Introductory Thoughts
Modern Christianity has terribly corrupted both the meaning and beauty of liberality. Giving has turned into a show designed to bring honour and praise to those doing the giving. God never intended giving to be so perverted. For this reason, the apostle Paul declared that the bountiful giving of the saints caused thanks to be given to God (2 Corinthians 9:11). The more they gave, the more thanks God would receive (2 Corinthians 9:12). The Corinthians recognized that man should not receive personal glory for giving especially when considering the fact that one’s ability to give does not exist apart from God’s enabling. This is not to say that an individual who obeys God should not be appreciated for his obedience to God. Yet, all praise and thanks belong to God. Men should give abundantly in hopes that the Lord would receive the glory and receive many thanks.
Devotional Thoughts
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(For children): Paul was thankful to God for the church at Philippi (Philippians 1:3). One reason was their liberality (Philippians 4:15-16). Paul used the money to help in his ministry of telling people how to be saved (Philippians 4:17).
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(For everyone): Does your giving bring glory to you or glory to God? Do you give liberally to a point where it is obvious that God is the one who gets the glory rather than man?
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Does your service to God bring glory and attention to you or glory and attention to the Lord? What could you do differently in order to redirect attention and focus upon the Lord?
Prayer Thoughts
- Ask God to teach you to do things in a way that gives Him glory.
- Thank the Lord for using you to get believers to give Him thanks.
Song
TO GOD BE THE GLORY
