25 Oct November 18th Daily Devotional

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S SECOND LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

 RICH GENEROSITY – GRACE OF GIVING – PART IV

2 Corinthians 8:13-15  ^“Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 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, 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.”

At the Feeding of the 5,000, Jesus did not say to His Disciples, feed only those who were poor.  He took the five loaves of bread and two fish, blessed them, broke them, and distributed the food to all the people who were present.  When all were fed and had left, Jesus instructed His Disciples to pick up the left-over scraps.  Twelve baskets were filled with left-over food.

There was plenty for all from the food brought by one person.  All were fed!  Their hunger was satisfied.  Their needs were met.  In today’s devotional verses St. Paul wrote, “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. . .”

The boy could have kept his food for himself.  Jesus could have fed only the children. . . women. . . men, but He fed them all.  Jesus could have given them less than enough, but in His generosity, He gave them more than they needed.  The boy’s plenty met the need of the people through the miracle performed by Jesus.

“Our desire,” wrote St. Paul, “is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality . . .”  Such it was for 40 years for the Israelites in their wilderness wanderings.  In fact, if anyone of them wanted to be greedy by collecting more food than they could eat, their greed was rewarded with spoiled food. “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.” (2 Corinthians 8:15)

God has promised to provide all you need to support you body and life.  His sun rises on the just and the unjust and sends rain to them as well.  (Matthew 5:45)  In turn, Yahweh instructed the Israelites: “No one should appear before the Lord empty-handed: Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you.” (Deuteronomy 16:16-17) and Jesus said in the New Testament, “. . . love your neighbor as you love yourself.” (Matthew 22:39)

Prayer:  Grant me Lord, a heart of generosity for Jesus’ sake.  In His name.  Amen.

Lord of all good, our gifts we bring You now;

Use them Your holy purpose to fulfill.

Tokens of love and pledges they shall be

That our whole life is offered to Your will.

We give our minds to understand Your ways;

Hands, eyes, and voice to serve Your great design;

Hearts with the flame of Your own love ablaze—

Thus for Your glory all our pow’rs combine.

Father, whose bounty all creation shows;

Christ, by whose willing sacrifice we live;

Spirit, from whom all life in fullness flows:

To You with grateful hearts ourselves we give.

(LSB 786)