OUR DAILY BREAD : A GIVING COMPETITION

[cimi]

December 10
Tuesday


A GIVING
COMPETITION

READ:
2 Corinthians 9:6-15
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Thanks be to God for
His indescribable gift!
__2 Corinthians 9:15
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A television commercial I enjoy at Christmastime shows two neighbors in a friendly competition with each other to see who can spread the most christmas cheer. Each keeps an eye on the other as he decorates his house and trees with lights. Then each upgrades his own property to look better than the other's. They then start competing over who can give the most extravagantly to other neighbors, running around cheerfully sharing gifts.

God's people aren't in a competition to see who can give the most, but we are called to be "ready to give, willing to share" (1 Tim. 6:18) the apostle Paul instructed the church at corinth: "Let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Cor. 9:7).

At christmastime, as we share gifts with others, we remember the generosity of God toward us__He gave us His son. Ray Stedman said, "Jesus set aside His riches and entered into His creation in a state of poverty in order to enrich us all by His grace."

No gift-giving could ever compete with the Lord's extravagance. We thank God for the indescribable gift of Jesus! (v.15). __Anne Cetas

```````````````````````Sing praise to the Father, Creator and King,`````````````````````
`````````````````````Whose mercy has taught us a new song to sing;````````````````````
```````````````````Who made us, and loved us though rebels and lost,````````````````````
```````````````````And planned our redemption at infinite cost. __Clarkson```````````````
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No gift is greater than the gift of Christ Himself.

***********************Today's Bible Reading __ 2 Corinthians 9:6-15**********************

6 But this I say: He who
sows sparingly will also reap
sparingly, and he who sows
bountifully will also reap
bountifully. 7 So let each one
give as he purposes in his
heart, not grudgingly or of
necessity; for God loves a
cheerful giver. 8 And God is
able to make all grace
abount toward you, that you,
always having all sufficiency
in all things, may have an
abundance for every good
work. 9 As it is written: "He
has dispersed abroad, He has
given to the poor; His
righteousness endures
forever."

10 Now may He who
supplies seed to the sower,
and bread for food, supply
and multiply the seed you
have sown and increase the
fruits of your righteousness,

11 while you are enriched in
everything for all liberality,
which causes thanksgiving
through us to God.

12 For the administration of
this service not only supplies
the needs of the saints, but
also is abounding through
many thanksgivings to God,

13 While, through the proof of
this ministry, they glorify
God for the obedience of
your confession to the gospel
of Christ, and for your
liberal sharing with them and
all men, 14 and by their
prayer for you, who long for
you because of the
exceeding grace of God in
you. 13 Thanks be to God for
His indescribable gift!

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

Today's passage celebrates God's bountiful provision and encourages
our proper response. God has given us much: He makes grace
abound (v.8), He supplies the sower with seed and bread for food
(v.10), and He "enrich[es] in everything for all liberality" (v.11). Our
proper response is thanksgiving to God for what He has given us
(v.15) and gratitude that we are able to share with others because of
His gifts to us (v.13).