JACKSON, Tenn. — Nov. 21, 2008 — God鈥檚 grace in the lives of Christians should result in them giving extravagantly, both of their resources to other believers and of their energies in witnessing to the lost, Danny Sinquefield told 51社区 students Nov. 19.
Sinquefield, pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Bartlett, Tenn., Union trustee and the newly elected president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, spoke in a chapel service and used 2 Corinthians 8:1-9 as an example of how Christians should respond to the grace of God.
In that passage, Paul praises the believers in Macedonia who, though they were struggling themselves, gave generously to their fellow Christians in Jerusalem who were in need. Sinquefield told students that the Macedonians placed a proper emphasis on their relationship to God first and foremost.
鈥淏efore they ever gave their resources, they were absolutely sure that they were in a relationship of giving themselves first to the Lord,鈥� Sinquefield said. 鈥淕od wants not so much our possessions as he wants our hearts.鈥�
Sinquefield also observed how the Macedonians gave extravagantly. The text says that they gave as much as they were able, and then gave beyond their ability.
鈥淲hen people begin to respond to God鈥檚 grace, they give as much as they are able 鈥� of time, energy, resources 鈥� and then something supernatural happens,鈥� he said. 鈥淕od breathes, and God blesses and God abundantly increases those resources.鈥�
He challenged students to give their best efforts and their best resources to God.
鈥淲e will never as people of God impact the world for the glory of God using only spare time and our spare change 鈥� giving God our leftovers,鈥� Sinquefield said. 鈥淕od deserves our very best.鈥�
God deserves the best, Sinquefield said, because of the sacrificial gift he gave in the person of Jesus Christ. He added that the work of Christ on the cross to redeem sinners requires that Christians be faithful in proclaiming the gospel.
鈥淎s recipients of the great grace of God, we can never walk away from a world that鈥檚 wounded, hurting and dying,鈥� he said.