Not Mine

The first game you ever learn as a child? "Mine." See something, take it, say, "Mine." Then when someone else tries to take it away from you, scream even louder... "MINE!" Then when they still don't give it back, cry and fuss and throw a temper tantrum.

Can you tell I have a toddler right now?

What is it about us and our innate desire for owning and holding stuff? It's just stuff!

Paul does something interesting to call upon the Corinthians to be generous. He quotes a scripture about the manna God gave the Israelites in the desert during their 40 years of wandering.  Here's the quote in context:

2 Corinthians 8:13–15 (ESV) For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness 14 your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. 15 As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”

He's calling on this very wealthy church in Corinth to follow through in giving to the needs of the church suffering in Jerusalem. He wants their generosity to match the incredible generosity of the Macedonian churches who gave "out of their extreme poverty." 

In the wilderness it was God who gave, in the New Testament it is God's people who give! But we will never give if we do not trust God for two things:

1. The bread awaiting us today.

2. The opportunity to gather today.

Working and giving should be a regular exercise of the Christian experience. We are made in the image of God who WORKED to create the Earth and then GAVE it to mankind.

I saw a commercial advertising your chance to win $7000.00/week for life. Who wouldn't like that? Free money with no work? Sounds great. But then I found myself asking "What would I do if I got that prize?" The answer? I would move to a beach and stop doing what God wanted me to do where God wants me to do it! I'd eventually get bored to tears! 

The lesson of money is twofold, gather and give. Praise God for the ability to work! It is what you are made for. Then praise God for the plenty He provides through your hard work. Finally, GIVE! Give because you know tomorrow is another day to gather once again by the grace of Almighty God.

It's not MINE. It's today's. And when the church catches this, it should be enough for everyone.

PRAYER:

Father, I want to WANT to be generous. I pray for the passion to give as You give. Holy Spirit, fill my heart and speak to me to be generous on every occasion. I want to reflect the generous nature of You, Lord, in Jesus' Name. Amen.