Do you like the hot weather or the cold weather? Are you missing the summer already or looking forward to winter? Here in Pennsylvania, we can go from the air conditioner on in the afternoon to the heat on the next morning. The temperature is all over the place. You wake up to go to school in shorts and a T-shirt thinking it is just as warm as it was when you went to bed the night before only to realize it is now freezing.
You only know the actual temperature by looking at a thermometer or should I say, your phone, which reports the temperature to you that at some point came from a thermometer.
We started a new series Sunday looking at our value of “Generously Giving.” Yes, we are going to talk about money for a couple of weeks, but it really is not about the money. I know that is easy to say, but it is true.
A couple key verses for our time come from 2 Corinthians 9:
6 What I mean is this: the one who sows a small number of seeds will also reap a small crop, and the one who sows a generous amount of seeds will also reap a generous crop.
7 Everyone should give whatever they have decided in their heart. They shouldn’t give with hesitation or because of pressure. God loves a cheerful giver. 8 God has the power to provide you with more than enough of every kind of grace. That way, you will have everything you need always and in everything to provide more than enough for every kind of good work.
The Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 8 celebrates how the churches in Macedonia gave
Brothers and sisters, we want to let you know about the grace of God that was given to the churches of Macedonia. 2 While they were being tested by many problems, their extra amount of happiness and their extreme poverty resulted in a surplus of rich generosity. 3 I assure you that they gave what they could afford and even more than they could afford, and they did it voluntarily.
Verse 2 almost does not make sense, “their extra amount of happiness and their extreme poverty resulted in a surplus of rich generosity.”
The churches in Macedonia gave by God’s grace. They gave because they knew how much God has given them. They gave because they wanted to see God work through them.
Think of money as a thermometer.
Regardless of how much money you have, the thermometer goes from “it’s my money” to “it’s God’s money”. “It’s about me and my needs so I need more money” to “God provides all that I need so I can give it away for Him.”
What does your “thermometer” read?
Blessings,
Pastor Matt
(All scripture cited above from Common English Bible Copyright © 2011)