-- 2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you,
that you, always having all sufficiency in all things,
may have an abundance for every good work.



Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others
cannot keep it from themselves

Charity is a virtue of the heart, and not of the hands.

Charity looks at the need and not at the cause.

Christian life consists of Love, Faith and Hope (Charity).

There was a wealthy noblewoman who had grown tired of life. She had everything one could wish for except happiness and contentment. She said, “I am weary of life. I will go to the river and there end my life.”

As she walked along, she felt a little hand tugging at her skirts. Looking down, she saw a frail, hungry-looking little boy who pleaded, “There are six of us. We are dying for want of food!”

The noblewoman thought, 'Why should I not relieve this wretched family? I have the means, and it seems I will have no more use for riches when I am gone.'

Following the little boy, she entered a scene of misery, sickness, and want. She opened her purse and emptied its contents. The family members were beside themselves with joy and gratitude. Even more taken with their need, the noblewoman said, “I’ll return tomorrow, and I will share with you more of the good things which God has given to me in abundance!”

She left that scene of want and wretchedness rejoicing that the child had found her. For the first time in her life she understood the reason for her wealth. Never again did she think of ending her life, which was now filled with meaning and purpose.

-- HB

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Giving has long been a crucial element in the Christian home. By learning to give, not only of our worldy goods, but also of ourselves, of our time, of our talent, of our faith, of our prayer,... we show that we truly understand Christian love. When we speak of giving, we do not only mean tithing, we mean so much more than that. As Christians, we need to cultivate our compassion for others and share with them all that we have to give. What better way to lead others to God than to share with them the salvation of Jesus Christ and the abundant love God has shown us.

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If help the hungry a fish (material), he will have food for a day then be hungry again; but teach him how to fish (believe in Jesus), then he will have food (God's blessing) all his life.

-- Matthew 4:4
Jesus answered, "It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every Word that comes from the mouth of God.’" (Deut. 8:3)

-- 2 Corinthians 9:6-15
6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. + 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. + 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." (Ps 112:9) 10 Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.
15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

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(9:7) + Don't let a lack of faith keep you from giving cheerfully and generously.

(9:8) + The biggest obstacle that people have to overcome in order to give is worry. What if I will not have enough money next year for my retirement? What if some emergency comes up? What if I lose my job?... (Matthew 6:33-34) ... These verses (2Cor. 8,9) reassure the Corinthians that God is able to generously provide all their needs. The purpose of God's overwhelming blessing is always to equip His people to have plenty left over to share with others. This text doesn't imply that Christian giving is a contract with God, where the one who gives gets. Instead, it says that God will provide whatever a Christian needs to do good. (2Cor. 5:7 + For we walk by faith, not by sight..) Thus, in the end, a Christian's good works will bring praise and glory to God.

(9:11-12) + Giving generously to those in need causes two good things to happen. First, through those gifts given to those who need them, God meets their needs (here, specifically, the needs of the Christians in Jerusalem). Second, the recipients of these generous gifts will joyfully express their thanksgiving to God. Their celebration over these gifts will lead to heartfelt praise to God, for they will know that it is God who enables the giver to give in the first place.

-- James 1:22
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.
Do what it says.

-- Malachi 3:10
"Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it."

-- Colossians 1:10
And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.

-- 2 Corinthians 8:9
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.

-- Galatians 6:9-10
9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

-- Acts 20:35
35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’"

-- Matthew 6:3-4, 33-34
3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

-- 1 Corinthians 13:3
If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

-- Hebrews 13:16
And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

-- Philippians 4:19
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.