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•12因为办这供给的事，不但补圣徒的缺乏，而且使许多人对　神充满更多的感谢。13他们从这供给的事上得了凭据，知道你们宣认基督，顺服他的福音，慷慨捐助给他们和众人，把荣耀归给　神。14他们也因　神极大的恩赐显在你们身上而切切想念你们，为你们祈祷。15感谢　神，因他有说不尽的恩赐！

保罗将这种一心一意的慷慨的奉献，称为上帝的恩典。我们无法靠自己在心里成就这样的事情。事实上，我们越多地考虑自己，我们的奉献就越有可能带有自私的动机。我们的心必须永远聚焦在耶稣和神的恩典上。当我们的内心充满了恩典，那么对别人的慷慨就变得容易了。

但你是否意识到，你的奉献对别人带来的影响呢？你的奉献不仅是让人吃饱肚子，或者开展一项事工，亦或是让你的教会可以进行更多的服事。而且通过你的奉献，“（别人）从这供给的事上得了凭据，知道你们承认基督，顺服他的福音，便将荣耀归与神。”从这角度来说，你的慷慨奉献会带来双重影响。当你发自内心地奉献时，你是在感谢上帝在你生命中的恩典。而当别人从你的慷慨奉献中获得益处时，他们也会感谢上帝。你可能永远看不到他们脸上的喜悦，或者从他们那里得到个人对你的感谢，但上帝会看到。

感谢神，因他有说不尽的恩典，通过这些恩典他在我们心里工作。

祷告：主耶稣，靠着你我才能慷慨的奉献。你不仅赐给我恩典，使我有能力慷慨，而且也赐给我能慷慨奉献的资源。愿我所有的奉献都来自我感恩的心，感谢你在我心里和我的生命中所做的一切。阿们。

2 Corinthians 9: 12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! (NIV)

Paul calls generous and single-minded giving a grace of God. It is not something that we can make happen in our own hearts. In fact, the more that we think about ourselves, the more likely we will have selfish motives for our giving. Our heart’s focus must ever remain in Jesus and on God’s grace. When our hearts are filled with grace to overflowing, then generosity to others comes easy.

        But did you also realize the impact of your giving has on others? It is not just filling an empty stomach or starting a mission or making the ministry of your congregation possible. “Because of your service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel.”  You might say that you get double the impact from your generosity. When you give from your heart, you are thanking God for his goodness in your life. And when people benefit from your generosity, they will thank God as well. You may never see the joy on their face or get a personal thank you from them, but God will.

        Thanks be to God for this indescribable gift of generosity, which he works in our hearts.

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, you make generosity possible in two ways. You give me the grace to be generous and you have given me the resources as well. Let all my gifts come from a thankful heart that acknowledges and praises you for what you have done in my heart and life. Amen.