Daily Devotion, January 6, 2021

 

Devotion:

Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-10. (NRSV) 

Stingy, Enough, Generous, Lavish, Cheerful. From the NRSV and the Message translations, these are adjectives on a continuum which Paul utilizes to describe ways of giving. These adjectives aren’t just about the giving of money. These words describe additional ways of giving from the heart toward an investment into the lives of others for Christ’s kingdom’s sake. This is also giving time, talents, service and grace toward helping individuals and communities who are experiencing and enduring poverty.

Paul is encouraging the people in this congregation to continue giving generously and cheerfully because these are the ways which God has given and continues to give to them. Paul reminded them of the all sufficiency of God’s resources. Each one could give generously because of God’s grace.

Paul weaves the threads of scriptures from Psalms 112:9 and Isaiah 55:10 into these verses to describe God’s ways of giving. Paul indicated that as God supplied “seed” to the generous “sower” so also, God would supply food, seed, and fruit to the generous giver.

It is our Creator who is truly supplying and providing for all of our needs. Thus, God enables the generous giver to have all of the resources that are necessary to produce a full harvest of good deeds of service unto others. We can completely trust God to provide.

Dr. J. Paul Sampey says,  “Paul writes the word ‘charis’, which is the Greek word for “grace”, ten times in Chapters 8 and 9 of 2 Corinthians. Not only is the charis freely given by God, but also it is given abundantly, beyond measure. The NRSV’s use of ‘generous undertaking’ reflects the translators’ efforts to express that God’s grace, once received, generates grace-laden acts to others and to finish the circle full round, the charis that is received as a gift from God can and does properly flow back to God in the form of grateful thanks from graced recipients. So, for Paul, charis is all at once a gift from God, the good works that charis inspires, and the thanks to God for charis and the abundance that it inevitably brings with it!”

Personal Worship Option:

Dear God, help me to see again all the ways that you provide. You provide enough and so much more. Lead me in ways to give generously and with a cheerful heart. Thank you for your abundant grace. Amen.