2 Corinthians 9:11-12 — You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to Christmas : A Giving Portfolio. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.

I’m not sure this is a very “devotional” devotional — but I wanted to share something that’s been on our hearts and minds for the last few days.
If you’re anything like Myra and me, you get a lot of request for contributions to this, that, and another good cause. Also, if you’re anything like us, at this time of year the requests start to pile up and your “want to” soon mounts up to much more than your “can do”!
So what to do when all those demands on your pocket come along? We’ve been praying about it, asking God to guide us — to show us what and who we should support. We got an answer, but it wasn’t a neatly ordered list with check marks next to the winners. What we got was more like guidelines. So here they are.
Give as your heart directs, and enjoy it! Earlier in 2 Corinthians 9 is that wonderful remark that “God loves hilarious givers”. “Hilarious”, really, is a bit of a mistranslation — “prompt, willing, or cheerful” might be better. Most of us have areas that tug powerfully at our heart strings. In my case anything that focuses on Christian education and anything that focuses on building the family will always have that powerful claim.
Give where you can make a difference. There are many seemingly wonderful causes that you might want to give too … but no matter how much you give it will make no difference — the poor will be always with us.
But don’t use that as an excuse to do nothing for those in need — but seek to give where you have relationships. Deuteronomy 15:7 says “If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:”
Give cheerfully — but judiciously. The instruction to the rich young ruler to “sell all you have and give to the poor” is not a direction to foolish generosity, but an injunction against idolatry. There is a verse later in Deuteronomy – 16:7 – that provides a more general guideline, “every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord thy God which he hath given thee.”
So there you have it — Decide on what good stewardship dictates you can give, and enjoy giving. Give where you can have a kingdom impact.
Remember, always, that giving is for nobody’s benefit except your own! God doesn’t need your money. Those who need you don’t “need” you to give either — God can take care of them too. But when you give you participate in the remaking of yourself into the image of God — the greatest and most generous of all the givers.