2022_09_23 Insight Post- Emma Keeton
This week’s reading- 2 Corinthians 7-8
I am fascinated this week by Paul’s writing on giving in 2 Corinthians 8:1-15. Paul lays out a model of sharing with others that is quite different from the expectations of today’s society. Today, the general thought is to make sure you have enough money and possessions to be comfortable and the more you have, the better you are doing. It seems that to live in a Christian community in the early church meant that you made sure your fellow brother and sister in Christ did not go without, even when it was a cost to you. The goal was not to collect material things, but live generously with the resources you had.
“Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, as it is written: The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little” 2 Corinthians 8:13-15
As Paul teaches the Corinthians about giving, he references in 8:10 that they had a wanted to give the year before but had not followed through. He tells them to finish the work so their eagerness to give would match their actions in giving. The Corinthians desired to give, now they had to do it! Having a willing mind is the first step of having a generous heart before God. It doesn’t matter if we have a lot or a little, allowing God to help us grow in a willingness to give will help us live out generous lives.
I love how Paul uses Jesus as our ultimate standard for giving:
“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.” 2 Corinthians 8:9.
Jesus became poor for us as a part of God’s plan for our salvation and Jesus’ willingness to become poor demonstrates God’s generous heart.
I am left wondering today why I cling to what I have so tightly…….
Emma Keeton
Prayer Team Lead