2 Corinthians 9:1-5 says,...
Today's verses are 2 Corinthians 9:1-5, which read,
v.1, 2 - For it is superfluous for me to write to you about this ministry to the saints; for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the Macedonians, namely, that Achaia has been prepared since last year, and your zeal has stirred up most of them.
Paul doesn't let this discussion on giving to this need go. This is a relatively young church and this is the first big event that are participating in with service to others in need. This service to those saints in Jerusalem would also serve to enhance the spread of the gospel because it showed how what started there in Jerusalem has now spread all the way to Corinth. Paul has been speaking of the Corinthians and their willingness and eagerness to help to other young churches in the area.
v.3, 4 - But I have sent the brethren, in order that our boasting about you may not be made empty in this case, so that, as I was saying, you may be prepared; otherwise if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we--not to speak of you--will be put to shame by this confidence.
Paul sent Titus and two other unnamed men to the Corinthians to see how they were progressing with the collection of this gift. There was a wane in the collecting during the time of following the false teachers but now they had repented of that swaying from the truth and it was time to get back to the service of God for the sake of others instead just looking and focusing on self.
Paul is coming and some of the Macedonians are coming along with him and he is concerned that they will witness something different than what he has been telling them of the activities of collection of the Corinthians. The church in Corinth was to be an example to the other churches. I like to think that Paul is giving a little holy pressure or push on the Christians in Corinth to follow through on their efforts.
v.1, 2 - For it is superfluous for me to write to you about this ministry to the saints; for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the Macedonians, namely, that Achaia has been prepared since last year, and your zeal has stirred up most of them.
Paul doesn't let this discussion on giving to this need go. This is a relatively young church and this is the first big event that are participating in with service to others in need. This service to those saints in Jerusalem would also serve to enhance the spread of the gospel because it showed how what started there in Jerusalem has now spread all the way to Corinth. Paul has been speaking of the Corinthians and their willingness and eagerness to help to other young churches in the area.
v.3, 4 - But I have sent the brethren, in order that our boasting about you may not be made empty in this case, so that, as I was saying, you may be prepared; otherwise if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we--not to speak of you--will be put to shame by this confidence.
Paul sent Titus and two other unnamed men to the Corinthians to see how they were progressing with the collection of this gift. There was a wane in the collecting during the time of following the false teachers but now they had repented of that swaying from the truth and it was time to get back to the service of God for the sake of others instead just looking and focusing on self.
Paul is coming and some of the Macedonians are coming along with him and he is concerned that they will witness something different than what he has been telling them of the activities of collection of the Corinthians. The church in Corinth was to be an example to the other churches. I like to think that Paul is giving a little holy pressure or push on the Christians in Corinth to follow through on their efforts.
v.5
- So I thought it necessary to urge the brethren that they would go on
ahead to you and arrange beforehand your previously promised bountiful
gift, so that the same would be ready as a bountiful gift and not
affected by covetousness.
The amount that the Christians in Corinth have pledged to raise must have been great. Paul is sending Titus and the others to help them with the last push to see them hit the goal and maybe exceed it. To covet is to want what someone else has to keep for yourself. Paul sent Titus and the others to keep them on track with collecting this gift but also to keep them on track that this amount was to all go to the need as they said rather than keep some for themselves in the end. We know of one Biblical example with Ananias and Sapphira of what happens when we don't tell the truth about our giving.
Maybe all this talk about giving makes you nervous or uncomfortable but here it is in the pages of the Bible. Maybe the pressure to complete the task at hand seems a little over the top from Paul. I have experienced over time that many times we will go all out for something outside of the church but when it comes to the church we will lower our standards and have the attitude that "that will do" or "well we tried" but we know it was just what was left over in our efforts and not a full out blitz.
Paul was telling that Christians in Corinth that this really mattered and that he was sending guys ahead and he was coming himself with others to see the final result. What would they find? A gift and maybe beyond the gift for the persecuted saints in Jerusalem that showed the glory of God especially in returning from trek away from God or would they find what they started with before they fell away and it is well below what they pledged in the beginning?
Paul gives them this "holy nudge" and it is desperately needed in our world today. Christians need to be nudged to do what is right in the sight of the Lord and also to be pushed to excel in it. The efforts of the church to serve should surpass what was expected because the people of God put their shoulder to the wheel and pushed hard to see it happen.
Does this describe our church? Are we a "well that will do for who and what it is going for" or are we a church that makes it a high priority to put in the time and effort because it has the gospel message behind it and that is so worth more than anything the world can offer? Part of being a pastor is to give these "holy nudges" to the church and individual Christians to remember what commitment to Christ looks like. A decision was made at first that was extreme to follow Jesus and then it waned to look like nothing different than a little church on an occasional Sunday and a calling back to that original commitment is needed. These are hard to do but I am thankful that we have Paul here demonstrating it for our benefit and of course we are talking about efforts that go beyond just our giving of money. Sometimes throwing money at a need is the easiest one to fulfill.
"Lord, we all need these 'nudges' and I need to be nudged by the Holy Spirit to continue to follow the path You have put before me. Your path is the best and following it will bring even more than I could have imagined at the start but I will not experience it if I ignore the nudges of You. May I see that those nudges are necessary and if I don't follow it leads me in the path of potential sin. Thanks God for my spiritual nudges today. Amen."
Pastor Adam
The amount that the Christians in Corinth have pledged to raise must have been great. Paul is sending Titus and the others to help them with the last push to see them hit the goal and maybe exceed it. To covet is to want what someone else has to keep for yourself. Paul sent Titus and the others to keep them on track with collecting this gift but also to keep them on track that this amount was to all go to the need as they said rather than keep some for themselves in the end. We know of one Biblical example with Ananias and Sapphira of what happens when we don't tell the truth about our giving.
Maybe all this talk about giving makes you nervous or uncomfortable but here it is in the pages of the Bible. Maybe the pressure to complete the task at hand seems a little over the top from Paul. I have experienced over time that many times we will go all out for something outside of the church but when it comes to the church we will lower our standards and have the attitude that "that will do" or "well we tried" but we know it was just what was left over in our efforts and not a full out blitz.
Paul was telling that Christians in Corinth that this really mattered and that he was sending guys ahead and he was coming himself with others to see the final result. What would they find? A gift and maybe beyond the gift for the persecuted saints in Jerusalem that showed the glory of God especially in returning from trek away from God or would they find what they started with before they fell away and it is well below what they pledged in the beginning?
Paul gives them this "holy nudge" and it is desperately needed in our world today. Christians need to be nudged to do what is right in the sight of the Lord and also to be pushed to excel in it. The efforts of the church to serve should surpass what was expected because the people of God put their shoulder to the wheel and pushed hard to see it happen.
Does this describe our church? Are we a "well that will do for who and what it is going for" or are we a church that makes it a high priority to put in the time and effort because it has the gospel message behind it and that is so worth more than anything the world can offer? Part of being a pastor is to give these "holy nudges" to the church and individual Christians to remember what commitment to Christ looks like. A decision was made at first that was extreme to follow Jesus and then it waned to look like nothing different than a little church on an occasional Sunday and a calling back to that original commitment is needed. These are hard to do but I am thankful that we have Paul here demonstrating it for our benefit and of course we are talking about efforts that go beyond just our giving of money. Sometimes throwing money at a need is the easiest one to fulfill.
"Lord, we all need these 'nudges' and I need to be nudged by the Holy Spirit to continue to follow the path You have put before me. Your path is the best and following it will bring even more than I could have imagined at the start but I will not experience it if I ignore the nudges of You. May I see that those nudges are necessary and if I don't follow it leads me in the path of potential sin. Thanks God for my spiritual nudges today. Amen."
Pastor Adam
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