Utah's Hope

What if one of the clearest signs of generosity isn’t simply how much we give, but how deeply we desire to participate?

In 2 Corinthians 8, the apostle Paul describes a group of believers whose generosity was remarkable—not because they had abundant resources, but because they were eager to give even amid significant hardship.

Their example shows us what happens when grace transforms the heart.

Paul is writing to encourage the church in Corinth to participate in a collection for believers in Jerusalem who were experiencing severe need. To encourage them, he points to the churches of Macedonia.

But the Macedonians weren’t wealthy benefactors with plenty to spare. Paul writes:

“We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints.” - 2 Corinthians 8:1–4

Paul describes their circumstances in striking terms: severe affliction and extreme poverty. Yet alongside those circumstances was an “abundance of joy,” and somehow the combination overflowed into generosity.

Perhaps the most surprising detail is that they begged to give.

Paul wasn’t begging them for money. They were asking Paul for the privilege of participating.

That posture can feel unfamiliar. Even within the church, giving can easily begin to feel like another financial obligation—a bill to pay, a percentage to calculate, or a requirement to satisfy. The question becomes, “How much am I supposed to give?”

The Macedonians appear to be asking a very different question: How can we be part of this?

They knew their brothers and sisters were suffering, and they didn’t want their own difficult circumstances to prevent them from participating in their care.

Paul tells us where that desire came from. He begins the passage not by praising the impressive generosity of the Macedonians, but by saying, “We want you to know…about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia.”

Their generosity was evidence of God’s grace at work in them. Verse 5 takes us even deeper: “They gave themselves first to the Lord.”

That came before the money. Before offering their resources, they had entrusted themselves to God.

When we understand that we belong to Christ and that everything we have ultimately comes from His hand, generosity looks different. It becomes less about losing something and more about participating in what God is doing.

That doesn’t mean Scripture calls Christians to give recklessly or neglect legitimate responsibilities. Paul provides important balance later in the same chapter:

“For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.” - 2 Corinthians 8:12

Paul continues by explaining that his goal is not for some believers to be relieved while others are left burdened. Rather, he describes a kind of mutual care in which one person’s abundance can meet another person’s need.

So the point of the Macedonians’ example is not that everyone should give beyond what they can responsibly afford. The deeper lesson is about the posture of the heart.

Do I primarily see generosity as something being taken from me, or as an opportunity God may be placing before me?

When I encounter someone in need, is my first instinct to protect what is mine, or am I willing to ask whether God has entrusted me with something I can share?

The Macedonians’ c

Have you noticed how problems always seem bigger in the middle of the night? They can overwhelm us. They can rob us of sleep and steal our peace. In the middle of the night, when we can’t figure out what to do, we need to remember that God works the night shift. He’s up all night anyway, why not cast our cares on Him? Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie returns to the Sermon on the Mount for great reassurance from Jesus Himself for worry-free days and restful nights.

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What will you leave to the next generation, and will they be prepared to steward it well? A faithful wealth transfer involves more than deciding who gets what. In Scripture, David prepared Solomon not only with resources, but also with wisdom, purpose, and responsibility. On the next Faith & Finance Live, Rob West and Dr. Kelly Rush explore David’s example about passing wealth well. Then, it’s on to calls. That’s Faith & Finance Live, biblical wisdom for your financial journey. That’s weekdays at 4pm Eastern/3pm Central on Moody Radio.

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What will you leave to the next generation—and will they be prepared to steward it well?

A faithful wealth transfer involves more than deciding who gets what. It means thinking carefully about the people who will receive those resources and whether they have the wisdom, maturity, and spiritual foundation to handle them faithfully.

Dr. Kelly Rush, Professor of Finance, Financial Planning Program Coordinator, and Chair of Business and Technology at Mount Vernon Nazarene University, points to David and Solomon as a compelling biblical example. Rush, who also serves on the board of Kingdom Advisors, says David did more than accumulate resources for his son. He prepared Solomon for both great wealth and great responsibility.

David knew Solomon would eventually build the temple in Jerusalem. So before transferring tremendous resources, David helped prepare his son for the work ahead.

His example offers families four important principles for thinking about wealth transfer today.

The first principle is unity: husbands and wives should agree on their plans for transferring wealth.

We see this in 1 Kings 1. As David neared the end of his life, his son Adonijah attempted to establish himself as king. Bathsheba approached David and reminded him of the commitment concerning Solomon. David acted, and Solomon was publicly established as his successor.

For families today, the circumstances are obviously very different, but the underlying principle remains valuable. Parents should work toward a shared vision for what they hope their wealth will accomplish and how it will eventually be distributed.

That unity can clarify the plan for the entire family. Children and other heirs are less likely to receive conflicting messages when parents have already worked through difficult questions together.

Before asking, “How much should we leave?” couples may need to begin with a more fundamental question: “Are we united about what we hope this wealth will accomplish?”

Assets will eventually change hands. The larger question is whether wisdom will accompany them.

David understood that Solomon needed more than resources. He needed spiritual and practical preparation.

David prayed that God would give Solomon wisdom and understanding, and he personally instructed his son to know the Lord and serve Him wholeheartedly. He also gave Solomon detailed plans for the temple and prepared him for the responsibilities he would inherit.

In other words, David did not simply leave Solomon a fortune and expect him to figure things out.

Parents today have a similar opportunity. Children and grandchildren can be taught biblical principles of stewardship alongside practical financial skills such as budgeting, saving, giving, investing, and making wise decisions.

The goal is not merely to prepare assets for heirs. It is to prepare heirs for assets.

That preparation may begin long before an inheritance is in view. Younger children can learn to manage small amounts of money and decide how to give. Teenagers can take on greater financial responsibilities. Adult children can increasingly participate in conversations about family resources, generosity, and long-term plans.

Wealth without wisdom can create significant challenges. But when wisdom comes first, financial resources can become another tool the next generation is prepared to steward faithfully.

David recognized something important about Solomon: he was “young and inexperienced” (1 Chronicles 22:5).

So David prepared him gradually. He imparted wisdom. He supplied practical plans and instructions. Eventually, Solomon received the resources he