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2010-09-01 issue:

First things first: Let's first give ourselves to God

by Ervin Stutzman, executive director of Mennonite Church USA

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And they went beyond our expectations; having given themselves first of all to the Lord, they gave themselves by the will of God also to us.—2 Corinthians 8:5 TNIV

I've been pondering what difference it makes in our giving to others when we give ourselves "first of all to the Lord." For the Macedonians, it apparently made a significant difference. The Apostle Paul was amazed by the giving of the poverty-stricken Christians in Macedonia. He declared that they gave "beyond their ability." He was awed that “their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.” Not only that, "they urgently pleaded with [Paul] for the privilege of sharing in this service [of relief] to the Lord's people.' Paul hoped their example would inspire the Corinthians. (See 2 Corinthians 8:2-8.)

Paul's words in his second letter to the Corinthians (chapters 8 and 9) were prompted by a special relief project on behalf of the churches in Jerusalem. Paul longed to deliver a generous gift to the saints who were suffering want. He explained to the Corinthians that the financial generosity of the Macedonians, their neighbors to the north, was an expression of God’s grace. Their generosity was rooted in God's gracious love.
Paul believed that exposure to the generous heart of God changes people. It has the power to transform one’s thoughts and actions to align with God's will. A heartfelt act of surrender to God yields the fruit of love, devotion and generosity.

Upon his recent retirement from development work at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Ind., Leroy Saner spoke in a similar vein. He said: "I have learned a lot about giving and generosity. Giving is an extension of God's grace. Giving helps us extend God's gift of grace to others. I have learned that individuals who are generous benefit enormously from being generous." He added, "Being generous connects people to their deepest values."

Getting close to the heart of God moves us toward compassion for others. Therefore, instead of grumpily tossing a few mites into the koinonia kettle when a need arises, we find ourselves dipping generously into our purses and pockets for the privilege of sharing in the service of giving to the Lord's people.

We see this same generosity in Jesus’ parable of the sower, who scattered seed even in places where there was little hope of fruit (Matthew 13:3-9). Paul is thinking along similar lines when he tells the Corinthians that "whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously." He goes on to say that God even supplies the seed. He wrote with confidence that "God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." All this is possible, Paul asserts, "because of the surpassing grace God has given you" (2 Corinthians 9:6-15).

When God’s grace works through us to meet the troubles in the world, it brings healing and hope. I received a letter from Margery Tonks of St. Croix, who wrote to thank Mennonites for assistance following the devastation of Hurricane Hugo in 1989. Celebrating the 20th anniversary of an interfaith coalition that rose in the wake of the disaster, she wrote: "You shared financial resources with us at a time when we were very needy. ... Most of all when we needed our hope bolstered you were there to help. Thank you again and again."

So what is the evidence that we first gave ourselves to the Lord? If we take our clues from Paul, one indication is the fruit of generosity, imparted by a gracious and loving God, offering healing and hope to a world in need.

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