Dear Friends,
Greetings from Uganda!
God loves a cheerful giver. He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! | 2 Corinthians 9:7b, 10-15
“Good people” give to others. They are generous. They like to be the ones to help. And in God’s common grace, they feel better when giving and helping. And it’s a good thing that they willingly dive in to help since this world seems to constantly have a new tragedy, natural disaster, or war.
But true Christians are different. We know we aren’t good people, so we cling to the righteousness of our Savior. This doesn’t mean we don’t give or help. Psalm 112:9 describes the believer:
“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”
Because we’ve become slaves of righteousness, generous giving follows. Unlike good people, we don’t give to feel good about ourselves. We give because our God is so good. His goodness compels us to give of ourselves—not out of duty, but because giving is our new nature.
2 Corinthians 9:11-12 says, “You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.”
The more we give, the more other believers will be encouraged through the observation of God’s abundant grace in our lives, which in turn generates more thanksgiving to God!
2 Corinthians 9:13-14 says, “By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you.”
Believers are givers. But not to be good or to do good. When we give, we direct attention onto the amazing grace of the One whose righteousness we share. When we give, we invite our brothers and sisters in Christ to join the chorus, “Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift!”
This is how Danielle and I feel. When you give to SOS, of course we are thankful that the daily necessities are met in Uganda. But even more, we are thankful to get to observe the surpassing grace evident in your lives because you give. And you get the privilege of becoming a living testimony of God’s abundant grace!
Thanking God for you this Thanksgiving!
Shannon and Danielle Hurley
