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Articles
Testing the Sincerity of Your Love
Our “laying by in store upon the first day of the week as God has prospered us” (1 Cor. 16:1-2) reveals much more about our true character and of our love for God and our fellowman than we may realize. Whether or not anyone else knows, we, God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit know – not only the amount we give (in relation to the amount He prospers us), but our motive for giving and our attitude about any sacrifice we are willing to make. This subject is important enough that Paul, by inspiration, devoted the entire eighth and ninth chapters of 2 Corinthians to it; and the other inspired writers, as well as Christ, taught much about it. It certainly deserves prayerful and thoughtful meditation (Psalm 119:15, 48, 97, 148).
In his writing on this subject, Paul says, “I am testing the sincerity of your love.” By their liberal giving they would prove the sincerity of their love to God and Christ as well as their love of the brethren who were in need.
Jesus had said that all the Law hangs on the two commandments to “Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind and to love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt 22:39-40).
My giving, or lack of it, is proof of my love, or lack of it. Your giving is a test of the sincerity of your love. When we face Christ in judgment, will we pass the test? When Christ comes to “reward each according to his works,” what would you give in exchange for your soul (Matt 16:26-27)?
