Acts 3-4 (ESV) by Wordle*

Today’s reading is Acts 3:1-4:37.

“Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and one soul, and no one said that any of the thing that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common” (Acts 4:32).

I’m not alone. I have a fellowship on which I can rely. What are my needs? I can turn to my brethren and lay them out. God will provide through them. Is my need material? We can help each other. Is my need spiritual? We can rely on each other. Is my need emotional? We can rejoice and weep with each other.

Only when I share my neediness and rely on the fellowship of God’s people are my needs met. I need to quit waiting around for someone to read my mind and heart. Instead, I need to partake in the fellowship of God’s family. I need to reach out and let someone know what is going on. Then I find the help that I need.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading? You can give your input by clicking here.

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*Today’s illustration was generated by the creative tool at Wordle.net. You can find all my wordles here.

Today’s reading is 2 Corinthians 8:1-9:15.

2 Corinthians 9:8 says, “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”

2 Corinthians 8:8-15 demonstrates that Paul is not saying all Christians will always have an abundance to share with others. In fact, sometimes, we may be the Christians who need assistance from those who are abounding. Other times we may be those who abound and share. However, 2 Corinthians 9:8 explains why God allows some of us to abound.

God does not allow us to abound to make sure we have a personal retirement. God does not allow us to abound to make sure we have all the gadgets we want. God does not allow us to abound to make sure we live on the nice side of town. God allows us to abound and have sufficiency that we may share with those aren’t abounding.

Granted, this passage doesn’t draw any lines for us. It doesn’t declare how much we are allowed to enjoy our own incomes versus being generous to others or to the work of the church. I definitely don’t want to create standards that God did not create. However, this verse forces me to look at my own finances. I’m very blessed. I have to ask am I using the sufficiency God has given to share with those who are not abounding right now, perhaps directly or through the work of the congregation.

This turns my common feeling on its head. I too often want more in order to have more for me. Then sometimes I think I can manipulate the system. I’ll offer a percentage back to God so that I can abound in my giving more, but also abound more for me as well. I don’t think it works like that. God is letting us abound to spread the blessings around. I need to examine myself on that today.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What struck you in today’s reading?

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times you may abound in every good work. As it is written, ‘He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.’ He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.”

II Corinthians 9:8-12 (ESV)

God has not blessed me so I can hoard what I have been given. Certainly, as Ecclesiastes taught, I am allowed to enjoy my blessings. But, I must remember that the main reason for which God has blessed me is so I may be a blessing to others. 

This is not the health and wealth gospel that performs good deeds selfishly only to receive more. No. This is the true gospel that points out God entrusts more to those with whom He can actually trust more. So often, we want and want and do not have because we only want for ourselves. We will be amazed how much God will bless us if we simply become channels for blessings to others. 

Of course, when I am not selfishly concerned about what I have and only about how I can help others, if God is not blessing me with something, I’m still content. The question is not how much I have, but how am I helping others.

I know this is tough to remember when every newspaper and television show is warning us that the sky is about to fall in financially. But this is God’s will for us no matter what our nation’s economy.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC