DCLM Daily Manna 2024: DCLM Daily Manna 19 September 2024: Sacrificial Giving
Text: 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 (KJV)
1 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
KEY VERSE: 2 Corinthians 8:2
“How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.”
In the Baptist Bible Tribune is found the story of Robert Arthington. He lived in a single room, cooked his own meals, and shared his friendship with students in need. Yet he gave tremendous amounts of money during his lifetime to Christian missions. When he died, his estate was worth about $5m, which he willed to missions. After his death, a letter he had received from a missionary was found in his belongings. It said, “Were I in England again, I would gladly live in one room, make the floor my bed, a box my chair, another my table, rather than the heathen should perish for the lack of knowledge of Jesus Christ.”
From the passage, the churches in Macedonia were commended for giving sacrificially to God’s work and the care of the saints. Their generosity was highlighted by Apostle Paul because they gave to the Lord’s service while in deep poverty. On display here too was their resoluteness and determination in giving. When the Apostle pitied their condition and wanted them excused from supporting the work financially, they insisted that they wanted to do it. It was the giving God accepts because they first gave themselves to the Lord and then to His service.
There is blessing in giving to support the work of God. But there are conditions governing it. First, the giver must have been genuinely saved and committed to Christ’s teachings before serving God’s appointed ministers. Second, the sources of income of those who give are equally important. God is not pleased with the proceeds of iniquity being brought into His sanctuary. Giving for the progress of God’s work is good. But sacrificial giving moves Him to bless us even more.
God rewards the faithful and cheerful giver. And thank God everybody can give. No matter how seemingly small your gift may be, so long it comes from a cheerful heart, God is pleased with it and will certainly reward you.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
God looks at the quality, not just the quantity, of what we offer to Him.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Numbers 29-30
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Daily Manna 19 September 2024
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