The Pink Coat 粉红大衣

[Dexu Xia]

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give . . . for God loves a cheerful giver.  2 Corinthians 9:7

Brenda was walking toward the mall exit when a flush of pink from a display window caught her eye. She turned and stood spellbound before a “cotton-candy-colored coat.” Oh, how Holly would love it! Finances had been tight for her coworker friend who was a single mother, and while Brenda knew Holly needed a warm coat, she was also confident that her friend would never lay down cash on such a purchase for herself. After wavering ever so slightly, Brenda smiled, reached for her wallet, and arranged for the coat to be shipped to Holly’s home. She added an anonymous card, “You are so very loved.” Brenda practically danced to her car.

Joy is a by-product of God-nudged giving. As Paul instructed the Corinthians in the art of generosity, he said, “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). He also noted, “Whoever sows generously will also reap generously” (v. 6).

Sometimes we slip cash into the offering plate. At other times we donate online to a worthy ministry. And then there are moments when God leads us to respond to the need of a friend with a tangible expression of His love. We offer a bag of groceries, a tank of gas . . . or even the gift of a perfectly pink coat.

By:  Elisa Morgan

Who might you show God’s love to today? How can your generosity bubble up in joy as a return gift to you?

Loving Father, You gave me the gift of Your Son, and so I want to give to others. May I respond to Your gentle nudge to meet the needs of another.

各人要随本心所酌定的，⋯⋯因为捐得乐意的人是上帝所喜爱的。—哥林多后书9章7节

梅兰朝着购物中心的出口走去，突然橱窗里展示的一件粉红大衣吸引了她的目光。她看着这件棉花糖色的大衣，心里想着：荷莉一定会喜欢！荷莉是梅兰的同事，她是个单亲妈妈，手头一向不宽裕。梅兰知道荷莉需要一件保暖大衣，也很肯定荷莉绝对舍不得为自己花这个钱。在片刻犹豫后，梅兰笑了笑，掏出钱包买下大衣，并请店员将这件大衣寄送到荷莉的家。她还附上一张匿名的卡片，上面写着：“耶稣爱妳！”最后，梅兰满心喜乐地驾车离开购物中心。

当我们顺服上帝放在你我心中的感动，甘心为人付出时，就会带来喜乐。使徒保罗教导哥林多的信徒，在准备要为别人付出时，“各人要随本心所酌定的，不要作难，不要勉强，因为捐得乐意的人是上帝所喜爱的”（哥林多后书9章7节）。先前，保罗也提到：“少种的少收，多种的多收。”（6节）

有时候，我们会将金钱放入奉献箱，或透过网络奉献支持有意义的事工。有时候，上帝也会感动我们以行动来回应某位朋友的需要，具体地向人表达祂的爱。我们可以积极地向人展现上帝的爱，无论是给予一包日常用品、一袋食品，甚或是作为礼物的一件粉红大衣。

作者：  莫丽莎

你今天可以向谁展现上帝的爱？为何你的慷慨付出能带给你喜乐？

慈爱的天父，祢爱我们，将祢的儿子赐给我们，求祢帮助我也愿意去爱人，回应祢每个微小的感动，用行动满足他人的需要，让他们也感受到祢的爱。