It does not surprise us that people suffer.  It does not surprise us that people are gracious and generous. It does surprise us when people who are suffering are gracious and generous. 

Yet that’s exactly what we see in the example Paul gives in 2 Corinthians 8. A group of people who in their “severe trial” experienced “overflowing joy,” in their “extreme poverty” displayed “rich generosity.”

As we seek to build resilience, we would do well to remember:

• Throwing a pity party for yourself, while understandable, is seldom helpful.
• Helping others might well get you on the road to your own healing.
• When you’re financially challenged, the biggest gifts you ever give might well be the small gifts you give.
• God isn’t as impressed by the amount written on the check so much as the amount of sacrifice offered.

Text: 2 Corinthians 8

Originally recorded June 14, 2015, at Fellowship Missionary Church, Fort Wayne, IN.

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