CHRIST-DAILY
DEVOTIONS
  January 2nd

GENEROSITY

"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, have an abundance for every good work" (II Cor. 9:8).

Paul declares that the Macedonians, out of their deep poverty gave in liberality (II Cor.8:2). Paul bears witness that they gave beyond their normal ability and were willing to do so (II Cor.8:3).  This is a clear witness of genuine God-inspired generosity.  As we look at these Macedonians, Paul declares that they first gave themselves to the Lord. Then second, they gave themselves to the disciples by the will of God (II Cor. 8:5). Certainly, that is a great spiritual truth.  If we will give ourselves first to the Lord, the Lord will reveal Himself to us in a greater dimension.  The Lord will further reveal His will to us, and how we should handle all other things in life.  When we truly put the Lord first, He will bestow His marvelous grace upon us, and allow us to do so much more with so little (II Cor. 8:1-2).

Jesus Christ is a clear example of generosity.  Jesus Christ had all the riches of glory in heaven.  Yet, He put all that aside and gave up everything, even to the death on the cross, in order that we might receive salvation through His divine generosity (II Cor. 8:9). Following after Jesus Christ, we must make a clear choice of the will and the mind to give in generosity (II Cor. 8:12).  God has provided His wisdom to us and the means of giving, in order that we can give with generosity.  God is not asking you to give out of what you don't have, but out of what you have (II Cor. 8:12).  When we give ourselves first to the Lord, He will increase His grace and His giving to us.  This will provide an abundance, in order that we might give to those in lack or in need (II Cor. 8:14).  This is the means that God uses to provide our love, care, and generosity to one another.

Now comes the real test.  Perhaps, we have put God first, and see that He has blessed and abundantly given His grace to us.  Now, will we be willing to give some of it in generosity to help others as He would direct?  Paul is clear, "He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will reap bountifully" (II Cor. 9:6).  This is the law of the harvest that every farmer would agree with.  If you want an abundant crop you don't short change on sowing the seed.  When we give by His Spirit in genuine generosity, God is going to bless us in greater ways by His grace.   You just reap what you sow.  When you sow to the Spirit and by the direction of the Spirit, God will abundantly bless.  God wants a willing heart and a cheerful or hilarious giver of generosity (II Cor. 9:7).  God's word promises, all grace, always, all sufficiency in all things, with abundance (II Cor. 9:8). God seriously blesses God-directed hilarious generosity! V

Written by Dwight Davis
Christ-Ministries
 

                                               

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