Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Put God first!
2 Corinthians 8:3-5 (NASB)
Paul was writing about the churches in Macedonia (see verse 1)
3 For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord,
4 begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints,
5 and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.
+++++++++++++++++++
Paul was in Greece and Macedonia collecting an offering to take to the church in Jerusalem, during a time of need for Jerusalem saints. He had started the collection in Corinth (in the south) and had not asked those up north, because of their poverty. When they heard about it they begged to be permitted to share in the offering. In verse 5 Paul says they gave in a way he did not expect. "... they first gave themselves to the Lord..." This phrase jumped out to me this morning. It tells their motive.
Why do we do what we do in the service of the Lord. Paul says they first gave themselves to the Lord. Do we do service for Him, or for others, or to get His favor?
Our first order of business should be to commit ourselves to God for His glory. This will lead to many kinds of ministries, but always for His glory!
God bless as you give yourself to Him and then serve Him!
Paul was writing about the churches in Macedonia (see verse 1)
3 For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord,
4 begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints,
5 and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.
+++++++++++++++++++
Paul was in Greece and Macedonia collecting an offering to take to the church in Jerusalem, during a time of need for Jerusalem saints. He had started the collection in Corinth (in the south) and had not asked those up north, because of their poverty. When they heard about it they begged to be permitted to share in the offering. In verse 5 Paul says they gave in a way he did not expect. "... they first gave themselves to the Lord..." This phrase jumped out to me this morning. It tells their motive.
Why do we do what we do in the service of the Lord. Paul says they first gave themselves to the Lord. Do we do service for Him, or for others, or to get His favor?
Our first order of business should be to commit ourselves to God for His glory. This will lead to many kinds of ministries, but always for His glory!
God bless as you give yourself to Him and then serve Him!
// posted by Pastor Fred @ 12:33 PM 
