Paul’s Corinthian Challenge.

To challenge the churches in Corinth, Paul appeals to three things.  One is their own past.  He writes, “Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so” {2 Cor. 8:10b}.  I.e., ‘Titus and I have been here before, Corinthians, we’ve both seen your generosity and your grace.’  Think about this.  If we simply lived true to our own highest standards, if we lived only from our convictions and not from our fears, how very different our world would be.  And what this might mean to the lives of those around us.

Secondly, the necessity of translating emotion into action, “desire” into deed.  What’s the follow up to v. 10?  “Now finish the work... finish the task at hand... complete the mission you signed up for... so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it” {v. 11 RR Exp}.  One of the tragedies, not only on the stages of ancient Greece but in our post-modern, post-Christian, commitment-avoiding-at-all-costs era, is how often we fail to turn Spirit-led impulse into God-honoring action.  You with me here?

Desire is not a substitute for deeds— Jms. 2:15-16; 1 Jn. 3:16-18.  And ‘best wishes’ during the Holy Days, when we could meet another’s needs practically, are worthless.  What does James say here?  “Suppose a Brother or Sister [We begin with the Family of Faith, the Household of God.] is without clothes or daily food.  If one of you says to him or her, ‘Go, I wish you well: keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?” {2:15-16}.  Doesn’t John have a similar indictment against the People of God?  “If anyone has material possessions [And we all in the prosperous West have ‘material possessions.’  The poorest and most poverty stricken American is wealthier than 98% of the world.  If you’re living on more than two dollars a day, you’re wealthier than a vast portion of the Earth’s populace this very moment.  ‘If someone possesses these things, these resources and materiel:’] and sees his Brother in need but has no pity on him [‘no mercy, no compassion’], how can the love of God be at home in Him?”  How can it live and abide in his or her heart if this is the case?  “Dear Children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in Truth” {1 Jn. 3:17-18}.  Sounds like a plan.

Third, he reminds the Achaians that Abba has a way of evening things out.  “At the present time your plenty [Materially and financially: perisseuma refers to ‘an abundance, a fulness, an overflow.’] will supply what they [Jesus’ Followers in Jerusalem] need, so that in turn their plenty [The wealth of the Word of God, the passion of their prayers, even financial help when these churches face their own fire one day.] will supply what you need.  Then there will be equality” {v. 14}.  There will be ‘fairness and equity’ in the Body.  Boom.  The Body meets the needs of the Body, and the “God of all grace” {1 Pet. 5:10a} is glorified!

“Give, and it will be given to you.  A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap [These are all images of extreme generosity, the lavishness of grace.].  For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” {Lk. 6:38}.  More often than not, don’t we find Jesus’ words ringing true in our lives— the measure we use on others gets used on us in return?  Abba has this beautiful way of repaying bounty with bounty, blessing with blessing, and a miserly effort with a miserly return.  In fact, at the beginning of 2 Corinthians 9 Paul will go on to say, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously” {v. 6}.  And this, my friends, is reality when it comes to living and loving in Jesus’ Kingdom.  We can live generously, or miserly; we can love graciously, or greedily.  We can walk through Life tight-fisted or open-hearted.  The challenge is ours… and so is the choice.

HJC	Ric Webb  |  Shepherd Heart’s Journey Community 9621 Tall Timber Blvd. |  Little Rock, AR 72204 t +1.501.455.0296
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Heart’s Journey – Live Generously and Love Graciously