Title Give Yourself
Contents
2 Corinthians (32) Give yourself (2 Corinthians 8:5-8)
<Give yourself up>
When the Jerusalem church was in great trouble due to the famine, the Macedonian churches were also in trouble themselves, but they collected a large relief offering and sent it to the Jerusalem church. How were the Macedonians able to provide abundant generosity despite extreme poverty? Because they first gave themselves to the Lord (v. 5). If you give yourself, you can also give the material.
Why do people like to receive gifts? It's not because the gift itself is good, but because it contains the heart of the giver. So is God. According to Genesis 4:4-5, when God received Abel's offering, he received 'Abel and Abel's offering' at the same time, and when God did not accept Cain's offering, he did not receive 'Cain and Cain's offering' at the same time. God wants “ourselves” more than “what we have.” Giving yourself is the foundation of dedication.
A dwarf acrobat appears in the book The Contortionist's Devotion by Victor Frankl. He made a living by standing upside down and spinning balls and plates, but as he got older he couldn't do it. Then the priest took him to the church and made him live. But from then on, his face lost vitality.
One day, at Mass, he was told, “The Lord is pleased with anyone who gives his talents.” he thought “My talent is to stand upside down and roll plates, so let me give you this.” So every dawn I stood on the handstand in the chapel and turned the plate with my toes. Then his face came to life again.
One day, while the cleaner was cleaning, when he saw a dwarf performing a strange trick in front of the chapel, he was startled and told the priest. The priest hid at dawn to check the facts, and the dwarf first knelt down and prayed for a while, then really put on all kinds of shows in the chapel. Seeing this, the priest stood up to scold him, and suddenly the voice of the Lord was heard. "Hey! I am happy to receive him.” At that time, the priest also knelt and confessed. "Lord! Like that dwarf, let me give my all!”
<There is nothing more to receive>
Now receive the grace of giving more abundantly than any other grace (verse 7). It is grace to be blessed and to live well, and it is grace to succeed, but just because we live well and succeed does not mean that God acknowledges us and people respect us. Even if you have strength and success, if you do not know how to share, you will be reviled, but if you do your best to share even if you are lacking, people will respect you and you will receive God's exalted grace.
Britain once had colonies around the world several hundred times larger than the mainland. The 54 Commonwealth countries that are still colonies respect and love Britain, including the use of British national holidays and the portrait of the British Queen on their currency. On the other hand, countries that were briefly under Japanese rule are usually sharpening their teeth against Japan. It is because they have a proud, self-centered nationality and still do not repent of their mistakes. Japan is perceived as a solitary people who have power but do not know how to share. A power that cannot be shared does not last long.
Being strong and in a high position is a God-given opportunity to love your neighbor. Use that opportunity to do many good things. A high position is a position that does not last long. Low positions can be long, but most high positions are only short-lived. Also, you shouldn't try to stay for a long time because the seat you shouldn't be in for a long time is a high seat. Therefore, when you are given money and a high position, be more alert and try to share that blessing with your neighbors.