Bible Passage: “We make it our goal to please Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:9 NIV)
Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 8:1-24
I was so excited for Christmas morning that year.
When it comes to grills, my dad is a Traeger guy.
My wife and I decided to spend more than usual to purchase him the “Meater+,” a wireless Bluetooth meat thermometer. I salivated thinking about the smoked meat we’d eat and the joy I expected my dad to have when he opened his gift and discovered the app that tells him exactly how the “cook” is progressing.
The gift was well received; he loves it, and it brings me great joy to see his pleasure in it.
Two thousand years ago, the Macedonian Christians gave the Jerusalem Christians a generous gift too.
2 Corinthians 8:1-24 tells us the Macedonians were poor and yet eager to give financially to the Jewish Christians anyway. Why? Because they were so grateful for salvation in Christ and eager to be part of blessing the Jews who had carried the Gospel to them.
We tend to use our money for what we love, and we can tell what we love by how we use our money.
We spent way over our normal budget last Christmas to get my dad something we thought he’d love, simply because we love him.
The Macedonian Christians loved Christ and His people. Some of them probably skipped meals (there wasn’t much of a middle class back then) to have money to give to these people. That they did this with joy tells us they did it in love.
Have you tracked your spending lately? If you do, you’ll get a snapshot of what you love.
One way to escape a culture obsessed with material things is to be men who grow in love for God and others. Material things aren’t bad (hey, I bought the “Meater+”). I bought it out of love for my dad, knowing that he and my mom have spent their lives saying “no” to material things to give Macedonian-style to the Lord they love.
Material things like a “Meater+” aren’t bad. In this case, a material thing was a way to bless a person (important) and actually to honor Christ (most important) by honoring my dad.
If this seems complicated, that’s because it can be. Here’s the simple way forward, guys: Meditate on this verse below daily, and consider these words as you choose what you will and won’t buy.
“We make it our goal to please Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:9 NIV)[1]
Prayer: Lord, increase my love for You and my wisdom in handling material things. Let my life radiate the right priorities in my finances, thought life, and heart. Help! Thank You! Amen.
Reflection: Remember that you are saved by grace. Pray “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24 NIV). Then track your financial spending, look at your assets, and talk honestly with God about what this reveals about what/who you do and don’t love. Expect to hear a mix of “Well done!” “Repent,” and “Don’t be afraid… follow me.” (Matthew 25:21, 4:17, 4:19 Genesis 43:23 NIV)
[1] This passage speaks about how death and final judgment will reveal what was and wasn’t important. It’s almost cliché to point out how many people live for material things only to realize at the end of their lives how much they overvalued them and undervalued God and people.
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