It’s a great day
for more Daily Bread! Glad to have you back again to share more of this
second letter from Paul to the Corinthians. Have you ever been asked to
collect money for some reason? It’s a dirty job, but somebody has to do it.
If you think you don’t like being asked for money, probably the person who
has been asked to ask for it likes it even less . . . unless you understand
the opportunity that you’re giving people.
That sounds crazy,
you might say, scratching your pate. What kind of opportunity can giving
away your money be? It may sound like more of an opportunity for the
receiver than for the giver, until you look at things from a spiritual point
of view.
How many times have you heard these things?
It’s better to give than to receive.
Share the wealth.
Lay up your treasures in heaven, where moth and rust don’t
corrupt.
Let me ask you another question. When a
gift is given to someone, who is usually the receiver of these three words,
“God bless you”? So who is really receiving the better gift?
How many times do
you give, and you don’t receive a blessing because you didn’t do it
willingly? Is there grace (favors from God) that could be waiting for you,
if you just change your attitude about giving, from reluctant to eager? Are
there treasures that could be added to your account in heaven, just because
of your outlook? I think yes.
Now, just a little
refresher; Paul is collecting money to take to the elders in Jerusalem for
the believers there, because there was a famine,
Acts 11:30. So
he’s the one with the dirty job, that someone has to do, but he, instead of
just asking for money, tells of the Grace that God provides to those who
give from their hearts. Paul doesn’t want anyone in Corinth to be
embarrassed about their donation for the Saints, and we know that he
arranged for their collection to be taken up before he arrives. Now he
continues to encourage them further.
It’s not necessary for me to write to you yet again
about the ministering to the Saints,
because I know the willingness of your mind,
and I brag to the people of Macedonia about you,
that Achaia (where Corinth was located) was ready a year
ago,
and your enthusiasm has motivated many people.
Still, I’ve decided to send Titus and the others
in case our bragging about your readiness is for no
reason,
and in case by chance, some people from Macedonia come
with me,
and find you unprepared and we (rather, you)
should be ashamed about this confident bragging.
Though Paul
believes that the Corinthians are sincere, he knows that things happen over
time, that are unexpected, so he wants to cover all bases, to avoid any hard
feelings for anyone. Let me give you an example: One of the Corinthians
pledges that he’ll donate 5 farthings every week for the collection, but his
little son broke his arm falling out of a tree and he had to pay a doctor
for treating it. So you see, many people probably had circumstances arise
that may have caused them to fall short in their pledges, so, Paul says:
So, I thought it was necessary to encourage the brethren
to go to you before I arrive and collect your generosity
that you promised, ahead of time
so that it would be ready
and that it would signify generosity and not greed.
But this I say,
He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly;
and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also
bountifully.
Proverbs 22:9
Aha, there are also those who may have had
a change of heart about their pledges, remember Paul’s trip was postponed to
Corinth, maybe they didn’t plan on saving for over an entire year. By the
same token, the poor Saints probably didn’t count on their already poverty
stricken lives to be stricken even harder by dearth.
Let every man give depending on how he plans in his heart,
not grudgingly, or unwillingly,
because God loves a cheerful giver.
Deuteronomy
15:7
Now Paul begins to tell of the blessings
for the generous giver.
And God is able to make all Grace plentiful toward you,
so that you, having enough of everything may be able to do
every good work.
As it is written, He has dispersed abroad, He has given to
the poor,
His righteousness remains for ever.
Psalms 112:9
Now may God, who gives seed to the sower,
give bread for your food,
and multiply your seed sown,
and increase the fruits of your righteousness,
being enriched in every thing to all plentiful ness,
which causes through us, thanksgiving to God.
Because the performing of this service
not only supplies the needs of the Saints,
but is abundant also by many thanksgivings to God;
while by the experiment of this service
they glorify God for your loyalty to the Gospel of Christ,
and for your generous gift to them, and to all men,
and by their prayer for you,
which thirst for the exceeding Grace of God in you.
So, not only does
generosity bring about help to the needy, but it brings praise to God for
the givers, and glorifying God is a very good thing! Here’s a curious
question: When you see a homeless person asking for money on a street
corner, do you rub your chin as you look at them and try and decide if
they’re deserving? Is the true question whether or not the person who judges
them, deserving of any favors from God for their . . . so called generosity?
Every opportunity to be generous to one of God’s children is an
opportunity for blessings to be released in your life. For as Jesus said ...
What you do to least of my brethren ... You do unto me.
Thanks be to God for His priceless gift.
