Free Our Hearts

Scotty Smith:  A Prayer for “Cyber Monday”

We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints—and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 2 Cor. 8:1-5

Heavenly Father, it’s “Cyber Monday”—like Black Friday, a day for discovering deals on a lot of things we didn’t realize we needed. All the more reason to begin this day meditating on this story of radical grace and selfless generosity. Fill our hearts this Advent season with the joy of sharing and giving, even as you rescue us from the spirit of acquiring and hoarding. Free our hearts, free my heart, from the seductions of this one day.

Father, this one portion of Scripture, alone, underscores why we can never emphasize your grace too much. What an amazing story—the severely afflicted and extremely poor Christians of Macedonia became a model of radical generosity to the much wealthier believers in Corinth. Multiplied grace, not fear and guilt was their motivation, for the law cannot produce this kind of people—not even grace plus law, but only grace upon grace. O, the sheer convicting beauty of cheerful giving… (2 Cor. 9:7).

For the glory of Jesus and the advancing of your kingdom, we ask you to give us the same grace you gave the churches of Macedonia. The needs all around us are exponential, but your resources are endless. Indeed, help us to excel in the grace of giving during this Advent season. For you are “able to make all grace abound to [us], so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, [we] can abound in every good work” (2 Cor. 9:8). Enrich us in every way that we might be generous in every way (2 Cor. 9:11)—with our time, talents, and treasures, and with great forbearance and extravagant forgiveness.

Lord Jesus, you are the ultimate cheerful giver. That’s what Advent’s all about; that’s what the gospel is all about. Though you were rich, you gladly became poor for us, that by your poverty we might become joyfully rich through you (2 Cor. 8:9). Make your gladness ours. Make your generosity ours.
Like the Macedonians, we give ourselves to you in this matter, even as you have given yourself on our behalf on the cross. What a privilege it is to live in your story, to your glory, with your joy! So very Amen we pray, in your great and gracious name.