The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

2 Corinthians 8:1-5, “Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God

which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, 2 that in a great ordeal of affliction

their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality.

3 For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability they gave of their own

accord, 4 begging us with much entreaty for the favor of participation in the support of the

saints, 5 and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord

and to us by the will of God.”

How do you measure the value of a gift? Our culture makes it difficult, but

Paul simplifies it for us. In my lifetime, I’ve received many, many gifts. I

remember a man giving me $50 after a preaching service, saying, “They

(the church) didn’t give you enough.” In India, a woman I never knew

dropped a 22k gold necklace into the offering. Nana still has it. We were

once given a car. But how are each of these to be measured as to their value?

I cannot judge the hearts of the givers; I can only try to assess whether they

could afford to part with their gifts. In a sense, it’s not how much one gives,

it’s how much he has left over.

Paul says the churches of Macedonia (Greece) were in deep poverty. But

they had joy in abundance! They could hardly afford to give to help others,

but they abounded “in the wealth of their liberality!” Haven’t you known

people like that? I sure have. Most of us want more of the things we

desire. Those poor Greeks just wanted to give, give, give! How did they

get that way? Why were they so different from us? It’s quite simple, really.

They “first gave themselves to the LORD…” When you belong to the LORD,

everything you possess belongs to Him. That makes it easy and joyful to

give. Remember that poor widow who gave two mites to the Temple

treasury, while the wealthy gave money by the handfuls? Her treasure

was in the LORD Himself, and He took notice of her. Isn’t His notice of

greater value that what we give? I should hope it is.

We love you dearly and pray for you daily,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”