Excelling in The Grace of Giving!

Scripture Passage:

2 Corinthians 8:7

⁷ Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

Devotion:

Paul's encouragement to the Corinthians in this verse is subtler yet very potent. It is generous giving, implying that it is indeed a foundation of being a Christian. Despite all the praise for their growth in faith, speech, knowledge, and love, he challenged them. Excel even in this grace, giving gives one the capacity to do it from the power of God in him.

Now, generous giving goes beyond giving to the cause; it accounts for a transformed heart by the grace of God, and giving becomes cheerful, sacrificial, and connected to love. When giving, we show aspects of the heart of Christ: Giving was done without regard to reciprocation. This kind of giving becomes one method of worshipping and obeying God, a way of worshipping Him in service to the other.

The Word tells us that generosity, like giving, is something to maintain, just like prayer, the Word, or witnessing about Christ. As our walk with Jesus continues, we deliberately strive to grow in giving—giving of time, talent, and treasure. When we excel in this grace of giving, we are channels through which God's blessing reaches others, and we become happy and fulfilled in experiencing His great work.

Application:

Reflect on how much you give for a moment. Are you excelling in this grace, or is it just an area where God is calling you forth? The truth is, most giving has nothing to do with the amount given but the motive behind it.

Prayer:

Lord God, your lavish grace and generosity leave us with grateful hearts in many ways. You teach us to excel in the dignity of giving and so provide for each other that we must demonstrate Your love and kindness here. Change our hearts so that we become cheerful and sacrificial givers, trusting in You for Your provision. Teach us to see giving as an act of worship and a means of participating in Your work. May our generous giving bring the greatest glory to You. In Jesus' name, Amen.