“How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.”
The Comparison
Paul names deep poverty here, alongside abounded unto the riches of their liberality, worth examining directly, worth holding as this movement’s own striking testimony, genuine generosity not requiring first achieving comparative abundance, but actually, genuinely flowing even from this described, deep poverty.
This is worth applying against however much your own generosity has waited for sufficient abundance first, rather than this verse’s own testimony, generosity genuinely flowing even from deep poverty, worth examining whether waiting for comparative sufficiency has actually, quietly prevented your own genuine liberality now.
Notice abundance of their joy, worth holding alongside this described poverty, both genuinely, simultaneously true, worth considering that joy and genuine generosity are not necessarily dependent on comparative material abundance, but can genuinely, actually flow even from honest, current lack.
Consider today whether you have been waiting for comparative sufficiency before practicing genuine generosity, and receive this church’s own testimony, deep poverty, abounding unto liberality, worth trusting as genuine possibility for your own current circumstances, whatever comparative lack they currently, honestly include.
Choose Contentment
- Consider whether you have waited for comparative sufficiency before practicing genuine generosity.
- Receive this testimony as possibility for your own current circumstances, whatever they include.
- Practice one act of genuine generosity today, regardless of your own comparative, current lack.
Prayer
Lord, let my own deep poverty, whatever it currently includes, still abound unto genuine liberality, trusting your testimony that generosity flows even from honest lack. Amen.
Carry this today
Genuine generosity can flow even from honest lack, not requiring comparative sufficiency first.