My friend was eager to gather her family and friends for a festive holiday celebration at her home. Each of the guests looked forward to gathering around the table together and wanted to help defray the expense of feeding so many by contributing to the meal. Some would bring bread, others salad or a side dish. For one guest, however, money was exceptionally tight. Although she looked forward to spending the evening with those whom she loved, she couldnt afford to purchase any food. So, instead, she offered to clean the hosts home as her gift.
She would have been welcome at the table had she come empty-handed. Yet she looked at what she did have to offerher time and skillsand brought them to the gathering with her whole heart. I think thats precisely the spirit of Pauls words in 2 Corinthians 8. They had been eager to give to help some fellow Christians, and he urged them to follow through on that effort. He commended them for their desire and their willingness, saying their motivation to give is what makes a gift of any size or amount acceptable (v. 12).
Were often quick to compare our giving to that of others, especially when our resources dont afford us the luxury of giving as much as wed like to. But God views our giving differently: its our willingness to give what we have that He loves.
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