PODCAST

Do Not Worry

May 13th, 2024

2 Corinthians 8:1-7

Churches often speak about tithing or giving as a duty or a discipline, but that is not the language Paul uses. He calls it the “grace of giving.” What Paul rightly saw was that “Life does not consist in an abundance of possessions” (Luke 12:15). In fact, for many people, their possessions own them.

Paul knew that the Macedonians had experienced incredible grace through giving to God’s mission in the world. He desired for the Corinthians, and, I expect all Christians, to experience the same grace. It is a grace of learning to trust God to give us our daily bread.

So often we worry about tomorrow, about what we will eat or drink, but God knows our needs. By attending to giving as a practice, by living generous lives, we learn God’s grace in fresh ways. Eventually, through a life of generosity, we can easily follow Christ’s command: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34).

Author: Ryan Quanstrom