Grace of giving

Shared as an offering devotion on 17 April 2016

2 Corinthians 8:1-7

"And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord's people. 

And they exceeded their expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on you part. But since you excel in everything - in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you - see that you also excel in this grace of giving"

3 Principles of giving:

1. Grace of giving
2. Generosity in our giving
3. Attitude in their giving. Giving is a privilege & sharing in the service of the Lord's work

The key to the 3 principles:

Give ourselves to God first
Give ourselves to others by the will of God

Paul told the Corinthian church about the example of the Macedonian church and how they excelled in their giving.

They had the grace to give, the generosity in their giving and most of all they counted giving a privilege. In fact they pleaded to be given a chance to share in God's work by their giving!

What a great attitude they had in giving! In fact, Paul said that they pleaded for the chance to give to him. 

However Paul also mentioned that the key to having this grace in giving, the generosity in giving and the right attitude in giving is firstly to give ourselves to God. In giving ourselves to God first, we will surely be able to know where to sow our funds by the will of God. 

May we have the grace of giving, a heart of rich generosity and  a right attitude in our giving viewing giving as a privilege &  an opportunity to share in God's work.