In today's devotional, we learn about giving in light of the New testament. In the Old testament, the people took their gifts and offering to the temple, it was to care especially for the Levites to free them to serve God on behalf of the people. In the New testament, Paul encouraged the people to give so the needy amongst the people are cared for.
Paul puts forth the believers at Macedonia as a model we should learn from; how to give, when to give, where to give, etc.
They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity. For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.
2 Corinthians 8:2-5 NLT.
Lessons, they gave despite their difficulties. Despite having only a little, they begged the apostles to be allowed to be a part of the contributions.
We see this also in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ;
You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.
2 Corinthians 8:9 NLT.
Jesus gave so we would have!
Next, he says to give eagerly and only from what we have;
Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have.
2 Corinthians 8:12 NLT.
Giving obviously continued into the New testament church and the people gave generously to see that the needy amongst them were cared for. That is the template for us.
