EXCELLING IN THE GRACE OF GIVING (1)

“Since you excel in everything –in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in your –see that you also excel in this grace of giving ” (2 Corinthians 8:7 NIV).

If you have been to a driving school to learn how to drive a car, you probably would have heard the term “blind spot.”  In driving, blind spots refer to those areas that are so close to the car that you cannot see them when you look into the rear mirror. You only see those spots when you twist your head to look backwards. Blind spots are therefore real but need extra effort to notice. Similarly, there are certain aspects of our lesser character that are too obvious to others and yet relatively unknown to us. I heard about a man who did not discover he talks too much about himself and rarely listened to others until on his eightieth birthday. He wished somebody pointed it out to him earlier. We are so blinded about our “blind spots” that we need someone to bring them to our notice, especially if we are the type that can take correction. My mother told me about a king who did not listen to counsel from any one (Eze Onye Agwala m), who went to a funeral ceremony with faeces on his clothes. Wise people, however, knowing that human beings are not perfect, accept the possibility of having some blind spots in their personality. 

The rich young ruler who accosted Jesus wanting to know how to inherit eternal life was not one of such wise people. He had a blind spot he was not prepared to accept and deal with, and that became his undoing.   Our Lord told him that if he must inherit eternal life, he must obey the commandments: “...You shall not murder,’ ‘you shall not commit adultery,’ ‘you shall not steal,’ ‘you shall not bear false witness,’ honour your father and your mother,’ and, ‘you shall love your neighbour as yourself” (Matthew 19:18-19, NKJV). From the young man came this boastful response, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?”(Matthew 19:20 NKJV).  This man seemed to have everything in place. He was rich, religious, and confident. Like Saul before he became Paul, he seemed blameless concerning the law. But the man had a blind spot he was not aware of and our Lord would point it out to him.  “Jesus said to him, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me” (Matthew 19: 21 NKJV). On hearing this, the man went away in sorrow, not willing to part with his enormous wealth. He was not strong in the grace of giving. He was selfish, not prepared to part with his money, not even at the behest of God!

Individuals, people groups or congregations do have some blind spot which they are usually unaware of, where as they are all too obvious to others. The church in Corinth was obviously one of the liveliest churches in the days of Paul.  It was certainly the most charismatic of the early churches. They were able to steward the revival fire that began on the Pentecost probably longer than any of their contemporaries in those early days. But it too, had a blind spot!  Paul pointed it out to them in our text: “Since you excel in everything –in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you –see that you also excel in this grace of giving” (NIV). They did everything better than any other congregation except in giving and Paul would want them to improve on that too.

It does appear to me that the CRM Family needs to covet this grace of giving too. We seem to be doing so many things well but certainly need a new attitude when it comes to giving. I can hear God saying to us: “You do everything better than anyone else. You have stronger faith. You speak better and know more. You are eager to give, and you love us better. Now you must give more generously than anyone else” (CEV). God has blessed us as a ministry but we are yet to begin to show commensurate appreciation for His blessings in giving generously to His work. Paul reminds us that God loves a cheerful giver, who gives willingly and in proportion to what God has given him or her. Let us deal with this blind spot of penny-pinching and see what God will do in us, for us, and with us.  Let us begin to give like the woman who used a whole year’s salary to purchase alabaster oil she poured on Christ. Let us give like Barnabas who became a son of consolation to the apostles. Let us give like the widow who gave God all her livelihood. More importantly, let us pray that God will endow us with the grace of giving in CRM.

The World Congress offers us a great opportunity to give to the work of God. Give the 30% of your one month income as we have been directed to do. Do it today! It shall be well with you.