2 CORINTHIANS 9

Heart Issues
I want to always hold God’s possessions empty handed. When I begin to use the word mine, I am already out of context. I am only a steward, not an owner. All that I possess on earth is given to me, I have not earned it. God has provided and will provide for my family, my role is to hold it out to Him and ask Him what He would have me do with it all. I don’t own anything, but I am a steward of many things. If God can receive praise through the car He has provided for us, awesome!!! If God can receive glory through the house, food, computer, shoes, tv, etc. He has provided for us, then Amen!! Let all of our stuff sing praise to Him for He has given and He can take away at any moment. When I hold my stuff too tightly it hurts when my fingers are pried apart to rip it from me, but if it is openly held my fingers don’t have any scarring when it is gently lifted from my hands.

Notes
-Giving to the Lord is key in our lives and is a service to the saints. Remember that saints are not always a reference to some Super Christian, but Paul many times referred to all Christians as saints. He says that we are serving the saints as we give to the Lord for it will meet a need of another brother/sister in Christ.
-He is encouraging them to go ahead and start giving so that he may not have to ask for a huge offering when he comes. He wants them to give cheerfully not grudgingly. Sometimes it would be hard to give $1200 but to give $100 each month doesn’t sound as huge.
-There is a blessing that comes with our giving. God will bless those that sow generously and this message comes not only to our money but our relationships and evangelism as well. We will not reap where we have not sown, but a harvest is waiting as we sow seed generously.
-I love that the reason for God making us rich is not for our pleasure, but to continue to give generously. We cannot give what we don’t have, but what a privilege to support missions and to meet the needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ with the blessing that God has given us.
-It not only meets a need, but it does what we were created to do. It makes God look good when we give. Thanksgiving goes out to Him, not to us, and that is the beauty of the gift.