2 Corinthians 9:6-15
Be still: Lord Jesus settle my heart now, draw my eyes to you, open my ears to hear your Word and your voice. Amen
Read: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15
'This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.' (v12)
Encounter: It seems that it is not just the Bible that talks about the generous life, but science is getting interested too. At Harvard University, the Science of Generosity initiative investigated what generosity is and how it affects us. It discovered that people who regularly give their time or money were 42% more like to say that they were happy, and the study concluded this was because 'giving' offers people a glimpse of significance and purpose.
Research into neuroscience has showed that acts of generosity release dopamine in the brain, leading to positive feelings, making us want to do them again. It seems we are hardwired for generosity – and shows that science is just beginning to catch up with the Bible!
In the Bible ‘prayer’ is mentioned 371 times, ‘love’ 714 times and ‘giving’ – what would you guess? It’s mentioned 2,300 times. It’s clearly close to God’s heart! As Paul explains in today's passage, our generosity not only answers specific and pressing financial needs (and we know those needs will always be around us) but it expresses thankfulness to an endlessly generous God, glorifying him for his ‘indescribable gift’ to us (v 15). Ultimately our generosity is not about what we do with our money but rather what is happening in our hearts.
Apply: If we are to be a generous people, then we will need to be intentional about practising that generosity. We will need to pray – and then act, taking seriously the call to steward what God has given us, perhaps through small and immediate acts of kindness or through planned and regular giving. Furthermore, this is not something to be done with a reluctant or miserly attitude, but as the science shows us, generosity can lead us towards happiness – or as Paul memorably reminds us, ‘God loves a cheerful giver’.
Devote: Lord let me know your joy, contentment, peace, and freedom today as I consider all you have given me to steward in your name. Thank you for your abundant blessings.