Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

March 28
Saturday


HAVE YOU
LEFT A TIP?

READ:
2 Corinthians 8:1-9
__________________________________________

Though He was rich,
yet for your sakes He
became poor.
__2 Corinthians 8:9
__________________________________________

The practice of tipping is commonly accepted in many countries. But I wonder: Has this courtesy influenced our attitude toward giving money to the church?

Many Christians regard their financial giving as little more than a good-will gesture to God for the service He has rendered us. they think that as long as they have given their tithe to God, the rest is theirs to handle as they please. But the Christian life is about so much more than money!

The Bible tells us that our Creator owns "the cattle on a thousand hills" (Ps. 50:10). "The world is Mine," God says, "and all its fullness" (v.12). Everything comes from Him, and everything we have belongs to Him. God has not only given us every material thing we have, He has also given us His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who provides our very salvation.

Paul used the Macedonian Christians as an illustration of what our giving should look like in the light of God's incredible generosity toward us. The Macedonians, who were in "deep poverty," gave with "liberality" (2 Cor. 8:2). But "they first gave themselves to the Lord" (v.5).

God the Creator of the universe does not need anything from us. He doesn't want a tip. He wants us! __C. P Hia
_____________________________________________________________

No matter how much you give,
you can't outgive God.

**************Today's Bible Reading __ 2 Corinthians 8:1-9*********

1 Moreover, brethren, we
make known to you the
grace of God bestowed on
the churches of Macedonia:

2 that in a great trial of
affliction the abundance of
their joy and their deep
poverty abounded in the
riches of their liberality.

3 For I bear witness that
according to their ability,
yes, and beyond their
ability, they were freely
willing, 4 imploring us with
much urgency that we
would receive the gift and
the fellowship of the
ministering to the saints.

5 And not only as we had
hoped, but they first gave
themselves to the Lord, and
then to us by the will of
God. 6 So we urged Titus,
that as he had began, so he
would also complete this
grace in you as well. 7 But
as you abound in
everything--in faith, in
speech, in knowledge, in all
diligence, and in your love
for us--see that you abound
in this grace also.

8 I speak not by
commandment, but I am
testing the sincerity of your
love by the diligence of
others. 9 For you know the
grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ, that though He was
rich, yet for your sakes He
became poor, that you
through His poverty might
become rich.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Christians in Jerusalem were facing a severe famine (Acts 11:28).
The Corinthian Christians promised to send financial help (2 Cor.
9:1-2), but they did not fulfill their promise. A year later, Paul
wrote to gently remind them to honor their promise (8:3-6; 9:5).
Second Corinthians 8 and 9 contain the most complete teaching on
Christian giving that we have in the New Testament. __Sim Kay Tee