Read 2 Corinthians 8-13
Back in 1966, I was speaking for a week of meetings in Holyoke, Colorado, when I noticed they took up at least one offering every meeting. My home church had an offering box in the foyer and never passed a collection plate. I asked the pastor why he took up so many offerings. The country-boy minister said “haven’t you watched the people during collection time? It is the happiest part of the service” And I think he is right.
In 2 Corinthians 8 – 9, Paul is encouraging the Corinthian church to give “cheerfully”, sacrificially, proportionately and graciously to help in famine relief for the churches in Judea. There are two reasons for collections to be made today: evangelism and benevolence. Both are pressing needs. Paul urges the church to engage in the “grace of giving”.
I am especially moved by two verses in these chapters:
- 8:9: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”
- 9:15: “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”
One can’t out give God. As I get older I find more and more joy in giving, which proves true Christ’s words: “It’s more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).
- Dr. Wayne Bigelow serves as the Seniors Pastor at Adventure Christian Church
