2 CORINTHIANS 8:10\u201315<\/b><\/p>\n
For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have<\/i><\/p>\n
(2 Cor. 8:12)<\/i>.<\/p>\n
As with so many things in the Christian life, good motives are not enough. We need to act on our motives. Many people, especially Christians, have good intentions. They want to help others. They might even begin helping others by starting a small ministry or by giving a certain amount every month, but they do not persevere in their commitment. Paul exhorts us to remain faithful to that which we have begun and to let our actions be motivated by love.<\/p>\n
Often the reason we do not complete what we have started, especially in service to others, is because we over-commit. Paul didn\u2019t want the Corinthians to commit to giving that which they knew they did not have. He did not advocate donating a large amount of money that was not available, and as a result putting the Lord to the test in making sure the goal was met. Paul simply wanted the Corinthians to be concerned for fellow brethren in need and to act accordingly. If they had just a small amount to give, then that was what they should have given. They did not need to become poor in order to help others: \u201cFor I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened.\u201d Paul wanted the burdens to be equally shared among all the churches.<\/p>\n
When the apostle says, \u201cbut by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack \u2026 that there may be equality,\u201d he does not mean that he wanted all Christians to be equal in their possessions. The word here is better translated equity<\/i> or fairness<\/i>. He wanted the giving to be voluntary and according to their means so that the poor might be relieved. The Scriptures nowhere teach that the poor have a right to the property of wealthier brethren. But wealthy believers do have a responsibility to care for the needs of the poor, not to the point that they themselves become poor, but to the point that they relieve the distress of those in trouble. \u201cThe equality, therefore, aimed at, or intended, is not an equality as to the amount of property, but equal relief from the burden of want,\u201d Hodge wrote. The poor are still responsible to work hard, and they cannot demand relief from their brethren, but those who are able should faithfully give out of their abundance to help the poor among them.<\/p>\n
CORAM DEO<\/b><\/p>\n
Jeremiah 7\u20138<\/p>\n
1 Timothy 2<\/p>\n
Do you have a problem keeping your commitments? Are you unrealistic about those things you would like to do? Examine your resources and the increase God has given you. Realistically, set some goals in your giving to the poor. Do not give more than you are able, but remain commited to give according to the goals you have set.<\/p>\n
For further study: Acts 5:1\u201311 \u2022 Gal. 6:1\u201310 \u2022 2 Thess. 3:6\u201315 \u2022 1 John 3:16\u201323<\/i><\/p>\n
wednesday<\/p>\n
october<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
2 CORINTHIANS 8:10\u201315 For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have (2 Cor. 8:12). As with so many things in the Christian life, good motives are not enough. We need to act on our motives. Many people, especially … Continue reading “GIVING FAITHFULLY & WISELY”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12874","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermons"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12874","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12874"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12874\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12874"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12874"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12874"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}