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Live Graciously, Give Generously

(2 Corinth 6-15—Ps Paw Liang)



How is our giving? Let’s look into our heart: What’s the reason I give? What’s the reason I won’t give? In chapter 8, Paul commends the Corinthians’ generosity and in Ch 9, he emphasizes some principles in giving:  
1) Give in a way that it will be pleasing to God!
2) Give in a way that it will bring praises to God’s name!
3) Give in a way that people will see the Christ in you and pray for you!

1. A Grateful heart (vv 12-15)
This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God (9:12). Giving is a respond to God’s kindness and generosity. Generosity is focus on others, on God’s  Kingdom. Generosity starts from our relationship and knowledge about God. Our God is the God of abundance who cares and provides us generously.  In the dessert, God taught the Israel to depend and trust Him. Using the Omer, Israel had to take according to their needs. When they began to settle down in the Promised Land, God  taught them to be generous and share with other, in the law of gleaning, “'When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you. I am the LORD your God.'“ (Leviticus 23:22)

2. A Purposeful & Cheerful Heart
 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. (9:7) Do we give a careful thought of how, where, and when to give? Our Lord is a gracious Lord and He wants us to live graciously. He entrusts us with all kinds of blessings so that we can live well. Do we take a pause to ponder all these blessings, to enjoy the labour of our hands? We need to be a good steward of our own life and the blessings that God has given to us. Give with a purpose, to please God and to bless others so they, too, may experience the goodness of God, and in return will pray for you. For this, we can’t live haphazardly. Carefully plan for your life, allocate your resources, including time and money! Be gracious to yourself! (Deut 14:26a) Every one of us has different needs, see what is good for you and your family and “give purposefully—make a good calculation, prepare for the giving”. Give as the spirit moves you, not out of compulsion for God loves cheerful giver. Pray and ask God to help to work out on your BUDGET? And learn the joy of giving-- See the joy of those who receives it. See how people have been blessed because of your giving – ministry flourished.

3. A Trustful Heart (vv 8-11)
The Tithe is first and foremost is the matter of trust and good stewardship, not so much the number: Where do we put our trust: our wealth or God? In fact the ancient Israel had three tithes and gave 23% in total. What we do with our money reveals our priorities, our values, our allegiance and our sense of security. A grateful, cheerful and trustful heart is more important than obliging to the law. Through the prophet Malachi, God challenges us, “Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store

Be intentional about generosity; learn way to give and find out information how you can give! Live graciously and give generously! Be gracious with yourself! Enjoy God’s grace and blessings! Let the grace of God promotes a grateful heart in you! May your grateful heart moves you to please God with all you are! Enable you to be generous, to share God’s blessing to others so they too may praise your God and pray for you. For generous is a sign of a disciple, not richness! (PLT)




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