JusticeSample

GIVING WITH A GRATEFUL HEART/EXCEL IN GIVING The beginning of this chapter in II Corinthians 8, it tells us how generous the Macedonian Churches had been. The persecution and poverty of the Macedonian Christians did not close off their generosity. Paul was aware of their poverty and apparently at first did not ask them to contribute. But when the Macedonian Christians heard of the collection, they begged him to allow them to participate. The beautiful act we find here is they were poor and in trouble but they gave far more than anyone could have expected. Paul cites the example of Jesus Christ. The challenge to all of us Christians is, with such tremendous example of generosity, how can we hold back?” William Barclay says,” No gift can be in any real sense a gift unless the giver gives with it a bit of himself.” That is why he says, personal giving is always the highest kind, and that is the kind of giving of which Jesus Christ is the supreme example. Dear God, Grant us the love which is generous in help. We pray for the blessing on all kinds of people with their widely diverse needs. Help us Lord to exhibit your generous spirit to other people. - Amen Our life of poverty is as necessary as the work itself. Only in heaven will we see how much we owe to the poor for helping us to love God better because of them. - Mother Teresa