Weekly Devotions

2Corinthians 9:6-15

There may be nothing the church is reminded of more in scripture than the need to be generous.

When we are generous it becomes one of the ways we display the grace of God at work in our world. When we are generous, we build a hedge against the temptation of greed and selfishness that is at the center of a broken world.

When we are generous, we become like Christ who from his generosity made new life possible. He who was rich became poor for us that by his poverty we might be made rich. It was an act of generosity for Christ to come into the world and die in our place for the sins of all of humanity. Generosity is central to the church and it is one of the many things that makes the church different and Christian witness different.

Paul reminds the Corinthian church of its need to be generous. The church at Corinth had an abundance of gifts, resources and people but it lacked in its willingness to be generous. The Corinthians were quick to take note of what they had but gave little attention to what they gave away.

Paul has been collecting gifts to assist the church at Jerusalem that was going through a famine. Paul believed it was only right for the churches that he had planted in the faith to give. The Corinthians were lacking behind in their gift and were resistant to the idea of helping persons they did not know.

We can always find an excuse not to be generous. If there was ever a time the church needed to be generous it is now in the midst of a worldwide pandemic. Countless persons are unemployed, suffering from food insecurity and mental health needs. Politics has prevented Congress from passing an economic aid bill that could have been a lifeline for many.

The church is able to be a beacon of light that shines in the darkness by its commitment to generosity. The rendering of generosity not only meets the needs of others but overflows as a witness of thanksgiving to God. Generosity can be symbol of hope that says what is possible in our world when people choose to be generous.

As much as you possibly can, be generous. Tip service providers, provide a meal for someone, provide an unsolicited gift. Do the things that tell others that grace is alive in a pandemic because grace is leading you to be generous. For Christ’s Sake, be generous.