THE RIGHT WAY TO START

READING: 2 CORINTHIANS 8:1-7

Verse 5: “And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the LORD and then to us by the will of God.”

Many Christians struggle with questions about giving. They want to be faithful to their responsibilities before God, but are unsure of the exact nature and extent of those expectations. Some give but feel guilty, concerned that they should be giving more. Others give resentfully and under compulsion, fearing the wrath of God as the consequence of giving wrongly. Some are anxious about their giving compared to what others give, and what others might think of their giving. People who are challenged or burdened about their giving can benefit from the example of the Macedonians as recorded by the Apostle Paul. Their first step in their giving (and this should apply to every Christian response, not just giving) was to surrender themselves to the Lord. It seems they wanted their giving to be determined and directed by the will of God for their lives. As they gave themselves to Him, they accepted Him as the sovereign answer to every question about giving. That, for them and for us, is the source of excellence in giving, and the source of peace and freedom in giving. All questions and struggles, all challenges and burdens are resolved by first giving ourselves to the Lord. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. How does a person give themselves to God in the process of financial giving?

2. Are any adjustments needed in your manner of giving?