The Everyday Prayer

Re:Verse passage – 2 Corinthians 8:1–9, 2 Corinthians 9:6–11 (day seven)

 Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Cor 9:7

Giving is not a unique belief to Christianity. Most major religions have an aspect of charity that is similar to our tithing. Truth be told, our recommended giving of 10% would be on the upper end of what most religions would ask for. What makes the Christian tithe different from other charity? What makes Christianity unique from other religions as a whole?

God is Love.

Most religions command giving. They make their charity obligatory and compulsive to the point that you might not go to heaven if you don’t give as commanded. Read through the Bible, including the passage today, your tithe is not salvific or redemptive. Tithing is an overflow of a relationship with the One who gave us everything. As we learn that He is Love, we will be eager to give back a portion of what He has given to us. As we experience He is Love, we will be joyful as we trust Him to provide for us in all ways. As we embody that He is love, we will be excited to contribute to the Kingdom’s work so that others might learn that He is Love.

Re:Verse passage – 2 Corinthians 8:1–9, 2 Corinthians 9:6–11 (day five).
Did you notice that in both of our Re:Verse passages this week that the Gospel is either mentioned or described. Paul wants to teach/tell these believers that there is in fact, a deep and meaningful connection between generous financial giving and the gospel. The Gospel is to be not only understood and received, but in chapter 9 Paul points out that believers should “obey” the Gospel. We obey the gospel through loving actions of sacrifice and service. And generosity expressed through giving, as Paul points out in chapters 8, is also a beautiful picture of the Gospel- Jesus giving up His riches in heaven in order for us to become rich. So, when we give, we obey and portray the greatest generosity ever known!!

Re:Verse passage – 2 Corinthians 8:1–9, 2 Corinthians 9:6–11 (day three)

⁵and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.

In verse five, Paul reminds his readers that before the people of the Macedonian churches gave anything, they first submitted to God and to His will. If they did not start there, I am sure that their giving might not have been so noteworthy or commendable. They first submitted to the Lord and to the work of the Church, allowing God to use them fully for His glory.

The Lord points out here through Paul’s letter that He does not care about the size of what we give. He cares about the attitude of our heart when we give. The churches in Macedonia were commended as an example of how God’s grace abounds and makes up for human limitations that arise (2 Corinthians 12:9). The churches gave faithfully despite their circumstances, and God blessed them with abundant joy.

In trusting and relying on God, the Macedonian churches also allowed for God to provide for them in such a way that they could give beyond their ability. I am by no means a math genius, but I do know that, typically, finances/resources in usually must be greater than finances/resources out. God’s math does not work that way! When we fully trust and rely on God with our finances and resources, it makes room for God to be glorified even more through His provision and work in us.

Now, here’s the tough question for us: where is your heart on giving to the Lord? Have you submitted fully to Him or does a part of you hold back?

Re:Verse passage – 2 Corinthians 8:1–9, 2 Corinthians 9:6–11 (day two)
…that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality. 8:2

We have difficulty prioritizing what is truly important in our society. Faith, for many years now, has been seen almost as a luxury or even a crutch. We often hear the argument that we will come to the church when we have more time, or when we have more need for things like faith. It is the same when it comes to our finances. We will give when we get a bit more ahead, or when the next raise comes, or when we get some debt paid off. You know as well as I do that something will always come along to fill in whatever “extra” is given. Paul is celebrating those believers who have rightly prioritized their giving as a privilege, as an opportunity, as a joy. The Lord has been faithful to you in uncountable ways. Paul’s reminder is that it is not an amount that God is looking for, it is an attitude of worship.

Re:Verse passage – 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, Romans 12:4-8 (day seven)

But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 1 Corinthians 12:7

If we are honest, we like to talk about ourselves. We are quick to tell people about the things we like and particularly the things we are good at. Much of that is tied to our vocational identity. We are well aware of our talents that attribute to our individual success. Yet, do we even know what our spiritual gifts are? Gifts are so much more important to our identity than even our talents, because it is our gifts that make the biggest impact for the Kingdom. Everyone has talents, but only those who are in the Spirit can receive the manifestation of the Spirit. Because of this, it is entirely possible for a spiritual gift to be the complete opposite of a talent, as the Spirit can manifest in us an ability that was not present before.

Everyone who is in the Spirit will receive a manifestation of the Spirit. Therefore, you have a spiritual gift! What is it/are they? You have already been challenged to take a spiritual  inventory for yourself. Now, I challenge you to tell your Bible Study leader or a pastor at the Church what that gift is. It is not meant to lie dormant. The Spirit manifested a gift in you so that you can be a part of what God is doing and make an impact for the Kingdom now.