Fellowship 5

2 Corinthians 9:6-7

I have never really cared for gift exchanges at work. I don’t like having to buy a present for someone I don’t know that well, especially a gift that is usually at a dollar value set fairly low. What can you get someone for $5 now days?

I don’t want to sound ungrateful, but I also don’t like getting gifts from co-workers in these gift exchanges. After all, they are simply giving a gift under the dollar limit, a present to a stranger, a gift that is pretty much impersonal and pointless. “I got everyone a coffee mug!”

Our gifts need to come from our heart. Our presents need to be offered with love. What we give God should be presented with a willing heart and true desire to honor Him.

Still addressing the church in Corinth, Paul has more to say about giving. What does he say about sowing and reaping? What is God’s attitude?

We have learned to trust in God and rely completely on Him. It is my desire to tithe to God. Therefore, my family and I contribute 10 percent to the church every pay period, and often exceed this amount through incidental offerings throughout the weeks. I have decided in my heart this is what needs to be given, and I give it willingly and not under compulsion.

Others do not feel they can spare 10 percent. Because of uncertain incomes presenting a tithe is not always practical to many people. Is that okay?

In many ways, yes, it is okay to give to God whatever you choose. Others may insist that anything less than a tithe is a sin, but this passage deals less with amounts and more with attitudes (My whole theology and faith centers more on attitude than anything else).

It is up to each of us how much we give to God. Our offerings to God should not be like those given at office gift exchanges. Our offerings to God should be given with a cheerful heart. If we choose to give sparingly, to sow sparingly, to do only a little for God, then we will reap sparingly. Our blessings will be small.

When we give in faith and we give generously – and also with a heart and attitude of devotion and love – we will be reap abundantly. The windows of heaven will be opened to cover us in blessings.

DAILY CHALLENGE: Be honest – what is your attitude in giving? Are you faithful enough to take a risk and give more?

Fellowship with One Another 5

Philippians 2:1-4

Like any family we have our little squabbles between the five of us, and it is not at all uncommon for our children to fight among themselves. But for the most part we all get along quite well. And some of the happiest times are those times when we all work together for a common goal and common purpose. As a parent it is also a joyful thing to see our children taking part in some ministry, sacrificing time and effort to help others.

My image of God is influenced and shaped tremendously by my role as a parent. I imagine that God is delighted when we are all of one mind and one purpose, especially when that purpose is to do good.

In his letter to the church at Philippi Paul talks about the kind of attitude faithful believers should have. What would make Paul’s joy complete (verse 2)? What attitudes should we already have (verse 1)? What are his instructions in verses 4 and 5?

If we are members of the body of Christ, if we are part of a church or worship community, then the attributes listed in the first verse should apply to us. We should be encouraged through our unity in Christ. We should find comfort in God’s love. We should be in fellowship with the Spirit.

And if we have all those things then we should be like-minded. All of us in the body of Christ should be working toward the same purposes of love, compassion and mercy. And we should be not only like-minded with one another, we should be of the same mind as Christ himself.

If we who are united in the body of Christ can achieve these things and also look to the interest of others, then we can bring others into fellowship with us and with Jesus. And if we can bring others into fellowship with Christ, then they too will find encouragement in unity with Christ. They too will find comfort in love. And they will find fellowship not only with us, and not only with Jesus, but with the Spirit as well.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How can you look to the interest of others in the spirit of Christian fellowship?

Fellowship with One Another 4

Romans 12:15-16

Groucho Marx is credited with the humorous observation, “I wouldn’t join a club that would have someone like me as a member.” We often hope to be better off than we are, hope to improve our social standing, hope to widen our sphere of influence and authority. And then, if it does happen, we sometimes look down on those who are where we were.

The same can be true in our spiritual walk. Is there any among us who does not need forgiveness? Is there any among us who does not need the mercy of Christ? No, not one.

Yet there are so many who have entered into a relationship with Christ and then look down on those who have not found it yet, or are struggling with their own salvation.

In his letter to the Romans Paul offers instruction on how to have fellowship with one another. What are we to do according to verse 15? What should be our attitude according to verse 16?

Fellowship is more than just spending time with other people. It involves the quality of time spent. Simply being in the presence of another person will not develop the kind of fellowship we are called to as Christians. Rather, we are to share our ups and downs, our dreams, our hopes, and our fears with one another.

We are to rejoice when our Christian brothers and sisters have a reason to rejoice. We should not be envious or resentful for their success and happiness. We are to mourn with those who mourn, sharing their sorrows. We should not keep our distance and hope for the best, but we should be willing to truly empathize with their sadness and spend time grieving with them.

This is true fellowship.

Finally, we are not to be proud, but willing to associate with people of low positions. And I believe this is talking about more than job level and income. We who have received salvation should be willing to associate with those who have not been saved so that we might be there to help them find that essential relationship with Jesus. Having fellowship with one another means sharing the journey of faith.

DAILY CHALLENGE: What is your attitude toward those who are not saved? Does it need to change?

Fellowship with One Another 1

Ephesians 5:19-20

This Sunday I asked the congregation if they could tell me why we were meeting together. One of the first answers was, “so we can make it through the rest of the week.”

While I was hoping for someone to say that we come to church to worship God, the answer we heard was equally valid. Having fellowship in worship, coming together as one, in one place, to praise God and receive instruction in our faith equips us to face the world.

The primary reason for worship is to give our adoration, thanks and praise to our heavenly Father. But we are also supposed to have fellowship with one another. It is essential that the body of Christ come together on occasion to be reminded that we are indeed the body of Christ.

What does this letter to the church at Ephesus encourage believers to do? How can you make music in your heart?

These two brief lines give us an abundance of instruction for times of fellowship with one another. They teach us that we should sing songs of praise to one another and with one another. Our times of fellowship, of being in the presence of those we love as brothers and sisters in Christ, should put a song of love and joy in our hearts.

Our times together can strengthen our spirits. Our time in fellowship with one another can allow us to set down our burdens, share our sorrows and joys together, and face life with a renewed attitude of happiness in Christ. We can be filled up in worship so that we can go out into the cold, bitter world wrapped in love – love from God and love from those who share our faith.

We may claim that we cannot sing; therefore the instruction to “speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs” does not apply. But the word used is “speak.” Even if we can’t carry a tune in a bucket we can say the words of faith and encouragement to each other. We can build one another up in our times of fellowship so that all are strengthened to go out into life.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How can you put a song to the Lord in the heart of another?