Daily Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:5 So I thought it necessary to urge these brothers to go on to you ahead of me and prepare your promised gift in plenty of time; this way it will be ready when I come and will be a genuine gift, not something extracted by pressure.
6 Here’s the point: he who plants sparingly also harvests sparingly. 7 Each should give according to what he has decided in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.[2 Corinthians 9:7 Proverbs 22:8 (Septuagint)] 8 Moreover, God has the power to provide you with every gracious gift in abundance, so that always in every way you will have all you need yourselves and be able to provide abundantly for every good cause — [Complete Jewish Bible]
2 Corinthians 9:3-5 Now I’m sending the brothers to make sure you’re ready, as I said you would be, so my bragging won’t turn out to be just so much hot air. If some Macedonians and I happened to drop in on you and found you weren’t prepared, we’d all be pretty red-faced—you and us—for acting so sure of ourselves. So to make sure there will be no slipup, I’ve recruited these brothers as an advance team to get you and your promised offering all ready before I get there. I want you to have all the time you need to make this offering in your own way. I don’t want anything forced or hurried at the last minute.
6-7 Remember: A stingy planter gets a stingy crop; a lavish planter gets a lavish crop. I want each of you to take plenty of time to think it over, and make up your own mind what you will give. That will protect you against sob stories and arm-twisting. God loves it when the giver delights in the giving.
8-11 God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you’re ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it,
He throws caution to the winds,
giving to the needy in reckless abandon.
His right-living, right-giving ways
never run out, never wear out.
This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.[The Message]
Reflection Questions:“God has the power to provide you with more than enough of every kind of grace. That way, you will have everything you need” (verse 8). Paul’s teaching echoed Proverbs 11:24-25, which said that generally “Those who give generously receive more…. Generous persons will prosper.” Such words challenge us to rethink how we define “everything you need,” and to ask whether we ever confuse “needs” and “wants.”
- Since today is Tuesday, you’re not likely to be in a setting where anyone will pass an offering plate. In what ways can you find or create an opportunity to show a generous spirit today? What is one thing you can identify that shows God’s great generosity toward you? How can focusing on God’s generosity to you help you be more cheerfully generous toward others?
- What do you think of Paul’s confident statement in verse 7 that his converts (and we) “shouldn’t give with hesitation or because of pressure”? To what extent does your giving grow out of gratitude for God’s blessings to you, versus a sense of pressure? Try using drive times or waiting times to list your blessings this week, to begin cultivating the habit of grateful generosity.
Lord Jesus, open my eyes to the abundance you provide around me. May my heart grow as, out of your abundance, I seek to be your physical presence to the people in my world. Amen.
---------------------Insights from Nicole Alison
Nicole Alison serves as Coordinating Assistant to Operations at The Church of the Resurrection. Nicole finds her voice through writing. In her spare time she is a personal blogger and a ghost-writer for the Next Steps Pastor at a local church in Lenexa. Her passion is to share the love of Jesus through personal stories of redemption.
I recently felt called to start my own Bible study. When I started inviting people, they all said yes. With such a good response, it was confirmation that God was opening doors for this Bible study to happen. But then my insecurities began to creep in. I was not particularly outgoing. I hated to pray out loud. I was not a powerful public speaker (in fact I avoid it at all costs). I started to wonder what I was thinking.
The day before the Bible study began I was a mess. I was running to the store buying all sorts of treats. I was cleaning every nook and cranny of my apartment. I wrote down the opening and closing prayers. By the time the Bible study was about to begin, I was questioning how I got in this situation that was causing me great anxiety.
But then I remembered how God laid it on my heart to start the study. And I remembered why I felt called to lead. I wanted to be generous with my spiritual gifts–encouragement and hospitality. I wanted to provide a safe place for others to share their stories- good or bad. I wanted to be able to share my own faith and invest in a community that wanted to continue to grow in faith with me. I had the passion. I had the people. I had the place. I had everything I needed to be generous in my desire to grow the Kingdom.
This verse–“God has the power to provide you with more than enough of every kind of grace. That way, you will have everything you need”–gives me hope. It reminds me that God knows where I need grace. He understands my weaknesses, yet He can still use me for His purpose.
I have now led 3 Bible studies, and my spirit truly has been refreshed. Grace has melted away my anxiety and doubt about leadership. I no longer have to prep to pray. God shows up every time. Just recently, one of the girls pulled me aside and expressed that she really needed a group like ours. She thanked me for being obedient to God and stepping out of my comfort zone. In that moment it couldn’t have been clearer to me. God will give us what we need so we can offer to others what they need, too.
In what ways can you be generous knowing that God will give you what you need?
I recently felt called to start my own Bible study. When I started inviting people, they all said yes. With such a good response, it was confirmation that God was opening doors for this Bible study to happen. But then my insecurities began to creep in. I was not particularly outgoing. I hated to pray out loud. I was not a powerful public speaker (in fact I avoid it at all costs). I started to wonder what I was thinking.
The day before the Bible study began I was a mess. I was running to the store buying all sorts of treats. I was cleaning every nook and cranny of my apartment. I wrote down the opening and closing prayers. By the time the Bible study was about to begin, I was questioning how I got in this situation that was causing me great anxiety.
But then I remembered how God laid it on my heart to start the study. And I remembered why I felt called to lead. I wanted to be generous with my spiritual gifts–encouragement and hospitality. I wanted to provide a safe place for others to share their stories- good or bad. I wanted to be able to share my own faith and invest in a community that wanted to continue to grow in faith with me. I had the passion. I had the people. I had the place. I had everything I needed to be generous in my desire to grow the Kingdom.
This verse–“God has the power to provide you with more than enough of every kind of grace. That way, you will have everything you need”–gives me hope. It reminds me that God knows where I need grace. He understands my weaknesses, yet He can still use me for His purpose.
I have now led 3 Bible studies, and my spirit truly has been refreshed. Grace has melted away my anxiety and doubt about leadership. I no longer have to prep to pray. God shows up every time. Just recently, one of the girls pulled me aside and expressed that she really needed a group like ours. She thanked me for being obedient to God and stepping out of my comfort zone. In that moment it couldn’t have been clearer to me. God will give us what we need so we can offer to others what they need, too.
In what ways can you be generous knowing that God will give you what you need?
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The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Download the GPS App
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224 United States
913.897.0120
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