Scripture Nugget 5.14.2017
Scripture Read 2 Corinthians 6-8
Nugget 2 Corinthians 8:2-5, 9”
“…for during a a severe ordeal of affliction, their abundant joy and extreme poverty overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For, as I can testify, they voluntarily gave according to their means, and even beyond their means, begging us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in this ministry to the saints- and this, not merely as we expected; they gave themselves first to the Lord and by the will of God to us, …. For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.”
Devotional Thought: Generosity is not determined by the size of the gift, but by the attitude of the heart with which a gift is given. Generosity “depends on our readiness to open our hearts for the needs of others and to share what we have with them. Considering how generously Jesus shared his life with ours (2 Cor 8:9) may help us to live such gracious generosity whether we are rich or poor.” (Generosity, Wesley Study Bible, pg 1416) The widow contributed 2 pennies to the collection, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than them; for all of them contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.” (Lk 21:4) O God that I would give generously from an open heart not a prideful one.