Day Ten. Principle: Willingness
Scripture:
Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 2 Corinthians 8:3b-4
Thoughts:
You could tell God was at work in the lives of the Macedonians because no one had to coerce them into giving. The opposite is true; they pleaded with Paul for the privilege of sharing with others. That's evidence of a true work of God. People were eager to give. Consider a similar example when the tabernacle was constructed in Exodus 36:
"Then Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the LORD had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work. They received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. So all the skilled craftsmen who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left their work and said to Moses, 'The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the LORD commanded to be done.'
"Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: 'No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.' And so the people were restrained from bringing more, because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work." (Exodus 36:2-7)
The people were so willing to give that they gave more than enough. Moses actually had to tell them to stop giving.
In Corinthians we read, "Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously." (2 Corinthians 9:6)
This is not a promise that if we give generously God will make us rich. But it is saying that if we sow a little into God's kingdom, we will reap a little. If we sow generously, we will reap a generous amount. The kingdom grows and prospers when we give willingly and generously.
Reflection:
What impact is God's Word having on my willingness to give generously? How are my thoughts on stewardship being transformed?
Prayer:
Generous God, free me up to give willingly. Remove from my heart everything that holds me back from giving freely to Your purposes. Reveal to me any places in my heart that are not open to Your work.
