At first read, my thoughts were all about giving and how do we give well, personally but also as a church. I read the passage again two days later and it felt like Paul was giving a Yelp Review of the Macedonian church. Verse eight did make me smile as I imagined Paul with a scoreboard of all the churches they were in contact with and who was doing ‘the best’. “But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of other churches”. How would our church stand? How would Paul perceive your eagerness? 

In verse seven Paul lists attributes that the church are doing well in - faith, speakers, love etc… and he wanted the church to also be known for generous giving too. But the key action was firstly to give themselves to the Lord (v.5) which is what God wants us to do.  It makes me wonder, what am I known for? Would people know I have chosen God, does my life look full of love, generosity, and faith?

Sadly the church as a whole, doesn’t always get the best reviews. People are desperate to see something different, to encounter God, but our humanness can lead to not good reviews. We are the body of Christ, we reflect Him. We come to gather as a church - it needs to look, act and be different than any other gathering of people. We need to be generous not just financially, but generous with our love, our patience, our kindness, to be known as people of faith, to teach the truth of Jesus in words and in our daily living. God is the most generous, gracious and merciful giver of all, giving us Jesus. He is our example. Spend time with Him, seek his heart for the people around you, your town or village, your family and friends, and seek to love like He loves them. Generously.

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Questions:

In what area of your life is God calling you to be more generous?  What can you do today to show God’s generosity to someone?

Prayer:

Thank you Jesus that you have given everything for us. That we will in your victory. Help us to listen to your prompts of how to live, shining You to others. Amen.