Is My Love Sincere?

When we give, anytime and anywhere to anyone or to anything, it is and should always be an expression of human freedom, the outworking of the will God gave us surrendered to His own.  You with me?  It should never be a matter of organizational {office, corporation}, denominational {‘This is our biiiig thing, the one all good ____s give to.’}, or even societal, pressure and persuasion {‘We’re taking from you, by ever-increasing taxes, to give to you, under government action.’}.  Persuasion is when giving is ‘suggested’— and maybe how much or to whom; pressure is when the suggestion is made at gunpoint.

Paul writes, rather clearly in 2 Corinthians 8:8, about how he wants to “test the sincerity” or ‘genuineness’ {from gnesios, used of legitimately born children} of the Corinthians’ “love by comparing it with the earnestness of” the Macedonians, by their ‘diligence’ and their ‘zeal.’  You see what he desires here?  He wants them— as all wise leaders, parents, and lovers want— to be internally motivated, not externally coerced.  He wants their internal motivation to manifest in external action.  In this case, an external action of overflowing generosity, just like that of the Macedonian Churches, whom Paul doesn’t let them forget are their Brothers and Sisters in the Battle.

After twenty-plus years of watching the Children of God up close and personal, I can say this without hesitation.  Giving will test, and test strongly, the genuineness and “sincerity” of two things: [i] our love for God; and [ii] our love for one another.  We invest ourselves— personally, professionally, emotionally and financially— in what we believe to be critically important.  Whether it actually is or not, or whether or not it is to others, is another matter for another time.  But we invest in what some part of our souls has determined to be imminently important to our survival, our success, our happiness, etc.  Giving in the Kingdom of Grace is no different!  It will test the sincerity of your love for the Lord Jesus Christ.  It’s like people who proclaim their undying passion for the Gospel... but won’t take five minutes to share it with a co-worker, or let fear keep them from ever declaring His love to their families.  Something is wrong with this picture.  Radically wrong.

And so is hoarding up the resources which have been poured lavishly upon us in grace.  We are reservoirs of Life, filled by the Father so we may quench the thirst of the weary and the wounded.  We receive from Abba in faith so we may give to others in grace.  As Jesus instructed His Disciples when He sent them to the “lost sheep of Israel” with “this Message: ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is near!’” {Matt. 10:6b and 7b}, “Freely you received; freely give” {8e}.  Amen.

HJC	Ric Webb  |  Shepherd Heart’s Journey Community 9621 Tall Timber Blvd. |  Little Rock, AR 72204 t +1.501.455.0296
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Heart’s Journey – Live Generously and Love Graciously