But since you excel in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you — see that you also excel in this grace of giving. 2 Corinthians 8:7
“A pastor friend from Singapore once told me that during the remarkable growth among Christians there in the 1980s, his church taught new converts four things within four weeks of discipling: how to read the Bible, how to pray, how to share their new faith, and how to give. Generous giving was seen as integral to biblical discipleship, and so it was taught from the very beginning. Generosity is of course a response to grace and an overflow of gratitude.”
Christopher J. H. Wright in Christ-Centered Generosity: Global Perspectives on the Biblical Call to a Generous Life (Colbert: Kingdom Life Publishing).
As a cohort of Asian Theological Seminary students works through my Faith and Finances onlinecourse over the next five weeks, pray with me that God fills their hearts with grace and gratitude. Today’s post seems fitting as one student is from Singapore. What about your church? Some emphasize tithing from the law so giving feels like a tax. Don’t do that, as it steals everyone’s joy and actually squelches generosity. Celebrate with gratitude and make grace-filled giving integral to biblical discipleship.