"A Checkbook Check-up"

Scripture Passage

2 Corinthians 6:14-10:18

Scripture Focus

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)

Observation

About Romans 8:32 I wrote:

The baseline by which we judge God’s care for us is not our difficulties but His incomparable gift. “Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all…”—that’s the baseline—“won’t he also give us everything else?” (Romans 8:32 NLT)

About 2 Corinthians 8:9, I’m thinking the same sort of thing.

2 Corinthians 8-9 is all about generous giving. Paul appeals to the church at Corinth to participate generously in an offering for fellow-believers in Jerusalem who are experiencing a season of particular hardship. Paul makes it clear that no one is to imperil themselves by their giving (“I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves”—2 Corinthians 8:19 NLT) or be manipulated into doing something they genuinely don’t want to (“don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure”—2 Corinthians 9:7 NLT). At the same time, Paul presents the most wonderfully compelling case for abounding—even sacrificial—generosity that’s ever been given. His case is founded on the example of 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)

The baseline for my generosity is found in Christ's generosity towards me! How can I do any less than give my life away (yes, including money) in light of what Christ has done for me? I *do* believe what others have said—you can identify so much about a person’s spiritual condition simply looking at his or her checkbook (including your own)!

Especially given that it’s the end of the month, and near the end of the year, today might be a especially good opportunity for a checkbook checkup.  How's your generosity measure up?  What does your generosity say about your spiritual condition?

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