2 Corinthians 8
When I was in Tallahassee my pastor, Pastor Reggie, had such a strong belief in daily Bible study and implored us almost on a weekly basis to do it. It made sense but at that point in my life I hadn't even considered trying to read the Bible every day. I would feel so good about reading it every so often and admittedly would even feel that I was gaining a significant amount of points in heaven for doing it. I suppose I was comparing myself to others who didn't read at all (stupid). The point of all this is, I've probably read through 2 Corinthians 3 or 4 times now and so much of this seems so new to me. I guess that each time I read it I'm more mature than the previous time and God is able to speak a new thing but through the same words. What an amazing God...
Paul begins to encourage the Corinthian church by the example of the churches in Macedonia (Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea):
"2Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 5And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will." (v. 2-4).This is a tremendous encouragement for us, especially in today's economy. Macedonia was an impoverished province that had been ravished by wars and plundered by Roman authority, and yet here we find them giving above their ability. Now this just doesn't make any sense - giving more when you have so little. I'm sure, being a small Christian community at the time, their tithe & offering and 'building fund' envelopes weren't exactly overflowing and yet they gave so much. So, although we're faced with layoffs, unemployment, down markets, high gas prices and generally very little hope, could the call still be to give more? This couldn't make sense right? The only way it could is if we realize where our true treasure is, Who owns the little treasure we do have and, like the Macedonian church, give ourselves first to the Lord.
My cousin and I were talking yesterday about knowing the Word vs. believing the Word. I know the Bible is 100% true and think I even believe it. I know that Christ is my reward (Revelation 22:12) and that everything belongs to Him (Psalm 24:1). I could know these things and even preach them, but an actual belief would drive me to action. No longer holding on to the material things in life but freely giving, not to my comfort level, but like the Macedonian churches - beyond my ability, having full confidence in God my provider. I mean, what these people were doing was nonsense! Volunteering, urgently by the way, to take part in a ministry to help other poor saints in Jerusalem.
So yet again, this morning my perspective is shifted. I see some of the large churches in Cincinnati doing some amazing things with how they give back to the community, go on mission trips, give out free Bibles and do all kinds of amazing things for the kingdom. When I see this, my thought usually is "man, it's nice that they're so blessed to be able to do that. Maybe our church will get there one day." Maybe I'm undervaluing what our church does because we do a lot but we're not able to send 50 people to Africa or something like that. But in light of these Macedonians it would seem that we're able to make a huge impact and though we aren't exactly what you'd call a megachurch yet, it's so fitting that we give even more though we have so little. Not out of obligation, but because we give ourselves first to the Lord.
No comments:
Post a Comment