Live to give generously

2 Corinthians 9:6 - 15

One of the key spiritual disciplines is the discpline of giving our money to God.  Paul encourages us to sow generously into the mission and work of God.  In writing this part of his letter, he is seeking to give encouragement to the Corinthians to maintain their giving to the needs of the Christians in Jerusalem, after the impressive start they had had.  However, he writes to encourage them to give from the basis of the grace and blessings given by God, not from the basis of guilt. 

This should be the starting point for our giving too.  The life we live is always a response to the life of Christ - we love because he first loved us, we forgive as we have been forgiven, we serve because Christ first served us.

The offering that we give builds into the ministry of Christ through this congregation.   Our offering provides for ministry staff, building upkeep and funds for mission in our local area and across Australia and overseas.  We give so that God's work may be carried out.

In the coming weeks, please ask yourself how your offering contributes to God's work through Emmanuel Uniting Church.  Consider the ways that you are sowing generously so that there will be a generous reaping in God's kingdom.