Verse: 2 Corinthians 8:10-12
10 And here is my judgment about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. 11 Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.
Devotion
I can remember years ago attending a meeting about World Vision. They talked about the kids that they support and how just a little bit of money can legitimately change their lives. We were young at the time and not making a lot of money, but we wanted to help. I remember being frustrated that we didn’t have much to give.
What if in that moment, because we didn’t have much, we had decided NOT to give? Two things: First we would have missed out on the blessing of being generous. And second, we wouldn’t have started a lifelong discipline of giving that has been able to grow in amount as our income has grown.
I like how Paul says here: “the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.” In other words God is more interested in your heart that is willing to give, than he is in the dollar amount you give. If at this time you don’t have a ton of money, figure out how you can give based on what you have! Then as the seasons change and you make more money, you can give more. But don’t feel badly if the amount seems small right now. And also, don’t wait to start being generous until you have “more.” Oftentimes that day is illusive, and in the end we just end up not becoming givers.
So don’t wait. Start now! Where is God asking you to be generous, even if you think the amount is small?
Prayer
God you have been so generous with me, please guide me and teach me how to be generous with others.
Author: Christian Dunn
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