“But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also. I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.”  - 2 Corinthians 8:7-9

Main Point

The gospel reminds me of my spiritual poverty, and instills in me a felt connection to the poor, desiring to show them the same generosity lavished on me.

“The gospel reminds me daily of the spiritual poverty into which I was born and also of the staggering generosity of Christ towards me. Such reminders instill in me both a felt connection to the poor and a desire to show them the same generosity that has been lavished on me.” —Milton Vincent

Discussion

• Have you ever been jobless for a sustained period or overwhelmed by debt? What were your temptations?
• How does the generosity of Christ relate to our perspective on being generous whenever we have opportunity?
• Does your giving pattern reflect a desire to be generous on every occasion?
• How can meditating on the gospel give me a greater felt connection to the poor?