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.”

One method of procuring money is to point to others who have given. “See that poor man with shabby clothes and worn out shoes? He gave five dollars!” The psychology behind such fund-raising is to cause one to think: “If he can give, when it obvious he has very little, I should be able to give something, too.” And so he does.

Paul was not operating a shenanigan when he appealed to the Corinthian Church. Rather, he was challenging them to trust the LORD in their giving. The Churches of Macedonia were very poor. Paul was challenging the

Corinthian Church to give to the Mother Church in Jerusalem. He pointed to the attitude of the Macedonians in the effort to encourage the Corinthians. “In a great ordeal of affliction,” he wrote, “their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality.” They didn’t have much money at all, but they possessed an abundance of joy and were wealthy in their liberality.

I’ve never given what the LORD prompted me to give without receiving a blessing and often a remuneration.

Simply put, you cannot out-give God! In truth, what we call “our own,” is actually His! Whatever you do to support yourself and your family, God gives you the strength and the knowledge necessary to accomplish it.

Paul was not urging the Corinthians to give without the LORD’s blessing. But, he knew that the LORD would bless, if their giving was initiated by the LORD Himself.

Some years ago, I challenged some senior young people to prayerfully select a missionary and commence to give to their support. Whether they followed my instructions, I never knew. Knowledge of what they did was not my business; I simply felt the Spirit’s leadership to challenge them. I sought to follow that instruction myself. And I can truthfully say that I have never “lost money” giving to the LORD as He directed. Give yourself to the LORD! Follow His biblical and spiritual instructions daily. Solomon said, Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it after many days” (Eccl. 11:1). You’ll be amazed at what He will do!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”