Tis the Season: To Give
We began our Tis the Season Series with [To Give]. Christmas has two stories: The one in which God comes to dwell among us - Emmanuel. The second revolves around debt, stress, chaos and getting. We must choose which story we will be known for. After reading from Luke 2 and the story of the birth of Christ, we focused our time in 2 Corinthians 8:1-9,12-15 and the example of the Madionians when it comes to Giving. Here were our take aways:
Giving is a Privilege [2 Corinthians 8:1-5]
“For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem.”
Giving is a Ministry [2 Corinthians 8:6-8]
So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving.
Giving made us Rich [2 Corinthians 8:9]
You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.
“Not only did [Christ] become man for us, but he became poor also. He was born in poor circumstances, lived a poor life, and died in poverty; and this was for our sakes, that we thereby might be made rich, rich in the love and favor of God, rich in the blessings and promises of the new covenant, rich in the hopes of eternal life, being heirs of the kingdom. This is a good reason why we should be charitable to the poor out of what we have, because we ourselves live upon the charity of the Lord Jesus Christ.” Matthew Henry
Giving isn’t about how much, but why [2 Corinthians 8:12-15]
“Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have.”