TO GIVE AS PRESCRIBED

Saturday: 10th August, 2019

Reference text: 2 Corinthians 9:6-10

2 Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

Summaries enable things to be seen at a glance without much effort. Thus, a good summary captures key elements of a document without excess floss. The text for today can thus be presented in this simple summary:

‘When giving, a smiling heart is preferred to a smiling face’.

The only recommended way to give therefore, is to decide to do so personally, of one’s own accord.

Thus, seeking to receive anything through coercion, threats or blackmail is discouraged because although a gift may be given, its giver does so not from a happy heart. So while we can look back at the long list of things we have given, amongst them, there are many about which we won’t be confident to say ‘we really gave them out’.

We cry out ‘Lord, I give you my heart’. Dare I ask, in our yes to God, have we really given it all to Him or just a part because He asked us to? Have we not held back anything?
In our relationship with our spouses, children and family: have we given and are we giving our all?
In our attitude towards our jobs, careers and studies, have we really given? I only want us to picture what the state of our heart is when we consciously decide to give.

Beloved, whenever God has said Yes to man, the giving that followed could not be disputed. From the time of Abraham through to the passion of Christ, even until now, whenever God gave; He really gave and you could tell it proceeded from a place of pure love. So just one question to ponder on this day:

‘When God gives, He really gives. We claim to also be givers, but have we really given as prescribed?’

#sly