When it comes to surrendering ourselves to Jesus…often the last part of our lives that we surrender is our money. Jesus expects that as Lord of our lives, he is Lord of all. Yet, for many, we live as practical atheists. Where we say we believe in a Gracious God who will supply all our needs, but we live as if God doesn’t exist. As if the only way to have all our needs met is to disobey what the God we believe in commands us to do.

And for those who have grown in their discipleship and do give…they believe that giving at all is giving enough. Whether it is an amount or a percentage, there is a line to reach, and once it is crossed…we can check the box forever.

But Paul has to teach us that just as we are called to grow in our faith, and grow in our speech and grow in our knowledge, and grow in our earnestness, and grow in our love…we are to keep growing in our generosity.

“Gave themselves first to God then by the will of God to us.”