When Giving Becomes a Gift

And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.
2 Corinthians 8:1–5 NIV

Someone mentions they're gathering a few things to welcome a family moving into the neighborhood. You ask what they still need, and soon you're thinking about what you could bring. Nobody asked you to help. You have plenty of other things to do, but you're already interested in being part of it. We've probably all experienced something like that. Sometimes an opportunity to give catches our attention in a way that another responsibility wouldn't. And when we find ourselves actually looking forward to giving something away, it's worth wondering what makes that opportunity so appealing.

Paul, an early follower of Jesus who helped establish churches, wrote to believers in Corinth about the churches in Macedonia. These people were facing severe trials and extreme poverty, yet Paul described their “overflowing joy” and “rich generosity” (2 Corinthians 8:2, NIV). They gave what they could, and even beyond what anyone expected. In fact, “they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people” (2 Corinthians 8:4, NIV). They weren't simply willing to give. They were asking for the opportunity.

But there was something else about these believers worth noticing. “They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us” (2 Corinthians 8:5, NIV). Their generosity began with a relationship, not a request for money. When we love someone, doesn't what matters to them often become something we want to share in? They loved the Lord, and that love had opened their hearts to people they wanted to help. Giving wasn't merely a noble act or an obligation. It was something they wanted to be part of.

Sometimes the best part of giving is what grows between people. Paul anticipated that those receiving help would “praise God” and that “their hearts will go out to you” (2 Corinthians 9:13–14). Think about the last time someone welcomed your help. Perhaps what stayed with you wasn't what you gave, but the conversation that followed or the growing friendship. And what if the greater gift isn't just the relationship between us, but discovering that God invited us to share in what He was giving?

We rarely know where an opportunity might lead when it first comes along. Someone needs a hand, and we offer what we can. We might expect nothing more than a thank-you. Yet a conversation can take an unexpected turn, or we may discover something about the person we'd never known. An observation in Proverbs puts it this way, “whoever refreshes others will be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:25). We may arrive hoping to encourage someone and leave encouraged ourselves, in a way we never expected. What if today's small yes holds more than I can see from here?

Prayer

Father, thank You for wanting me to be part of what You're doing. I love knowing that even something small I give can matter. Help me see the opportunities before me and enjoy sharing them with You. Amen.