Good day dear friends. If some of you just received yesterday's ConCafe, I apologize because my notification usually comes right away informing me that I have indeed written a devotional and that yahoo groups needs my approval before sending it out. I usually get that immediately and then I post my devotional on my blog, yesterday I waited and waited, then went to post on my blog and got so busy I did not think to re-check this site. So, here's today's ConCafe as well.
Our text is from 2 Corinthians 8: 7 You do so well in so many things - you trust God, you're articulate, you're insightful, you're passionate, you love us - now, do your best in this, too. 8 I'm not trying to order you around against your will. But by bringing in the Macedonians' enthusiasm as a stimulus to your love, I am hoping to bring the best out of you. 9 You are familiar with the generosity of our Master, Jesus Christ. Rich as he was, he gave it all away for us - in one stroke he became poor and we became rich. 10 So here's what I think: The best thing you can do right now is to finish what you started last year and not let those good intentions grow stale. 11 Your heart's been in the right place all along. You've got what it takes to finish it up, so go to it. 12 Once the commitment is clear, you do what you can, not what you can't. The heart regulates the hands. 13 This isn't so others can take it easy while you sweat it out. No, you're shoulder to shoulder with them all the way, 14 your surplus matching their deficit, their surplus matching your deficit. In the end you come out even. 15 As it is written, Nothing left over to the one with the most, Nothing lacking to the one with the least. (The Message)
The Apostle Paul was the first Christian to ever hear, "All he ever talks about is money!" No, wait, that was Jesus. Oh, I remember now, Jesus did it because giving is a spiritual matter, and Paul, being trained by Jesus, also spoke about money and how it is a spiritual matter as well. And there are those who do not believe that and when they hear money mentioned in church grumble and moan and threaten not to come back next Easter! (Or Christmas!). It is true, you either possess your possessions, including money or your possessions will possess you. Jesus taught this because He knew it was true. Here, Paul is "closing the deal" on an effort to help the Macedonia churches who were going through a terrible ordeal in all matters, especially financial. Paul heard their pleas and took up the effort to raise money for them. What impressed Paul was that these Macedonian Christians, in spite of their "extreme poverty" gave in ways that impressed and blessed Paul. (Read the entire chapter; this quote comes from verse 2). Paul praises the areas in which they were very faithful; their trust in God, their way of presenting God's word, their passion for their work, and their love and dedication to Paul and his ministry. He then reminds them of Jesus' faithfulness in being generous; we tend to forget Jesus left the extreme wealth of God's presence to come among us to make us rich. Paul says, the best they could do, was to finish what they started the year before in starting their collection to help their brothers and sisters in Macedonia; doing what they could with what they had (they had more than enough!), reminding them that their hearts controlled their hands.
The truth is we can never out give God. God provides to us daily and our attitude should bless our gratitude. We give not out of obligation but out of thankfulness with a hope that as we give our money goes to places we ourselves could not go to do things we would not do. Our giving is a lifeline offered in love to people and ministries that bless God and God's purposes in our world. Try not to hold back from the One who never holds back from us.
PRAYER: Loving God, may my heart truly control my hands in sharing as I should. In Jesus I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Prayer Request: Mrs. Carol Price, wife of Rev. Dr. Bob Price, faces cancer surgery tomorrow in San Antonio. May we all be in prayer for a successful surgery.
