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In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul praises the generosity of the church at Macedonia. He uses their giving as an example to challenge the church at Corinth. He says gently to the Corinthians, "But since you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love, we have kindled in you--see that you also excel in this grace of giving."
As Randy Alcorn points out, "Jesus said it is more blessed to give, but He never says why. Here's my why behind his statement. When you keep what you have, you will be blessed. The more you keep the more you have the more you have the more you can spend on yourself. If you give, on the other hand, two people will be blessed by 'your' money--you and the recipient. Keeping blesses one--giving blesses two. . . People never discover the second blessing until they actually do it, and I have learned the more they do it the more addictive giving becomes."
God is love, and out of that overflowing love God is continually giving good gifts--blessings--to us. And God wants us to share in the joy of giving by giving generously to others. Love is the true sword that slays the dragons of materialism, greed, pride, and self-centeredness. Love sets us free to be a blessing to others. We think more money will set us free, but is rarely the answer. Love for God and trust in God's blessings set us free to be a blessing to the world.
How about you and me? Paul told the Corinthians they were doing great in every area except one. If they wanted to excel--to know what rich is--they'd learn to give.
Many years ago, after a devastating flood affected parts of California, the president of the Guerneville, California Rotary Club received a letter from the president of the Rotary Club of Burundi, Africa. The letter read, "In the spirit of Rotary International, a club even as poor as ours wishes to share this modest contribution from the members in response to the flood that devastated your area. We trust this minute contribution would display our solidarity with you in your time of grief." Enclosed was a $200 check.
When you and I keep what we have, we are the only ones to experience a blessing. When we give what we have to others, the blessing is multiplied and the joy overflows. What about you and me? Do we want to grow in our love for God and others? Do we want to know how overflowing joy and rich generosity can transform our lives? Generous giving to the work of God is the best way to experience this in our own lives today.
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Rev. Charles Eldredge is pastor of Maitland Church of the Brethren, Lewistown, PA where he is currently serving in his 28th year. He graduated from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in S. Hamilton, MA.