READ: 2 CORINTHIANS
8:1-5
To receive the power of
God, you must be ready to serve. God will not empower lazy Christians who will
end up wasting His resources. God is not interested in pastors who use their
offices and congregation to serve themselves. Our Lord Jesus said He came to
serve, but not to be served. Any pastor or minister that is not prepared to
become a servant, cannot enter into true greatness.
Giving is another basic gift you must develop before God can give you the gifts of the Holy Spirit. God’s gifts are meant for serving others. If you are miserly and God gives you His gifts, you will hoard them and defeat God’s purpose. The more liberal you are, the more liberal God will be to you.
The excuse some Christians give for not giving is that they are poor. But the Scripture says it is the poor that ought to give the most in order to break the yoke of poverty from their lives. In today’s reading, we are told about the church in Macedonia. They had the gift of giving. They were extremely poor, yet they continued to give. If you have no money, you can give your time to God. You can use your voice to worship God. You may not have a monetary seed, but you can sow greater seeds by winning souls to Jesus. You can use your talent or skill to serve the Lord. Nobody is poor all round. Your wealth in other areas can be used in turning your financial poverty around.
Some people do not know how to give. They prefer to give to their dogs than to fellow human beings. It is those who know how to give who will receive from God. If you give to others, they will thank God. When God receives lots of thanks and praises from people on account of your giving, He will give more so that more people will thank Him. If God is not praised or appreciated on your account, it means you are inviting Him to transfer to others what He has given you. Justify God’s blessing in your life.
Giving is another basic gift you must develop before God can give you the gifts of the Holy Spirit. God’s gifts are meant for serving others. If you are miserly and God gives you His gifts, you will hoard them and defeat God’s purpose. The more liberal you are, the more liberal God will be to you.
The excuse some Christians give for not giving is that they are poor. But the Scripture says it is the poor that ought to give the most in order to break the yoke of poverty from their lives. In today’s reading, we are told about the church in Macedonia. They had the gift of giving. They were extremely poor, yet they continued to give. If you have no money, you can give your time to God. You can use your voice to worship God. You may not have a monetary seed, but you can sow greater seeds by winning souls to Jesus. You can use your talent or skill to serve the Lord. Nobody is poor all round. Your wealth in other areas can be used in turning your financial poverty around.
Some people do not know how to give. They prefer to give to their dogs than to fellow human beings. It is those who know how to give who will receive from God. If you give to others, they will thank God. When God receives lots of thanks and praises from people on account of your giving, He will give more so that more people will thank Him. If God is not praised or appreciated on your account, it means you are inviting Him to transfer to others what He has given you. Justify God’s blessing in your life.
MEMORIZE:
PHILIPPIANS 4:18 –But I have all, and abound, I am full, having received of
Epaphroditus the thing which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a
sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God.
