TOPIC: They Gave Beyond Their Means!
Opening Prayer: Let me know more of you today dear Lord as I meditate on your word.
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:1 ─ 15
Reflection
• Is there any example for me to follow or not to follow?
• What is God revealing to me in this passage?
Message: In all the countries of the world I have gone to I have found that people give to people they love or those for whom they have sympathy. Many African churches struggle with giving and so they resort to begging or asking for donations from overseas. I personally was educated through Bible College and university with money from overseas. Take a few minutes and write down what you think is the reason many African Christians are perpetual beggars. We hide behind poverty for our lack of adequate giving but see what made the difference with these Macedonian churches (v.5).
Love for the Lord and his servants will make me give beyond my means. What good example do you find in the life of Jesus about giving (v. 9)? See also Acts 20: 35. After the International Conference at Nottingham in 2001, I had the opportunity to speak about S.U. Zimbabwe and solicit for funds. What I saw changed my thinking. Over 80 percent of the parishioners in these churches were very old people. It was a case of the frail helping the strong! Is your congregation able to meet its financial needs? How much of your personal budget goes into evangelism and helping the needy?
⁂ Any new insight or reinforcement of what you already know?
Practice/Word Application
• Meditation: What motivates you to give at church or to Christian ministry?
Prayer points
• Ask God to help you glorify him with your giving.
• Pray that God will sustain all Christian literature and Bible printers and publishers.
• Offer a prayer of faith in line with 2 Chronicles 20:17
Read the Bible in one Year
Ezra 1–2; 2 Tim. 1
Scripture Union Daily Guide 6th November 2020 – Scripture Union is an international, inter-denominational, evangelical Christian organization. It was founded in 1867, and works in partnership with individuals and churches across the world. The organization’s stated aim is to use the Bible to inspire children, young people and adults to know God
