Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. But as you excel in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you – see that you excel in this act of grace also. (2 Cor 8:6-7 ESV)
in 2 Corinthians chapter 8 Paul begins this chapter bragging a bit on the church in Macedonia. Apparently the church of Macedonia was in a time of trial and hardship yet their giving was beyond their means. Because of their giving they were also a joyful people. If I am reading this chapter correctly it appears that the Corinthians had started out in ministry and in their faith walk giving of their resources and their time. But maybe their times had gotten hard and they had started tightening their belt so to speak but in the tightening maybe their giving had scaled back even more than they would have originally planned. Paul sent Titus to the Corinthians with his letter to show the Corinthians that no they did not have to give to the point of being burdened but that they should be giving out of what they had. And that if that was what they were doing then their abundance would supply the needs of others, but it would come back to them when they were in need the abundance of others would supply for them.
The secret to this is tucked away in the verse just preceding the verse quoted in the beginning. Verse 5 states “but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.”
We should always, whether it be in giving of our resources or our time give ourselves over to God first and ask Him to direct our giving. When we do this, when we give ourselves over to God and we ask Him for direction and then we follow through it completes Grace in us. And I am so preaching to myself in this. I am so guilty myself of thinking I don’t have time for this or I don’t have the resources/money for that without ever consulting God in how He wants me to use the minutes/time/resources/money that I do have. I pray that I will let the Grace of God fill me up and overflow in me so that I may show acts of Grace to others. Completed Grace
Please pray for your service industries today. And if possible, eat local, shop local, and by all means when appropriate tip well!
Restore 