19/03/08

When Our Giving Expresses a Given Heart

....entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will. - 2 Corinthians 8:3c-5

Those Macedonian believers gave out of severe trial and extreme poverty. They gave joyously and generously, pleading for the privilege of giving to the saints in need. They gave as they did because they first gave themselves to the Lord.

Not by its size is my gift judged, but by how much of me there is in it. No man gives at all until he has given all. No man gives anything acceptable to God until he has first given himself in love and sacrifice. The hero is cited by his country not for the number of persons he has saved only, but for the degree of danger to himself present in his act. Service that can be done without peril, that carries no loss, no sacrifice, does not rate high in the sight of men or God. In the work of the Body of Christ the amount one man must do to accomplish a given task is determined by how much or how little the rest of the company is willing to do. The typical church is composed of the few whose shoulders are bruised by their faithful labors and the many who are unwilling to raise a blister in the service of God and their fellow men. There may be a bit of wry humor in all this, but it is quite certain that there will be no laughter when each of us gives account to God of the deeds done in the body.


[ Prayer Starter ]

Lord Jesus, You loved us so much that You gave yourself on the cross for us. You were God in Heaven and You humble yourself to a mere man to die for me and save me. Help me Lord to surrender myself fully for your purpose on earth. Lord, in giving myself to You I also include my billfold. I ask this prayer in your Holy Name, Amen.


The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others.
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