READING:
One-year plan: Proverbs 13-15, 2 Corinthians 8
Two-year plan: 2 Samuel 16:1-17:14, Luke 24:36-53
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I’ve seen it happen. While I did not as a pastor typically know what members of my church gave, I did at times learn in conversation with them about their commitments to specific churchwide funding campaigns we had. Sometimes, frankly, I was surprised by how little some of our folks committed to the cause; but most of the time, I was humbled and amazed by how sacrificially many of our people gave to God’s work. They, like the Macedonians in Paul’s day, gave first to honor God and then to support our congregation’s work. They gave beyond their means . . . and they found great joy in doing so.
Pam and I have also learned about the joy of giving to God’s work. We are aware that God has been incredibly good to us, and we want to give back to Him with sacrificial and cheerful hearts. That’s easier to do when we remember what God has done for us according to Paul’s words: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: Though he was rich, for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich” (2 Cor 8:9). God’s grace is so great that giving ought to be easy—and fun.
PERSONAL REFLECTION: Do you give sacrificially to God’s work?
DAILY PRAYER: “God, let me give in such a way that I must trust You with my remaining funds.”
TOMORROW’S READINGS:
One-year plan: Proverbs 16-18, 2 Corinthians 9-10
Two-year plan: 2 Samuel 17:15-18:33, John 1:1-18