March 21st - Graceful Giving

Graceful Giving

Acts 2:42 connection

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread
and to prayer ... 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.

1. Generosity is not about your extra

2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.

2. Don’t ask “how much?” unless you really want the answer

3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.

3. See giving as a privilege

Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people.

4. You are giving back to God

5 And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.

5. Desire and action are not exactly equal

6 … just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part.

11 Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means.

6. Keep your focus on Jesus

8 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

7. A high-bar goal

13 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality,

Bonus Material

15 as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”