Day 5 - Generosity - A Reminder

2 Corinthians 9:1-5

PAUSE –

As we prepare for prayer, let's pause to clear our hearts and minds to invite God's Spirit to guide us with the words of Psalm 63:1

   You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you,

   I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you,

   In a dry and parched land where there is no water...

In a divided and broken world, we long for a fresh flow of God's living water - the Holy Spirit

REJOICE in God's goodness with the words Psalm 34:1-3

   I will extol the Lord at all times;

   His praise will always be on my lips.

   I will glory in the Lord;

   Let the afflicted hear and rejoice.

Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt His name together. What stirs spontaneous praise in you? Perhaps nature, a beautiful sunset, or majestic mountains. For some the tenderness of a newborn baby, or the joy of children playing or singing. How about the tangible presence of God's grace manifested in a joy-filled baptism.

Does the wonder of God's grace ever wane in your heart? Do you have moments when you take it for granted? Sometimes we need reminders of how remarkable, even unthinkable John 3:16 really is.

   For God so loved the world that he gave his only son.... For Me!!

REFLECT –

Today we are going back to the beginning of Chapter 9 for a reminder... Read 2 Cor. 9:1-5

There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the Lord's people. For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be. For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we - not to say anything about you - would be ashamed of having been so confident. So, I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.

Paul begins this discourse on generosity with a "non-reminder" reminder. "There is no need for me to write to you," he says just before he reminds them of the eagerness of a previously promised generous gift. Do you remember Doug Newton's definition of radical generosity from yesterday? It is a readiness to give away what you yourself need. Paul seems to be priming the readiness pump with the Corinthian church. Have you made a pledge to give a generous faith gift and then "something just came up?" Your transmission went out, your roof leaked, or the furnace went out during a winter storm? Sometimes readiness demons can steal away our eagerness. So, Paul calls the church to maintain their readiness, lest their generous gift become something grudgingly given.

How's your generosity readiness meter these days? Has there been anything dampening your joy in generous service? Is there a fear causing a spirit of hoarding? Is there a cynical spirit casting doubt on whether those in need are worthy of a grace gift? Is there a prejudice toward a person or people that causes you to hold back? Is your first instinct to hold tight? Or is there a readiness to release in faith?

REREAD AND REFLECT - As you read aloud those verses again what word or phrase stands out to you? Do you need the reminder? Is your eagerness still strong? Is your heart generous or grudging?

Ask –

Lift up a prayer asking the Lord to show you people who have a need that might be overlooked. Pray for a generous, gracious gift of readiness to be poured out on the church. Pray that we will see others through the eyes of Jesus, not through any of our cultural categories

Yield - Invite the Holy Spirit to soften your heart, increase your faith, and make you eager to serve others generously.

Offer yourself as a living sacrifice which is your spiritual worship (Romans 12:1)

All my life You have been faithful - All my life you have been so, so good.