Grace To Give

As you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace [of giving] also.

2 Corinthians 8:7

How often do you use, or hear others use, the word grace in conversation? It is one of the most often-used words in Christianity but one with multiple meanings. For instance, the term “spiritual gifts” in the New Testament can be traced back to the root word grace. The word grace in this case represents special favor or ability from God. Grace, directly or indirectly, almost always refers to power or ability from God to live supernaturally.

For that reason, when it came time for Paul to ask the church at Corinth to participate in his financial rescue plan for the suffering church in Jerusalem, he knew it would happen only by the grace of God. Why? Because he was asking people with limited means to give generously. So in 2 Corinthians 8:1-9 the word grace appears four times, and twice more in chapter 9, which also focuses on the same subject. It takes God’s grace to give, and even more grace to give sacrificially—the same kind of grace Jesus Christ displayed when He intentionally became poor in death that we might be made rich in salvation (2 Corinthians 8:9).

If you struggle to give, ask God to give you grace.

A giving Saviour should have giving disciples.

J. C. RYLE^a