1 There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the Lord's people. 2 For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. 3 But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be. 4 For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to say anything about you—would be ashamed of having been so confident. 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.
Last semester here at ISU, CCF students took part in collecting and sending Christmas gifts to children overseas through the ministry Operation Christmas Child. It was a wonderful project and several students were already familiar with the ministry either through their churches at home, or from participating in it through CCF in previous years. Naturally, I think those students were the ones that were the most enthusiastic about the cause at first. Eventually, however, I began to see that enthusiasm spread as though it were contagious throughout the entire group of students. The pile of donated toys grew steadily throughout the month of November and into December. In the end, the group filled 23 boxes with dolls, toy cars, crayons, mittens, hats, socks, toothbrushes and toothpaste!
No one was forced to give toys so that poor children could have gifts for Christmas, but I do believe that as we all witnessed the giving and thoughtful spirit, we were quietly encouraging one another to give more.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment