2 Corinthians 8:12 KJV
For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
The greatest offering we can give to the Lord is that of a willing mind.
The context of the passage is inescapably that of giving money, but I think the principle would extend to any sort of offering we might bring before the Lord. Certainly we do not want to lose sight of the fact that the specific context is in giving though.
Many years ago I heard a preacher say that God judges us according to what we would like to give, not according to what we have given. If a Christian would have liked to have given a million dollars to Christ, but could only give a hundred, he is rewarded for what he would have liked to have done and not according to what he actually had done. This passage bears that up.
Of course there is a proviso in this. A man may not say he would have liked to have given a million dollars and be rewarded as if he had given a million dollars if he truly had a million dollars to give and didn't. The principle is a willingness and readiness. The one who is willing and can - will.
So then comes the question; do we give willingly to the Lord? Willingly means to give according to what we have. It is giving according to the moving of the Holy Spirit of God in us. How often could we have given more and chosen not to do it?
I want to be willing to give much more than I have to give but I also want to give abundantly from what I do have to give.
For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
The greatest offering we can give to the Lord is that of a willing mind.
The context of the passage is inescapably that of giving money, but I think the principle would extend to any sort of offering we might bring before the Lord. Certainly we do not want to lose sight of the fact that the specific context is in giving though.
Many years ago I heard a preacher say that God judges us according to what we would like to give, not according to what we have given. If a Christian would have liked to have given a million dollars to Christ, but could only give a hundred, he is rewarded for what he would have liked to have done and not according to what he actually had done. This passage bears that up.
Of course there is a proviso in this. A man may not say he would have liked to have given a million dollars and be rewarded as if he had given a million dollars if he truly had a million dollars to give and didn't. The principle is a willingness and readiness. The one who is willing and can - will.
So then comes the question; do we give willingly to the Lord? Willingly means to give according to what we have. It is giving according to the moving of the Holy Spirit of God in us. How often could we have given more and chosen not to do it?
I want to be willing to give much more than I have to give but I also want to give abundantly from what I do have to give.
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