Beyond Their Power
“For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift… but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.” -2 Corinthians 8:3
What an inspiring story. The poverty-stricken saints throughout Macedonia were giving beyond what they were able to give and even beggin the apostles to receive their offering so that they could minister to the saints in poverty-stricken Jerusalem. A similar thing occurs in America today. It is not the rich, but the poor and the working class who are faithful to give. Statistically, the lower and middle class do more giving to their churches than the wealthy.
There is a secret to having a giving heart found in these dear verses. The Bible says “they first gave their own selves to the Lord.” You see a truly saved heart will be a giving heart. A heart given to God will lead to a wallet open toward God. A heart for others will be a heart that wishes, desires, and longs to meet needs.
If you’ve never given yourself to the Lord, do so today. He’ll change you from the inside out. Your heart will change, your attitude toward life and toward hurting people will change. There will be a compulsion to give in your life. And God will reward your giving. He doesn’t always match dollar for dollar, He doesn’t always give back monetarily with interest, but He always rewards the gift given from a sacrificial heart in His way, in His time. God is a giver and we’re most like God when we’re giving.
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