What we’re hoping for is that as your lives grow in faith, you’ll play a greater part within our expanding work. 2 Corinthians 10:15b (MSG)
God wants to bless us. He knows how to take care of our needs (Luke 11:11-13), but He doesn’t want us to use all we are blessed with only on ourselves. He blesses us so we can accomplish the mission He gave us (Matthew 28:19-20).
As we grow in our faith, we will play a bigger role in expanding the Church. We can use our knowledge and love to serve others and we can also use our giving. We can give of our time to help a person in need – listen to their story, cry with them, pray with them, show them God’s love. We can give of our talents – mow the lawn for a neighbor who can’t do it themselves, help them set up their new phone if they don’t know how, share a smile with the cashier who appears to be having a bad day. We can give of our resources – pay for the order behind us as we go through the drive-through, donate to a charity or homeless shelter, give to your local church so they can do more for Christ. When we give, even if done in secret, God promises to reward us (Matthew 6:4).
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 (NIV)