Monday, 10 July 2023
GIVE JOYFULLY IN FAITH
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7).
The story of Abraham in Genesis 22 helps us to better understand Paul’s words in our opening scripture. After years of waiting to have a child, Abraham and Sarah eventually gave birth to Isaac in their old age. But one day, God asked Abraham to offer his only son, Isaac, as a sacrifice (Genesis 22:2).
I’m aware that there’re religious books and certain movies that highlight Abraham’s disappointment upon receiving that instruction. To them, he gave Isaac reluctantly, grudgingly, sorrowfully, and regretfully. No, he wasn't sorrowful; he did it by faith.
Remember the Bible calls Abraham the father of faith; he was a man of faith who demonstrated his faith that God could raise Isaac from the dead, and symbolically, that’s exactly what happened: “By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son… Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death (Hebrews 11:17-19 NIV).
Abraham trusted completely in the Lord and offered Isaac cheerfully. No wonder, in the Lord’s impending judgement against Sodom, He deliberated, “…Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do?” (Genesis 18:17). God wouldn’t leave Abraham out of His plans; He wouldn’t do without him. That’s exactly what the Word says in 2 Corinthians 9:7 AMPC: “...for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, “prompt to do it”) giver [whose heart is in his giving]."
We’re Abraham’s seed. Like him, we give in faith; we’re cheerful, joyous, “prompt to do it” givers. We give from the heart, and nothing is ever too much for us to put into the spread of the Gospel. The result is a life ofever-increasing greatness, relevance and impact in the Kingdom of God. Hallelujah!
CONFESSION: I give cheerfully for the propagation of the Gospel, and as a result, the Lord multiplies the fruits of my righteousness, even as He has made all grace available to me, to have all sufficiency in all things. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Acts 20:35; Matthew 19:21; Luke 6:38
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 20:17-38 & Job 22-24
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Luke 8:1-10 & Joshua 6