Giving

Ever read 2 Corinthians 8? Chances are that you don't remember what that chapter is about - because it talks about a subject that we don't like to talk about. Money. More specifically - Giving!

Giving is one of those things that elicits all kinds of emotional responses. Of course, lots of people think that is all that the church talks about. "The Church just wants your money."

Money is something we all want. None of us thinks we have enough. Somebody else always wants what we have. Just watch TV for a while and all kinds of businesses plead with you to give money to THEM! Because you just can't continue to live a fulfilled life until you buy THEIR product or service. And, we gladly go to their place of business, in person or online, to hand over our money for their indispensable product. And we don't complain. At least not until a day or two later when we see something else we desperately "need."

The interesting thing is. When we buy "stuff" we are soon again left feeling dissatisfied and empty. On the other hand, when we choose to GIVE to a cause - even to the Church - without expecting anything in return. When we give out a heart of generosity and "giving," we experience feelings of satisfaction and fulfillment.

Sorrow but no regret

In my devotional reading this morning I read through 2 Corinthians 7. Within one paragraph Paul, in writing to the Church in Corinth, used the words sorrow and regret several times. We may not always appreciate the difference between sorrow and regret.

⁸ Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— ⁹ yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. ¹⁰ Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. - 2 Corinthians 7

First "regret." Paul apparently had sent a previous letter to the church in Corinth which may have seemed harsh. At least it pointed out something in their lives that needed to be changed - and it brought sorrow in their lives. Paul initially regretted causing sorrow, but when he saw the impact of their sorrow, he no longer regretted his actions.

Secondly, the Corinthians experienced sorrow. But the sorrow they experienced led them to repent of their wrong and as a result they experienced forgiveness and "salvation."

Reflecting on these words I see that there are times when we regret certain actions we have taken in the past, but we have not experienced sorrow over those actions. It seems to me that unless I actually sorrow over my wrongdoing, but simply regret my actions, I will not be brought to a point of true repentance. Getting caught may cause me to regret. Admitting our wrong and our personal responsibility for our own actions is repentance - and leads to forgiveness.