Don Mann, Associate Pastor | Stewardship
Decisions of
the heart are different than decisions of the mind. The mind may ask, can I
afford to give? The heart will ask, can I afford to withhold?
The passage from verses 6-11 addresses the
essentials of generosity for a special need of the church. The appeal to
generosity goes beyond the tithe. He calls believers to make a wise decision
based upon the principles of generosity.
Briefly outlined they are:
I will reap in proportion to what I sow
I will always have all I need because of God’s
abundance
I have been enriched so that I may be generous
Giving to a godly need is an investment in
enduring righteousness
Generosity is motivated by and results in
thanksgiving to God
When decisions of the heart motivate giving, the
reluctant or under-compulsion motivations fade away. Giving a tithe, or 10% of
income to the Lord and responding with generosity becomes a lifestyle. The
motivation for generous living over ordinary giving is thanksgiving to God for
His abundant generosity to me.
