments and channels of all Your blessings.
We pray that our desire to give does not come from greed and pride. Help us recognize that You give us the power, and we only give what You give through us.
Because You are the source of everything, we must give what You want us to deliver. May we always abound in giving. We ask all these in Jesus' Name. Amen!