1 For it is not necessary for me to write you about this service to the saints 2 because I know your eagerness to help. I keep boasting to the Macedonians about this eagerness of yours, that Achaia has been ready to give since last year, and your zeal to participate has stirred up most of them. 3 But I am sending these brothers so that our boasting about you may not be empty in this case, so that you may be ready just as I kept telling them. 4 For if any of the Macedonians should come with me and find that you are not ready to give, we would be humiliated (not to mention you) by this confidence we had in you. 5 Therefore I thought it necessary to urge these brothers to go to you in advance and to arrange ahead of time the generous contribution you had promised, so this may be ready as a generous gift and not as something you feel forced to do.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Dania Mourad

This passage sparked conviction within me as I reflected on our calling to be generous and how I show generosity as a follower of Christ. I am reminded of God and how he generously lavished his love upon us through his only Son’s death on the cross for rebels like you and me. How can I be generous like Christ as I continue my Christian walk? I can carefully consider how God has blessed me and use my strengths to help those in need, be generous in my tithings, serve others with my time and gifts, and ultimately use what I have for God. 

However, Paul says in verse 5 that we should not give grudgingly. Rather, we are called to be generous with how we give and serve, because all good things come from God. I think of times where I have limited my generosity for personal convenience, or even not given at all. That comes from the selfishness that is innate to my flesh. But this passage both encourages and challenges me to truthfully assess my attitude and the condition of my heart when I generously give as a follower of Christ. I strive to be a cheerful giver who does so willingly in light of what Christ has done for me. We see Christ’s generosity on the cross connect his people as the body of Christ and therefore bring about God’s glory. My prayer for myself and the church is that we continue to imitate Christ’s perfect example of generosity on the cross. May he give us the strength and wisdom to carry out this calling to ultimately bring him glory. I pray that God replenishes our giving so we are able to consistently live this out and become increasingly Christlike.

In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dania is a member of our Bossley Park Morning congregation.