2 Corinthians, chapter 8

How many ways do you see generosity each day? Sure, there are overt forms of generosity, such as when Drew Brees and his wife donated $2 million to my alma mater for the purpose of a student-athlete education center. This is obviously a gift beyond most people’s means, yet in the eyes of God it is just as important as the little, every day steps we take. Generosity can come from lifting a heavy object that someone else can’t lift. It can come from waiting in line instead of charging ahead and cutting someone off. It can even come in the quiet moments when we reflect and pray those we care about.

Paul speaks of generosity here in 2 Corinthians 8. He points out that Christ gave everything He had for us. To me, isn’t it the least we can do to give the same back to Him in return? I don’t even think it has to be gifts of monetary value and support. Those are good, of course, but we must be willing to give up more than that for those we care about. If someone is displaced, we must be ready to give shelter. If someone is hungry, we must be ready to give food. It is more than charity. It is a giving of a part of ourselves to comfort others.

13Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, 15as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little.” – 2 Corinthians 8:13-15

We give because we never know when it will be necessary for us to be on the receiving end. God has promised that he will always take care of our needs. We will always have enough to survive on if we trust in Him. This has never been more true than the last four years of my life. Though employment has been difficult for me to find at time, he has always come through with just the right amount I needed at that time. Right now I am in the middle of a brief, 6 week temp assignment. There is no hope of it becoming permanent, but it perfectly fits a gap that needed to be filled. It fits so perfectly, that the rest of the year can fall into place now with a solid “worst case scenario” that allows us to not only survive, but to give back in return.

This is what I am most thankful for, that not only has He cared for us, He allows us enough to give back to others.