City Life Starter

I. The Word: 2 Corinthians 8:1-5
1 Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. 2 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. 3 For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. 4 They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift of Jerusalem. 5 They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do. 

II. Reflection Questions:

1. In verse two, it says the Macedonian believers were tested and poor, BUT also filled with joy. Have you ever had trouble feeling joyful while you were in unfavorable circumstances? 

2. Why are we called to give generously and joyfully?

3. What kind of giver are you? (refer to page 104 in your purple book for the “types of givers”)

If you’ve read any of my other starter entries, you’d notice a pattern of me saying something along the lines of “it’s hilarious I’m writing about this right now” and I feel the same way today. Here I am, a person whom, this year has discovered how much finances has been an idol in my life, writing about biblical prosperity -ha!

Some of you may be familiar with the term “broke college student” – I did not identify with this term or consider myself “one of them” while in college. In fact, college is where I learned and “perfected” how to handle my finances and set myself up for success. Even in my senior year, when God was calling me to leave my own plans for my future that gave me “financial security” behind to become a full-time campus missionary and build a financial partnership team – I still considered myself a master at finances. I gave my tithe every month, I bought my “broke college student” friends lunch and dinner all the time, gift giving was my specialty, emergency funds were always available, you name it – I was prepared for everything. I took so much pride in “my ability” to have security and give freely, I had no idea that I was developing such a dangerous idol.

Shortly after getting married, God called my husband and I to work alongside the staff at City Life Church as missionaries with Every Nation Campus. From the moment we got here we have been in a tough season of experiencing a lot of stressful things and the biggest one is yup, you guessed it, loss of our “financial security.” Suddenly, all the tithing, giving, and bill-paying just kept getting harder and harder. I would question God’s provision and faithfulness every time something came up that would take my financial plan on an unexpected turn. In this time – when I really had no where to turn, The Lord started to reveal to me what false sense of financial security I have had in myself. How I idolized my abilities over His grace and faithfulness. That my gift giving, lunch buying, and tithing were just checkmarks on my budget, but never out of a heart of extreme generosity.

So the biggest question I’ve had to ask myself in this season is “how can I remain joyful or even a joyful giver in this time of testing?” One answer is by remembering who the author of my life is. Remembering His power and love and authority. Remembering that even if I have nothing, He gave me the greatest gift of salvation when He died on the cross. Remembering that even the birds who do not sow or reap are fed by Him, how much more valuable and loved than them am I (reference from Matthew 6:26)? Remembering that God does not need my money and material things, but only desires that I gain a pure heart that knows I am loved and loves others. 

Prayer: 

Lord convict us and show where our hearts lie. Show us how to remember who you are and to hold strong to truth when the lies and the thoughts sound louder than your voice. Let us be faithful stewards of the gifts you give us. In Jesus’ name.