“they gave themselves first to the Lord”
When I hear of the need of another, that need can stir me to acts of generosity. My problem, however, is that once that need is no longer on my radar, I can all too easily cease being generous.
In today’s passage Paul urges the Corinthians to complete the offering they had pledged to make. They, like many of us, were facing the temptation of making a generous pledge but not actually giving as they said they would. Therefore, Paul writes a very wonderful sentence which gives the reason for the Macedonians’ sustained generosity.
“they gave themselves first to the Lord”
Frankly this is the reason my giving to the Lord has been sustained and consistent for the last 29 years.
The first thing I do is tithe, which means I give 10% of my gross income to the Lord’s storehouse which is the church. Second I give my offerings, which is over and above the tithe, to ministries such as our deacons, Urban Promise and more. I do this because the Bible teaches that God tells me to do this. So, if want to “give myself first to the Lord” I must do what He says. I am reminded of the following verses.
“The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your life” Deuteronomy 14:23
In the end it is obedience that keeps me (and I think most of us) consistently generous.
Tithing also teaches us God's extravagant faithfulness. We learn that if He says He'll supply all our needs according to His riches in glory, through Christ Jesus-He means it. We read in Psalms that "I've never seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed out begging for bread." God loveth a cheerful giver and I'm a poster-woman for that, writing out tithe and offering checks is a joyous experience. I bask in the pleasure of knowing He is pleased with my obedience.
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