GIVING SACRIFICIALLY FROM OUR DEEPEST POVERTY
Your Ability to Give Has Got Nothing to Do with How Much You Have
MEMORY VERSE
And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave us much as they were able and beyond their ability entirely on their own. (2 Corinthians 8:1-3 NIV)
TEXT: JOHN 12:1-8
Apostle Paul writing from Macedonia hoped that news of the generosity of these churches (i.e. churches at Philippi, Thessalonica and Berea) would encourage the Corinthian believers and motivate them to solve their problems and unite in fellowship. During his third missionary journey, Paul had collected money for the poor believers in Jerusalem which they had sacrificially (deep from poverty) given more than Paul expected although they were poor themselves. One of the things God expects us to do as Christians, is to give liberally or sacrificially from our deep poverty (in spite of our circumstances).
Sacrificial giving is giving out of substance rather than giving in abundance. When we give out of our substance, we are changed in the process. That is giving something we thought we needed for ourselves.
In John 12:1-8, When Jesus had arrived at Bethany, a dinner had been organized to honor Him. Seated with him was Lazarus and others. Mary took a pint of expensive perfume bought by her. Because He raised their only brother Lazarus from the dead, she sacrificially and liberally poured the oil on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. One thing we need to ask ourselves is , how many of us will buy an item to be used for an intended purpose and on seeing a visitor (the person), that expensive item will be used differently. Mary realized it was by grace that her brother was raised. She also decided to give sacrificially;
An expensive perfume of fragrance, which was intended to be used for the day of Jesus burial. We are to do likewise as Christians, by giving sacrificially what we have. Even from our deepest poverty(in spite of circumstances). During offering time, our minds will be at crossroads whether to give sacrificially or not just as Judas suggested(verse 5-6).But remember, God loves a cheerful giver(2 Co. 9:7)
In Luke 21:1-4 also, Jesus saw the rich and poor putting their gifts into temple treasury. He saw a poor widow woman put in two very small copper coins. Jesus told all who were gathered there that the woman has given more than expected because she has given from deep poverty and also what she had live on.
Brethren, the Apostle Paul admonishes us to give from our deepest poverty and sacrificially, what we have. Be it clothing, food, money, etc. to the poor, the needy, the aged and less privileged, if possible beyond our ability. These include what we had to live on just as the poor widow did and the Lord God will change our lives through this.
Let us learn to give sacrificially and the Lord will bless us all Amen.
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