December 14: How I Give

At the Christmas season, perhaps we can profit by deliberately directing our attention completely away from the gifts and concentrate on our attitude toward giving. Further, we can probably see more clearly if we turn from people closest to us and toward those genuinely in need. Nevertheless, let’s highlight five qualities of biblical sharing as shown by the Corinthian Christians.

• When the chance came to share with others, the believers in Corinth embraced opportunity with eagerness (vv. 1-2). The destitute "saints," i.e., believers, to whom the Corinthians had dedicated their money, lived far away in Jerusalem (8:4). Paul began his appeal to the Corinthians with a compliment about their dedication. His words, he admitted probably were unnecessary. He had even bragged about them to fellow believers in Macedonia, how the people were eager to help the previous year when he had made known the terrible plight of the Jerusalem church. In spite of the moral lapse of a church member (1 Cor. 5:1), laxity in ways of observing the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 10:16-22), and other problems, the people were able to overcome while maintaining a positive attitude toward Christian ministry.

• Paul challenged the church to maintain a state of readiness (vv. 3-5). He knew they had promised an offering several months earlier, but he was not certain what may have transpired since his last report from them. Perhaps to lay a slight "guilt trip" on them, he informed them of how much he had bragged to some "brethren" about their dedication (v. 3). They surely would not bring shame on them and him (v. 4) at what could prove to be his misplaced confidence in them. His thrice use of the word "before" (v. 5) is intended to spur them to no further delay in collecting the funds.

• Not to leave the impression of their acting from undue pressure from them, he emphasized the importance of giving out of cheerfulness (v. 7). The word "grudgingly" carries the idea of acting out of grief. Grudging givers hold on to their money, as though parting with it stabs the heart. Knowing the heart anticipates the hand, Paul cautioned them to keep their hearts right in order to keep their "check book" open. God loves a cheerful giver. He can use the money to help others, but the reluctant donor loses the blessing of joyful giving.

• Those refusing to share miss out on God’s reward for big-heartedness (vv. 6, 8-10). Using an illustration from farming, Paul reminded them of an obvious truth. Those who refuse to plant seeds can reap no harvest later on. The same principle applies in the spiritual realm. God rewards the bountiful sower in two ways. First, He makes grace abound towards them. The grace refers to such qualities as love, joy, and peace (Gal. 5:22-23), not to financial investments even though He may grant those from time to time. Those acts of righteousness, the evidences of regenerated people, spread across the land as believers invest in the lives of others. God is thereby glorified.

• Finally, we help others from a deep sense of thankfulness (vv. 11-15). Because God in His grace reached down to us while we were sinners, we owe everything we have to Him. Those who have a part in relieving distress in others always experience a feeling of thankfulness that they are not on the receiving end of someone else’s generosity.

At this Christmas season, we should all make verse 15 our prayer. "Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable Gift." We owe it all to Jesus.