God would increase the harvest of our righteousness.

 Good morning. We ended last time with the verse that said that God would increase the harvest of our righteousness. It didn’t say that if we give money, we will receive money from God. While we do receive monetary blessings from God, more importantly we receive an increase in our righteousness. You can immediately and clearly see when there is an increase in monetary blessing; you may not be able to see immediately and clearly when there is an increase in your righteousness. You’ll be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God. He told the Corinthians that because of their monetary gift to the saints in Jerusalem, they would glorify God – not the Corinthians. Sometimes people give because they want the recognition. It is God who is to get the recognition. I, Paul, urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ – I who am meek when face-to-face with you, but bold toward you when absent! That is not the picture one has of Paul – meek and gentle. He says that he does not want to have to put on his “bold attitude“ when he does see them. Some people regarded him as if he walked according to the flesh. He did not like that one bit. We will see next time what his response was. Father thank You for all that You have done for the reader and his/her family. Make this the best year ever for them!

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