Imagine that someone walked up to you tomorrow and handed you the keys to a brand-new car. No strings attached. It was a gift. Technically, you would be free to do whatever you wanted with it. You could drive it into a telephone pole, ignore the maintenance schedule, or treat it carelessly. But why would you? Because the car was a generous gift, you would likely take care of it. You would appreciate it, protect it, and use it the way it was intended to be used. In a similar way, Christians...

The word "sovereign" means that God rules over all things. He is the supreme King of the universe. Nothing happens outside of His knowledge, authority, or control. Psalm 103:19 says, "The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all." God is not merely a powerful being among many powerful beings. He is the Creator of heaven and earth, and everything belongs to Him.

Paul presents Christian giving in a completely different way. He does not treat giving as a burden or a business transaction. Instead, he shows that giving is an act of worship that flows from the grace of God working in a believer’s heart.