Daily Reading: July 3

(from www.christianaid.org.uk)

Voluntary gift

Something to read

So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you, and arrange in advance for this bountiful gift that you have promised, so that it may be ready as a voluntary gift and not as an extortion

- 2 Corinthians 9:5.

Something to think about

Have you ever felt cajoled into giving, or given in order to placate a guilty conscience? In the UK, it’s often culturally quite awkward to discuss money.

Paul clearly had difficulty ensuring that the Christian communities he was engaged with would overcome their natural inhibitions to embrace generosity.

The phrase “a voluntary gift and not an extortion” is precisely the transition he wants to achieve.

How would it be if our giving was born of delight, from the abundance of love and goodness God lavishes upon us?

Something to do

Dare to be unnecessarily generous today.

Something to pray

God give me courage to be generous today, and eyes to see where I can invest the life you give.

Today’s contributor is the Rev Cheryl Meban, Presbyterian chaplain to Ulster University, with a care for justice, human rights and international economic transformation.