1 Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. 2 They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity. 3 For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. 4 They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. 5 They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.
6 So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving. 7Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.
8 I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches.
9 You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.
10 Here is my advice: It would be good for you to finish what you started a year ago. Last year you were the first who wanted to give, and you were the first to begin doing it. 11 Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving. Give in proportion to what you have. 12 Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have. 13 Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality. 14 Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal. 15 As the Scriptures say,
“Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over,
and those who gathered only a little had enough.”
and those who gathered only a little had enough.”
S(cripture) - Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have.
O(bservation) - This a striking story of Kingdom sharing - a window into the early church and their deep connection to one another no matter the distance. The Church in Jerusalem - the founding church out of which Paul was sent - was facing hardship and persecution and was in desperate need of outside assistance. Paul is making an appeal to the church in Corinth to generously meet this need reminding them that the far poorer churches in Macedonia were giving beyond "what they could afford." Paul reminds them that they're the lead church that started this Jerusalem appeal and that they need to finish what they started. He also paints this incredible picture of universal sharing - shades of Jesus' promise - "Give and it will be given to you." Paul says to the church in Corinth - give out of your abundance and when the day comes when you have need, other will bless you out of their abundance. "Pay it forward," he says. It's a picture of God's economy that says there is enough for everyone to share, but not enough to hoard.
A(pplication) - I can't help but think about how differently medical insurance, college education and retirement would be if we practiced this way of sharing. What if the church was one big "credit union/cooperative?" What if instead of paying medical insurance premiums, we pooled our resources when one person needed medical care (read this)? What if instead of individual families joining a college savings plan, every child in church could go to trade school or college through the collective sharing of the faith community? that the children would then come back to use their education to benefit the community? (remember this episode of Little House on the Prairie? - watch the end (40 minute mark) if your too busy) What if instead of social security and pension plans, the church really took care of the widow, the orphan and alien (and retiree)? This seems so foreign in our 21st century American culture, but so much closer to human reality up until 100 years ago!
Okay, sorry for dreaming. The Vine is looking for ways to share out of the abundance of those who have. Our main campus' Neighbors in Need program is one way to give out of your abundance to help those in our community who are struggling. You can designate gifts right to this fund. And the Table Project has a place to give away stuff you no longer need (did you know that a Viner is giving away a cable ready 26 inch TV there!?) Eager giving is God's call on our lives. Bless others by sharing.
P(rayer) - Abba, we've grown up in a culture of "I can do it myself!" We've got pride. We've got self-sufficiency and responsibility. We'd rather help then be helped. What will it take for us to get real and be real and to share our needs? What will it take for us to trust You and one another? Show us, through Jesus, the Way. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment