Tuesday, May 12; WE HAVE RECEIVED IN ABUNDANCE

MAY 12, TUESDAY

WE HAVE RECEIVED IN ABUNDANCE

2 Corinthians 9: 6-11

And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.

2 Corinthians 9: 8 (NRSV)

            We are used to making pledges  in our churches, so that each one makes a commitment to offer to the Lord according to their possibilities, but the Bible is clear, God is not given what is left over, but what is given sacrificially and with gratitude for how much we receive from Him. Let us remember the story of the poor widow who only offered two copper coins, but Jesus told everyone that she was the one who had offered the most.

            Paul was trying to collect an offering in Corinth to alleviate situations of poverty among the brothers in Judea. And he exhorts to give liberally, because the promise is that God multiplies what we give, so that we do not lack anything. But life teaches that if you sow little, you will reap little.

            The Pauline maxim is to give with joy, not with sadness or compulsion. We have a God who loves the cheerful giver, a God who will supply all that we lack, according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:19).

Prayer: We ask that your grace leads us to give what we have, recognizing that everything comes from your hand, and that you are a God who provides. May we be cheerful givers.  Amen

Translation by Pat Metcalf

Mayo 12, martes 

HEMOS RECIBIDO EN ABUNDANCIA

2 Corintios 9:6-11

Y Dios es poderoso para que abunda en ustedes toda gracia,

para que siempre y en toda circunstancia tengan lo necesario

2 Corintios 9:8

            Acostumbramos a realizar promesas de ofrendas en nuestras iglesias, de modo que cada quien haga un compromiso de ofrendar al Señor de acuerdo a sus posibilidades, pero la Biblia es clara, a Dios no se le da de lo que sobra, sino de lo que se tiene, en carácter sacrificial y de agradecimiento por lo mucho que de Él recibimos. Recordemos aquella historia de la viuda pobre que tan solo ofrendó dos moneditas de cobre, pero Jesús dijo a todos que ella era quien más había ofrendado.

            Pablo intentaba recaudar una ofrenda en Corinto para aliviar situaciones de pobreza entre los hermanos de Judea. Y exhorta a dar liberalmente, pues la promesa es que Dios multiplica aquello que entregamos, de modo que no nos falte nada. Pero la vida enseña que si se siembra poco, se cosechará escasamente.

            La máxima paulina es a dar con alegría, no con tristeza ni por compulsión. Tenemos un Dios que ama al dador alegre, un Dios que suplirá todo lo que nos falte, conforme a sus riquezas en gloria en Cristo Jesús (Fil. 4:19).

Oración:  Pedimos que tu gracia nos lleve a dar de lo que tenemos, reconociendo que de todo proviene de tu mano, y que tú eres un Dios que provee. Que podamos ser dadores alegres. Amén.