SOUNDING OUT:
On Fire for God (Part 4 of 5)
We have been looking at the foundation
of an fervent attitude that springs from a genuine and
vital spiritual relationship with God. We are
in the process of searching out five activities that
the Word identifies as springing from a proper attitude
and approach to life. We will see the importance of:
1. Prayer and
Praise
2. Reading the Scriptures
3. Speaking the Word of God to Others
4. Giving of our Abundance
5. Fellowshipping with like minded believers.
The Greek word prothumos
is a key to unlock God’s heart on these activities.
The last couple of weeks we looked at the first two,
and this week we will look at the third. We find the
third of our key activities in the next use of the words
in the prothumos word family.
In II Corinthians 8 and 9 the noun prothumia
occurs four times. It is translated “readiness”
in 8:11, ‘‘willing mind” in 8:12,
“ready mind” in 8:19, and “the forwardness
of ... mind” in 9:2.
The fourth activity is giving of our abundance,
sharing in the material category. We should be ready
to give as we recognize God’s blessing and increase
in our lives.
II Corinthians
8:7-19:
Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and
utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and
in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace
also. [Giving in the financial category is called a
“grace” in this section.]
8 I speak not by commandment,
but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to
prove the sincerity of your love.
9 For ye know the grace
of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich,
yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his
poverty might be rich.
10 And herein I give my
advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun
before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year
ago.
11 Now therefore perform
the doing of it; that as there was a readiness
[prothumia] to will, so there may
be a performance also out of that which ye have.
12 For if there be first
a willing mind [prothumia],
it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not
according to that he hath not.
13 For I mean not that other
men be eased, and ye burdened:
14 But by an equality, that
now at this time your abundance may be a supply for
their want, that their abundance also may be a supply
for your want: that there may be equality:
15 As it is written, He
that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that
had gathered little had no lack.
16 But thanks be to God,
which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus
for you.
17 For indeed he accepted
the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own
accord he went unto you.
18 And we have sent with
him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout
all the churches;
19 And not that only, but
who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us
with this grace, which is administered by us to the
glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready
mind [prothumia]:
II Corinthians 9:2,7:
For I know the forwardness of your mind [prothumia],
for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that
Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked
very many.
7 Every man according as
he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly,
or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
They were ready to prothumosly
share of their financial abundance, because they first
gave themselves to the Lord (8:2). God’s will
is for us to give. Once we commit to Him and decide
to do His will the next step is to purpose in our heart
how we will accomplish it. Then the final step is to
follow through to do what one has purposed to do.
We should have a dynamic heart to give of our
abundance; be it our time, talents, or material prosperity.
A great motive is to HAVE so that we can GIVE.
Ephesians 4:28:
Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him
labour, working with his hands the thing which is good,
that he may have to give to him that needeth.
Proverbs 30:8-9:
Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither
poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for
me:
9 Lest I be full, and deny
thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and
steal, and take the name of my God in vain.
I Timothy 6:17-19:
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be
not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in
the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
18 That they do good, that
they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing
to communicate [koinonikos, inclined to share
fully of one's possessions, free in giving, liberal,
generous];
19 Laying up in store for
themselves a good foundation against the time to come,
that they may lay hold on eternal life.
Luke 12:15,21:
And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness:
for a man’s life [zoe] consisteth not
in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
21 So is he that layeth
up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
We ought to be rich toward
God, and ready at any moment to give. Our discipline
and faithfulness to recognize God’s abundance
to us will encourage us to respond and give.
Next week we will look at the last of the list
of activities in which we should be ready and willing
to engage. We should be predisposed to move in these
categories, and pursue opportunities to do so as they
arise. Our resolve will also guide us to their fulfillment
as we determine the way we should go.
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