june 14,2011 2 cor 8:1-9, Ps 146:2-9, Mt 5:34-48

2 cor 8:1-9 christian giving
they have been severely tested by the troubles they went through; but their joy was so great that they were extremely generous in their giving, even though they were very poor. I can assure you that they gave as much as they could, and even more than they could.
so we urged titus, who began this work, to continue it and help you complete this special service of love. You are so rich in all you have:in faith,speech, and knowledge, in your eagerness to help and in your love for us. and so we want you to be generous also in this service of love.
i am not laying down any rules. but by showing how eager others are to help, i am trying to find out how real your own love is.you know the grace of our lord Jesus Christ;rich as he was,he made himself poor for your sake, in order to make you rich by means of his poverty.
Ps 146:2-9 in praise of God the Savior
i will praise him as long as i live; i will sing to my god all my life.happy is the man who has the God of jacob to help him and who depends on the lord his God the creator of heaven,earth and sea and all that is in them.
he always keeps his promises.
Mt 5:34-48
but now i tell you: do not use any vow when you make a promise. do not swear by heaven, for it is God's throne;nor by earth, for it is the resting place for his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great king. do not even swear by your head,because you cannot make a single hair white or black. just say yes or no - anything else you say comes from the evil one.
you have heard that it it was said, "an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. but now i tell you:do not take revenge on someone who wrongs you. if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, let him slap your left cheek too. and if someone takes you to court to sue you for your shirt, let him have your coat as well. and if one of the occupation troops forces you to carry his pack one mile, carry it two miles. when someone asks you for something,give it to him;when someone wants to borrow something;lend it to him.
you have heard that it was said, "love your friends,hate your enemies". but now i tell you:love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may become sons of your father in heaven.for he makes his sun to shine on bad and good people alike, and gives rain to those who do good and to those who do evil. why should God reward you if you love only the people who love you?