Thursday, April 29

Increase my generosity

Scripture: Judges 21, Proverbs 10, 1 Corinthians 16

1 Corinthians 16:1–2 Now about the collection for the Lord’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.

Observation

Paul was collecting an offering from the Gentile churches to help the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem who were experiencing famine and poverty (see 2 Corinthians 8-9, Acts 24:17, 11:29, 30; Romans 15:25–28, 31).  Here he gives instructions for that offering—instructions that contain valuable principles on generosity.  Their giving was to be:

      • Regular: “on the first day of every week.”  Giving isn’t a one time thing, but a regular, scheduled activity.  The first day of the week was the day Christians gathered for worship, so it was a natural time to give.
      • Universal: “each one of you.”  Everyone was to give what they could, large or small.  Generosity is a Christian value that is to be practiced by all.
      • Planned: “set aside a sum of money.”  They were saving the offering week by week to be given to Paul when he arrived.  This implies planning.  It’s fine to give spontaneously, but giving should also be planned, budgeted.
      • Proportionate: “in keeping with your income.”  The more you make, the more you give.  Tithing (giving 10%) accomplishes this in part, since a wealthy person’s tithe will be larger than a poor person’s tithe.  However, as our income increases, so should our generosity, which means that the percentage goes up, not down.  For example, someone who makes a million a year could give 50% and still live comfortably on half a million.

Application

I’ve been tempted to rein in my giving, reduce it, since my salary has gone down in my new role.  However, in September, my Social Security benefits will kick in, and I’ll be making more money than I’ve ever made in my life.  Now is not the time to reduce, but increase!  I’m going to prayerfully increase my giving to Life Center, to the mission of Jesus, and to the poor.  I’ll do that as Paul says here: regularly (month by month), planned (I’ll prayerfully add new giving in my monthly budget), and proportionately (I’ll increase my giving to reflect an increase in my income).  

Prayer: Lord, You have always been so generous with me—starting with Jesus giving His life for me!  Help me to always be generous in return.  Free me from any selfishness, stinginess, or small faith to be open-handed and liberal.  Increase my generosity!