Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in 2 Corinthians chapter 8:
8 I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others.
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.
10 And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago;
11 but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have.
People make resolutions all the time but many fail to complete their commitment. Jesus set a standard of giving through His acts of Love toward us and has provided the means for us to rise to His standard. If we were tested in the sincerity of giving, would we pass the test? Are we diligent to fulfill our commitments to give with whatever means we have at our disposal? Some may say “I don’t have the money”, then give time. Other may say “I don’t have the time”, then give money. Yet others may say “I don’t have either”, then ask FATHER to provide both. Paul states in the next chapter:
6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
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.
9 As it is written:
“He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.”
10 Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness,
11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.
FATHER provides seed for the sower thus HE expects the sower to give liberally to those in need. If we sow sparingly, we will reap sparingly. These are FATHER’S Words not mine. Let HIM convince you of HIS promise for I know HIS promise is true and my family has lived by HIS promises for decades. It requires faith to get beyond the mindset of scarcity and as long as a person can keep his or her focus solely on the spiritual side of promises, the promises designated for the current physical realm will not be realized. FATHER does not exclude the physical in HIS promises and HE expects us to rise up and walk in the same manner as our Elder Brother.
Is FATHER looking for excuses to why we can’t be cheerful givers when HE has clearly stated that HE is Our Provider? HE is looking for us to build up our faith and expect HIM to provide our needs in an abundant manner… only believe! The Word is not complicated and we need to place our trust in HIM that HE will do what HE has committed to do in HIS Word. How sincere are we in our commitment to rise up to Christ’s standard? Will we pass the test of sincerity?