God's Glory Church

“Let everyone give as his heart allows.” — 2 Corinthians 9:7

At the after-school Bible club where my wife Sue serves once a week, students were asked to donate money to help children in war-torn Ukraine. About a week after Sue told our eleven-year-old granddaughter, Maggie, about the project, we received an envelope from her in the mail. In it was $3.45 and a note: “This is all I have for the children in Ukraine. I will send more later.”

Sue did not offer to help Maggie, but perhaps the Lord prompted her to do so. And Maggie, who loves Jesus and wants to live for Him, responded.

We can learn a lot when we think about this small gift from the heart. It reflects some of the instructions regarding giving given by Paul in 2 Corinthians (2 Cor. 9). First, the apostle called us to sow “generously” (v. 6). Giving “all that I have” is certainly a generous gift. Paul also wrote that our gifts should be given with joy, according to God’s guidance and our ability, and “not under compulsion” (v. 7). In addition, he mentioned the value of gifts to the “poor” (v. 9), citing Psalm 111:9.

When there is an opportunity to give gifts, let’s ask what kind of response God expects from us. If we are generous and joyfully direct our gifts to the needs of the needy, then through our gift we give “thanks to God” (2 Cor. 9:11). This is a gift from the heart.

What motivates you to show generosity to others? How do you aim to meet their real needs?

Dear God, please help me to be the kind of generous giver You want me to be – a reflection of Your generous heart.

Author: David Brenon