Let the Thanks Come Out! #19

We've been looking at Paul's letters to the Corinthian church, as he addressed their negative tendencies: to grumble and complain, and live selfishly and sinfully.  He tried to explain to them how inconsistent these were with their being recipients of the grace of God. In chapter nine of his second letter he wrote:

6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written,
“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;
    his righteousness endures forever.”
10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

In particular, he was talking to them about an opportunity to give to an offering for the believers in Judea, who were suffering with famine and persecution. It was an opportunity for them to sow, to invest in what God was doing, His work of Grace. When we do, God gives us grace - the ability to do what we cannot do on our own. When we are generous, we are reflecting the character of God, who has been generous with us. This blesses them; it bears witness to others about the grace and righteousness of God; it gives us the privilege of seeing God work through us; most of all: It brings thanks and glory to God. When we truly appreciate the power of the Gospel in our lives, we will be moved to generosity. When we are ungrateful for all God has done in Christ, we get greedy, selfish, and downright unrighteous. Choose wisely today.