Friday, September 11, 2026

Bible in a Year Reading Plan: 1 Samuel 11-15 | 2 Corinthians 13

When I think about being eager to do something, I picture the things I genuinely look forward to, like opening a good book, sharing a meal with friends, or heading out for a long walk when the weather is just right.

Eagerness changes the way we approach things. We don't have to be convinced or dragged into it because we want to do it.

And that's what catches my attention in this verse.

2 Corinthians 8:12
Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don't have.

Paul isn't primarily talking about how much we give. He's talking about the posture we have when we give it: eagerly.

That makes generosity about more than money. It becomes a way of living.

I've noticed that some of my favorite moments of generosity haven't been the big, planned-out ones. Sometimes it's picking up the check when a friend is having a hard week, or giving my time when I'd honestly rather keep it for myself. Sometimes, it’s as simple as noticing who needs encouragement or looking for ways to make someone’s day a little lighter.

God invites us to become people who are eager to give, not out of obligation, but because generosity is woven into who we are becoming.

But before we focus on what we have to offer, it helps to remember what we've already received.

2 Corinthians 8:9
You know the generous grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.

Our willingness to give grows when we remember how much he gave first.

We have already received grace we could never earn and forgiveness we could never buy. Jesus gave himself freely for us, and that changes everything.

When we really understand that, our grip on what we have begins to loosen. We don't have to live afraid that there won't be enough. We can live with open hands because we've already received something far greater than anything we could give away.

So, pay attention.

You might discover that generosity isn't really about having more to give. It's about becoming eager to open your hands with what you've already been given.

Questions:
What does it look like for you to give eagerly, not out of obligation, but out of gratitude?

Are there areas where you tend to hold on tightly instead of living with open hands?

Next Steps:
Pay attention to someone around you who might need encouragement or support, and take a step to help.

Pray for a heart that is eager and ready to respond generously to any needs you see.

Prayer:
God, thank you for giving me something I can use to make a difference in someone else's life. Help me hold what you've given me loosely, pay attention to the people around me, and become someone who lives eagerly to give. I love you, I trust you, and I worship you. Amen.

Series Theme Verse:

John 13:35
“Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” 

Written by Lori Tuckerman, Director of Content at CedarCreek Church.