Category: Devotions

The Church in Jerusalem was experiencing hardship and its counterpart in Corinth had the financial resource to help them.

What would Paul the leader do?

Would he simply command the church in Corinth to give to solve the problem? 

Commanding or forcing doesn’t necessarily produce the willingness of heart. It was this that Paul was seeking.

“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 ‭

Paul doesn’t want the Corinthians to be struggling as Jerusalem is relieved of their struggles. That’s not the kind of giving Paul is focused on. Solving problems by creating new ones isn’t solving problems. 

Paul wants equality. The Message says he wanted God’s people to stand, “shoulder to shoulder.” There are times for plenty and times for need. Paul is building a network of people who have both experiences of contribution and receiving from each other. Leaders who can build this into their churches and organisations are creating healthy cultures for everyone. Those cultures are filled with relationships that are beneficial for all and not just for a few. We live in a world where it seems the rich get richer, the strong get stronger, the poor get poorer and the weak get weaker. In the healthy Church this does not exist. 

Paul uses the story in Exodus 16 of God providing the Manna. His point is that when God did this everyone had enough. The point is not that a few had enough but the whole community flourished as they all had enough.

How do you measure success in this life? Is it your own achievement? Or is there another measure you use? Is it how everyone in your life are also flourishing and achieving? Is it based on how much you have been able to help but also how much you gratefully received from the same people you previously had invested in? This equality is the success Paul was seeking and what should be at the heart of every Christian and Church. 

One of the most important things to a happy life is to not compare yourself with others but to live your own life with authenticity. 

“And here is my judgment about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭8‬:‭10‬-‭12‬

What needs finishing? What have you started? Maybe you were the first to show the initiative but after a sprint to begin with, you then slowed down and now you’ve stopped altogether. In my travels around the world I have seen many houses, churches and all kinds of buildings half-built, just standing there on the side of the road, unfinished. 

The Corinthians had begun to give towards the need last year and Paul encourages them to complete it. 

Finish the task. That’s the call for all of us and not just towards giving. To run our lane is to keep focused on our calling, vocation, our rhythm of life and our contribution to this world. 

There’s one other thing that I’m meditating on. It is what Paul says in v12. He tells them to focus on what they have not what they don’t have. To run my lane is to acknowledge what’s in my hand, my gifting, abilities, the grace God has given me. You don’t need to look across the lanes to see what others have. You have all you need to run your lane and finish the race. 

To be authentic and run your lane is to focus  on finishing well and to focus on who you are and what is in your hand. 

Paul wants the Corinthian church to give but he is not coercing them. He gives two examples. The first has been the poor and struggling Macedonians. Here comes the second, the rich (like they were), the Lord Jesus Christ.

Though Paul is not telling them anything they don’t know, “for you know”, what he does say has to be one of the most beautiful things he wrote, especially if you read it alongside Philippians 2.

“I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 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 ‭8‬:‭8‬-‭9‬z

The Lord Jesus Christ was rich, meaning He was existing before His birth in Bethlehem. He was rich because in His pre-existent state He possessed everything, for He is God.

He became poor, meaning He became human, He dwelt amongst us and He died on the cross and rose again.

Paul reminds us that as we live our life through His life we begin to experience the richness of God.

Our salvation experience is declared within this text. Thankful for His salvation of our lives through His work on the cross and resurrection.

But (and this is Paul’s application) our giving should imitate the way Christ gave Himself. Our spirit of generosity mirrors Christ’s. That’s why we give. 

“So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. But since you excel in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you – see that you also excel in this grace of giving.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭8‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ 

Paul urged Titus to finish what he had begun. Titus had been commissioned for a task in Corinth. He was to bring a report on how they had responded to Paul’s severe letter. Inspired by the church in Macedonia, who despite their poor and difficult circumstances entered into the collection for the poor in Jerusalem, he now says how the impact on him meant he had urged Titus to make sure the Corinthians also moved in grace. “Complete the task” was Titus’ responsibility and Paul urged him to do just that. 

Paul then begins to praise them for many things, faith, speech, knowledge, earnestness and love. They were excelling in these things. Quite a statement. He is leading to asking them to be involved in the collection but first he wants them to know he is pleased with everything else. He actually doesn’t ask them to give but masterfully tells them to excel in giving in the same way they have excelled in other areas. People who feel valued are more likely to be involved in the stretch of new areas. 

Some leaders simply demand more and make it clear they’re wanting more from those they lead. Paul wasn’t doing this. He cultivated excellence in people by helping them see they are of those who pursue it. There is a huge difference between demanding people do what you want and calling them to become all that they can be. 

For you, take a look at those areas you also excel in, maybe they are the same list as the Corinthians. How did you begin to be so good in those graces? Can you use the same commitment and the same desire to excel in the areas the Holy Spirit shows you?

Paul was collecting for missions work. It was for the poor in Jerusalem. When it came to the Macedonians they didn’t need to be asked, in fact, Paul wasn’t expecting them to give. But they begged to be included in the offering. Paul didn’t need to say anything for it was they who raised the issue of giving. 

“And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. And they exceeded our expectations: they gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭8‬:‭1‬-‭5

How can we give beyond our ability to give? These Christians had been to the cross and seen what Christ had done for them. They had surrendered to Christ first and when we do that then we cannot hold back anything. Remember this is not some project around the corner. They are not giving to benefit themselves. This is for a group of people they have never met all the way over in Jerusalem. 

Grace travels miles. 

If we ever want evidence for the grace of God then it can be seen in the grace we share with others especially when it’s miles away and so unconditional. 

Today there will be an opportunity to give. When it comes think of the Macedonians.

So often what tries to influence our lives is possessions and circumstances. But the economy of the kingdom is different. This is what Paul encourages the Corinthian Church by focusing them on the Macedonians.

“And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭8‬:‭2

How can severe trial produce rich generosity? 

How can they have overflowing joy as well as being extremely poor? 

Only if true giving isn’t based upon whether circumstances are good or not. 

Only if true joy isn’t based on our possessions.

Christ changes perspectives on circumstances. As we follow Him we see the world differently. We are not immune to trouble but He gives us the victory.

When the grace of God is experienced then what follows is always overflowing and a welling up of generosity. 

We move into section of what has to be one of the most profound teachings on giving. Paul presents the whole subject not as some guilt-burden to carry but a grace to embrace into our lives. Paul directs the thoughts of the Corinthian Church to the Macedonian Church. Over the next few days we will dig into what he says.

“And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. ² In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. ³ For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, ⁴ they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. ⁵ And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. ⁶ So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. ⁷ But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. ⁸ I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. ⁹ 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 8:1-9

Today people give but they want to direct their giving.
Today people give but they want to control their giving.
Today people give but they want to have some commission for giving.
Today people give but they want a moving story on a classy film to give.
Today people give but it’s more about them than the ones receiving the gift.

The only way we will enter into the grace of giving is if we first see the gift of Jesus.
These are the 2 key chapters in the NT on giving. Each of them point to Jesus.
He became poor for others like you and me.
He gave for the sake of others.
He gave till it hurt.
He gave with no strings attached.
He gave so that we can give, like Him.

This is the grace of giving.

This chapter holds beautiful language of a leader expressing why he was firm to his church and how their response encouraged him in his own faith. We have seen how people hurt people and the damage that is caused from the wounds that take time to heal. Paul and the Corinthian Church help us see what we can also do as Paul worked out their relationship together. So with these final thoughts in chapter 7 we see how we can make relationships work.

“In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you. ¹⁴ I had boasted to him about you, and you have not embarrassed me. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting about you to Titus has proved to be true as well. ¹⁵ And his affection for you is all the greater when he remembers that you were all obedient, receiving him with fear and trembling. ¹⁶ I am glad I can have complete confidence in you.” (2 Corinthians 7 v 13-16)

Last evening I spoke with a leader who at the start of the day had told me he had some ‘tricky’ meetings ahead. The relief in his voice as he shared how those meetings had gone really well was palpable. There is always a real sense of renewed hope and joy that comes through navigating successfully relational tension.

Paul had sent a severe letter to the Church which addressed serious issues within their community. Now through Titus he hears that those necessary words had brought about changes of heart and produced good results.

• We need people who can carry difficult messages with love and faithfulness. We need good people in the room addressing conflict issues, whether that is offering correction or bringing encouragement.
• We need people who are brave enough to receive difficult truths. Spiritual growth often comes through difficult conversations that have been given and received with grace.
• We need people who have a desire to build up, never to destroy a person, especially when bringing correction.

The Church always has an opportunity to demonstrate to a world divided and broken, that there is the possibility of reconciliation and restoration because of Jesus Christ.

We need people like that. We need to be those people.

“Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— 9 yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. 10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11 See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. 12 So even though I wrote to you, it was neither on account of the one who did the wrong nor on account of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are. 13 By all this we are encouraged.” (2 Corinthians 7 v 8-13)

So this ‘letter’ – it seems a bit awkward in v8 that Paul says he doesn’t regret writing such a letter that caused sorrow.

The truth is we need people in our lives who, without any form of abuse, speak into our lives, words that may wound us but not for wounding sake. The intention is not to damage but to lead to healing and change.

The truth is we need to respond so much more with godly sorrow, which knows how to acknowledge wrongdoing and truly repents from it. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, regret, hurt and importantly not moving to change anything.

The truth is we need people who can spur us on with:

Earnestness – a commitment to change for the better.

Eagerness – not excuses, but an eagerness to be changed.

Indignation – If we are going to be angry then be angry with our own sin.

Alarm – Be aware of what a lack of repentance produces.

Longing – Have a desire to be restored.

Concern – Be bothered with those that have been hurt by us.

Readiness – Be willing to accept the consequences of our actions.

The truth is we need people to correct us but with their own humility, grace and love, above leading us into joy and encouragement.

These are the keys to making relationships work.