July 20, 2022 – Wednesday
2 Corinthians 9:14 NIV
14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.
Comments – Part 2
In a reply to my comments yesterday (may be found here) on the verse above, a reader wrote the following, My random thoughts, I have to wonder if some are reading these recent verses of the day writings and feel you’re prompting them to give more money to the church. When it comes to giving, most lean towards financially – and do not consider serving as a way of giving.
Perhaps some of you think I am prompting you to give more money to the church. The short answer is No, I am not doing any such prompting. What prompting I am engaged in is for all of us to listen and respond to God’s prompting! It is my hope and prayer people will respond to whatever God lays on their hearts.
I do not want people to read what I write and then delete the email, but instead to mull over what was written and ask if it applies to them. Is it something they should pray about? Is it something, good or bad, they recognize within themselves? God is revealed to us in His Word, the Bible and that is why I always refer to that for it is my foundation.
The reader also noted, When it comes to giving, most lean towards financially – and do not consider serving as a way of giving. I think of the giving of one’s time as incredibly valuable. It is one’s irreplaceable commodity. To do so one has to give up whatever else you could be doing with your time such as watching your favorite TV programs or working on one of your favorite hobbies or simply reading a book (one of my favorites) or looking at interesting articles on the internet (another one of my favorites).
Many people are rich without realizing it. Being rich is not all about money. It can be one’s health and well-being. It can be one’s talent in an area that would be useful to share if you could do so freely as God prompts. It can be one’s positive outlook on life because of your faith, surely something that could be shared. But it is not about your riches, whatever form they come in, but your personal individual response to God’s prompting in your life.
Paul writes 2 Corinthians 6:1-2, 1 As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2 For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. I commented on this here a week ago. Looking at this anew, are you humbled by the undeserved salvation you have been granted or do you take for granted? Paul says not to receive God’s grace in vain. What do you think he meant when he wrote that? Certainly, Paul did not mean for you to ignore any promptings that come your way from God.
I can only encourage you to listen for His promptings and to respond to them. Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well, whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life. Do you think this is something to keep to ourselves, not sharing? Hardly for Paul writes, in 2 Corinthians 5:20, We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. How can we be Christ’s ambassadors if we ignore the promptings that come from the Father or the Holy Spirit? So again, I encourage you to listen for His promptings and to respond to them.
Bottom Line: From Matthew Henry again, “Can a man lose by doing that with which God is pleased?”
Prayer: Almighty God, Heavenly Father, Let me be fully aware of Your promptings and have a heart to act upon them for Your glory. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton
in Beavercreek