Stewardship is . . . God’s Indescribable Gift.

At the end of his words on stewardship to the Christians at Corinth, Paul says, “And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:14-15). The beneficiaries of their generosity will pray for them. They will pray for them for the surpassing grace the Lord has given them, grace enough to overflow with gifts to others.

The words, “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!,” are words about Jesus, God’s only Son. God is the first giver. He first gives selflessly to us in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ, true God in human flesh. The Concordia Self-Study Bible footnote says, “ . . . and all true Christian giving is our response of gratitude for this gift that is beyond description (cf. 8:9; 1 John 4:9-11).”

God’s gifts are indescribable. The gift of His Son leads us to the question, “would we give our life for someone else’s life?” We would probably answer that question with a “no,” or at best with a qualified “maybe.” God’s love for us is shown in the giving of His one and only Son, the giving of His life for ours in the most horrid of death.

Our giving pales in comparison to God’s giving and our giving is only in response to God’s giving. God gives and then He moves in us through His means of grace to respond to His giving. God is the prime mover. God is the prime giver.

Along with Paul we say, “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” To God be the glory.

41 of 52 © Rev. Ronald A. Bogs