TRIALS AND GENEROSITY
How could someone be afflicted and poor, but at the same time be generous and overfilled with joy? Well, I’m not sure, but that’s what happened with the brothers in a region called Macedonia.
“They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity” (2 Corinthians 8:2 NLT).
We can only achieve that with the help of the Holy Spirit. One of the fruits of the Holy Spirit is the joy. The joy of God does not depend on external circumstances, because it’s something internal to the heart. When we are filled with the Presence of God we can overflow with joy, and although we have needs, what we have we can share with others, be generous and have a compassionate heart.
Lord, help me to react like this during the difficult times that sometimes comes into my life. Give me your grace to pass the trials when I am afflicted, attacked, misunderstood, or criticized. I want to be someone who doesn’t get filled with bitterness or resentment in the face of adversity. I want my heart not to change because of the hatred in this world. I want to be a person that can continue to see people with love as you look at them, I want to be able to feel compassion.
I will be more generous when I am being tested. I repel resentment with generosity. The more I see myself attacked the more generous I will be. May the devil know that if he causes me problems, the only thing he will achieve is that I will get the best out of me.
For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! (2 Corinthians 4:17 NLT).
Think about it:
What trial are you going through right now?
Think of someone you know who is going through more need than you and who you can bless this week?
What act of generosity could you do for someone this day?