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by Kevin Pauley
As you are enriched in every way for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us. - 2 Corinthians 9:11 HCSB
Adonai doesn’t give blessings so we can just selfishly consume them and wallow in self-indulgence. His many blessings are always given so that we can do for others what He has done for us. As He has gifted us, so we offer our gift to others. As He has empowered us by giving to us, so should we be generous to others.
The most dangerous cult in America is not Mormonism, Unitarianism, Spiritism or any other “ism”. The cult that hinders the Gospel the most is the cult of self. The Church has been blessed with many and varied gifts, but they are largely remaining unused because God’s people are using them for everything but God’s Church. Most are using Yahweh Yireh’s gifts to make money, to buy SUVs or plasma TVs. Many more are giving back token gifts only, trying to assuage their guilt by dropping a twenty into the offering plate or by showing up once in while when their golf schedule allows.
God is not opposed to His children having nice things or unique opportunities. But when His gifts are used merely to build the self and are not turned to be used for the good of mankind in general or for the Church specifically, the King can get perturbed.
Adonai wants us to imitate Him in everything. As He has forgiven us, so we should forgive others. As He is holy, so should we be holy. As we have freely received, so we should freely give. God knows what it is like to be a generous giver and He wants us to enter into that blessed state with Him. God loves a “cheerful giver.” What is a “cheerful giver”? Someone who gives because he wants to, a motivated and (dare I say it) excited giver.
Something happened to the hearts of the people of Israel. When they began building the tabernacle, they got so excited about it, and gave so generously that Moses finally had to command, “Bring no more materials! You’ve already given more than enough!”[1] How many pastors get to say that? I think it is safe to say that Hashem was pleased. Unfortunately, later in their history[2], they lost their zeal for the house of the Lord and it showed. God had to step in and correct their selfishness and lack of gratitude.
Many give the Lord their second best, their throw-aways, what’s left when everything else has been taken care of. But “he who gives what he would as readily thrown away, gives without generosity, for the essence of generosity is in self-sacrifice.”[3]
That was the generosity of the widow in Mark 12 that Jesus commended. That was the generosity that David displayed in worship.[4] Giving without personal sacrifice is really just cleaning out the attic! Think about it – God gave us the best He had. How dare we give less back?
[3] Sir Henry Taylor
Kevin Pauley is a pastor and writer. He lives in Illinois with his wife, Lynn, their five children and two dogs. His internet address is Berea.
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