March 24, 2023
Daily Devotion:
"Broader Than Money
"
2 Corinthians 8:2–3
In a great ordeal of
affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the
wealth of their liberality. For I testify that according to their ability, and
beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord.
The Christians in the
Macedonian churches were servants who gave to the needs of the believers in
Jerusalem, giving anonymously, in fact. When Paul wrote of them to the
Corinthian church, he also mentioned something else about those Macedonian
servant-saints: When they gave, they "overflowed" in the process.
They liberally and sacrificially gave "beyond their ability." I love
the way Paul wrote that. Their giving dripped with sacrificial generosity.
There wasn't a tightwad among them. How refreshing! Now, as we apply this
passage to the way true servants give, let's understand that the giving
involved is much broader than money.
That's for sure. It includes
giving ourselves . . . our time and energy, our care and compassion, even our
belongings on occasion. What a need there is for this trait within the ranks of
humanity today! And yet, how rare it is!
