Guidelines for Generous Giving, part 1
Normally, when we spend money, we expect something positive in return. Even when we pay taxes, we expect some kind of services for the money that we hand over to the government.
What about when we are generous in giving offerings to the work of God—do we give with the expectations of a good result? Yes, we give with the expectation that our money will be used to further God’s purposes.
Generous giving for Christian ministry is significant part of the Christian life. Christ richly gave to us, and we are expected to give generously to fulfill the goals of Christian ministry. The Bible teaches grace giving—we have received graciously, and we must give graciously.
We are looking at the last part of the passage in 2 Corinthians that deals with generosity. Paul has been encouraging his readers to remember that they had agreed to give toward an offering he was collecting for the poor saints in Jerusalem. And in this last section, Paul tells us a few more things about giving.