2 Corinthians 8:7-10 says...
Today's verses are 2 Corinthians 8:7-10, which read,
v.7 - But just as you abound in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you abound in this gracious work also.
What are they to abound in beyond faith, utterance, knowledge, earnestness, and love? Paul is instructing the Christians in Corinth to abound in their generosity to those who are in need. It is great to hear that the repentance that came from that sorrowful, severe letter that Paul wrote to them brought them back to these qualities. They were strong in their faith, so strong that they were uttering it to others. They were studying the Word with earnestness and that was resulting in an increasing love for God and others. Now this spiritual discipline of giving needed to be added to the others.
v.8 - I am not speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also.
Our free will offerings to special needs are to be not by command or compulsion but rather with a willing heart moved by God to the awareness of the need. This is different than our regular giving to the local church for the responsibilities of that body to the body of Christ. When we give by command to the local body and when we give from the heart to God directed to special needs they both show the sincerity of our love for God and for others.
The principle of the tithe is our first 10 percent to the Lord for the support of the local body of Christ but the question is what you are doing with the other 90 percent? Is the other 90 percent still God's or is it yours? Is it still under the lordship of Christ or is it hands off from Him? The 10 percent is a given and a command but when you reach into the 90 percent then the love of God and especially to others is starting to be seen.
v.9 - For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
This free will giving to a special need Paul now compares to the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ was rich in position and power and was in the heavens. Christ became poor in comparison to heaven to be born as a human on the earth as a baby. His willingness to become poor had a purpose for the sake of us so that we might go from being poor in our knowledge of Him to becoming rich in salvation in Him through the cross.
The Christians in Corinth have an opportunity to give of the 90 percent to a specific need that will make them poorer by the standards of the world but with a purpose so that those receiving the resources could become richer in knowing of the love of God and others through that gift. Our giving always has a larger purpose than just meeting the immediate need at the time. Giving done in the right way is a testimony of the God who prompted such giving.
v.10 - I give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it.
Paul is not commanding them to give to this specific need but he does see the advantage to them spiritually to continue to gather resources for the saints in Jerusalem who were in great need. Paul came and told them of this need a year ago and the Corinthians were the first church group to start collecting. Paul told of this need in many places of his travels but the Corinthians were the first to put money aside for its journey back to Jerusalem with Paul when he was headed that way. They not only were the first to start collecting but they also did this on their own, of their own desire to do so. They became the promoters of this within the body after they heard of the need.
Tomorrow Paul will give more of the reasons why he thinks that this is a good thing that they continue to give in this matter. As a spiritual leader you are commanded to preach the Word and therefore you do speak the commands of God to the people of God but you also have the opportunity to encourage the people of God in areas that you see could be to their benefit. I see things in the church that are not necessarily commands of God but definitely could help the body in its growth in its love of God and others. Many times these are practical things that could be done that show the sincerity of the heart to God and to others and therefore that encouragement to continue is given from the pulpit. As Paul does this with prayers that the Christians in Corinth will follow through for the benefit of others and themselves, I pray for the eyes of the Lord when I look at the congregation He has put me over to encourage us in areas that will propel us forward in like manner.
"Lord, I learned today that giving goes beyond just meeting the needs of the local body or to a special need that is presented. Giving, done in the Biblical way, shows the heart and with that comes the weight of Your gospel that came with such weight from Your heart to us. Soften my heart and open my ears and eyes to what You would want me to do with the 90 percent left and guide my lips to encourage the body of believers to greater growth in this area. Amen."
Pastor Adam
v.7 - But just as you abound in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you abound in this gracious work also.
What are they to abound in beyond faith, utterance, knowledge, earnestness, and love? Paul is instructing the Christians in Corinth to abound in their generosity to those who are in need. It is great to hear that the repentance that came from that sorrowful, severe letter that Paul wrote to them brought them back to these qualities. They were strong in their faith, so strong that they were uttering it to others. They were studying the Word with earnestness and that was resulting in an increasing love for God and others. Now this spiritual discipline of giving needed to be added to the others.
v.8 - I am not speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also.
Our free will offerings to special needs are to be not by command or compulsion but rather with a willing heart moved by God to the awareness of the need. This is different than our regular giving to the local church for the responsibilities of that body to the body of Christ. When we give by command to the local body and when we give from the heart to God directed to special needs they both show the sincerity of our love for God and for others.
The principle of the tithe is our first 10 percent to the Lord for the support of the local body of Christ but the question is what you are doing with the other 90 percent? Is the other 90 percent still God's or is it yours? Is it still under the lordship of Christ or is it hands off from Him? The 10 percent is a given and a command but when you reach into the 90 percent then the love of God and especially to others is starting to be seen.
v.9 - For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
This free will giving to a special need Paul now compares to the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ was rich in position and power and was in the heavens. Christ became poor in comparison to heaven to be born as a human on the earth as a baby. His willingness to become poor had a purpose for the sake of us so that we might go from being poor in our knowledge of Him to becoming rich in salvation in Him through the cross.
The Christians in Corinth have an opportunity to give of the 90 percent to a specific need that will make them poorer by the standards of the world but with a purpose so that those receiving the resources could become richer in knowing of the love of God and others through that gift. Our giving always has a larger purpose than just meeting the immediate need at the time. Giving done in the right way is a testimony of the God who prompted such giving.
v.10 - I give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it.
Paul is not commanding them to give to this specific need but he does see the advantage to them spiritually to continue to gather resources for the saints in Jerusalem who were in great need. Paul came and told them of this need a year ago and the Corinthians were the first church group to start collecting. Paul told of this need in many places of his travels but the Corinthians were the first to put money aside for its journey back to Jerusalem with Paul when he was headed that way. They not only were the first to start collecting but they also did this on their own, of their own desire to do so. They became the promoters of this within the body after they heard of the need.
Tomorrow Paul will give more of the reasons why he thinks that this is a good thing that they continue to give in this matter. As a spiritual leader you are commanded to preach the Word and therefore you do speak the commands of God to the people of God but you also have the opportunity to encourage the people of God in areas that you see could be to their benefit. I see things in the church that are not necessarily commands of God but definitely could help the body in its growth in its love of God and others. Many times these are practical things that could be done that show the sincerity of the heart to God and to others and therefore that encouragement to continue is given from the pulpit. As Paul does this with prayers that the Christians in Corinth will follow through for the benefit of others and themselves, I pray for the eyes of the Lord when I look at the congregation He has put me over to encourage us in areas that will propel us forward in like manner.
"Lord, I learned today that giving goes beyond just meeting the needs of the local body or to a special need that is presented. Giving, done in the Biblical way, shows the heart and with that comes the weight of Your gospel that came with such weight from Your heart to us. Soften my heart and open my ears and eyes to what You would want me to do with the 90 percent left and guide my lips to encourage the body of believers to greater growth in this area. Amen."
Pastor Adam
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