Paul’s Second Letter
to the Corinthians: DAY 26
READ 2 Corinthians 8-9
In your journal, write
down the things that stick out to you from today’s Bible reading. Respond to
what God shows you as you feel led.
Having given clearly enough evidence that he is indeed a
genuine apostle of the gospel of Christ, Paul moves on to a present matter of a
collection that is being taken for the suffering believers in Jerusalem. The
Corinthians had begun collecting money before rebellion had broken out and now
Paul urges them to resume the collection, encouraging them to give generously.
He inspires them to excel in giving as they excel in so many other things.
Verses 10-11 give us insight into the Corinthians’
journey towards generosity. It would seem that most had to set their mind to
start giving and only then did they begin to develop a desire to give. Isn’t
this so often how it works? God asks us to trump our feelings in faith and
obedience and eventually our feelings fall in line.
We can expect to be challenged, tested, disciplined and
blessed in the area of our finances. How we spend our money and how we give our
money is quite telling as to how much we love and trust God. Paul gives us all
the encouragement we need in the final ten verses of chapter 9: keeping in mind
an eternal perspective, we can be sure that we will reap what we sow; God loves
a cheerful giver; and God who is sovereign over all the earth and owns the
cattle on a thousand hills will supply all that we need. What a blessing!
PRAYER AND MEDITATION
1.
Evaluate your giving: What is your
attitude towards giving? Do you enjoy giving your money? Do you inwardly
despise it? Are you consistent with giving to the church and helping those in
need, or do you do it only when you feel guilty, or when you want to do it?
2.
Spend some time inviting God into your
finances. If you are scared to do this, be honest and tell him so! Ask God to
speak to you about your spending and your giving. Is there anything He would
like you to change? Are you giving all He asks of you? Meditate on 9:6-15.
3.
Try a spending fast for one week (or
longer). Ask God what that will look like for you and make a commitment to Him
that you will obey. As you go about your fast, notice what God teaches you.
