Wednesday, May 25
Enthusiastic and generous
Scripture: 2 Samuel 19-20, Psalm 61, 2 Corinthians 9
2 Corinthians 9:2 For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action.
2 Corinthians 9:6–8 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
Observation
“Your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action.” Their eagerness to help inspired others to help. They didn’t just give, they gave enthusiastically, and it was their enthusiasm that inspired others.
“God is able to bless you abundantly.” I say all the time, “You can’t outgive God.” These few verses emphasize that idea. Sow generously and you reap generously. God will bless you so abundantly that in all things at all times having all that you need you will abound in all good works. Paul piles up the superlatives—all, all, all, all—to show that you can’t outgive God, that His abundant blessing will far surpass your most generous offering.
Application
Two things:
First, live for God enthusiastically. It’s possible to do God’s will reluctantly, glumly, barely. I think of the boy who kept standing up at the dinner table and finally his exasperated father said, “Enough! Sit down and don’t stand up again!” The boy sat down glumly and muttered, “I’m sitting down on the outside, but I’m standing up on the inside.” Too much of our obedience is offered glumly, dutifully, not joyfully and with enthusiasm. That kind of obedience inspires no one.
So live for God enthusiastically. That will inspire others to follow.
Second, live generously. It’s so easy to be tight-fisted and stingy. I’m naturally me-first. But God is incredibly generous with us! “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” 2 Corinthians 9:15. When you bask in His generosity, your tight heart begins to loosen and open up. And when you realize that whatever you give comes back to you “pressed down, shaken together and running over (Luke 6:38)”, you begin to live generously. Because…
You can’t outgive God!
Prayer: Simple prayer today Lord: help me to live for God enthusiastically and generously! And let that inspire others to do the same.